It’s Over, for Now
For the second time in four years, the Red Sox are getting ready to parade through the city to celebrate a World Series victory. Sammy isn’t even five, and he only knows the Sox as winners.
In 2004, we were shocked and amazed, as well as gratified, that the Sox had finally broken a string of near misses and failures that had characterized the team for generations. There’s always a fair amount of luck in baseball, but the 2004 team was blessed with a bunch of it. When Dave Roberts stole second, it was a damn close play, and he could just as easily have been called out. End of story. But he wasn’t called out, and it wasn’t the end of the story.
In 2007, there was a fair amount of luck too, but I think this was a better team. It’s certainly a team that is better built for long-term success, which makes the prospect of next year all the more exciting. They absolutely dominated this postseason, with the greatest run differentials ever — 99-46 overall, and 29-10 against the Rockies. They say that great pitching beats great hitting, but great pitching and great hitting will overpower anybody.
What made it possible is that, with the exception of two and a half games against Cleveland, everybody played to their potential. Everybody clicked at the same time. J.D Drew and Julio Lugo played like the players they are supposed to be, Beckett was unbelievable, Ortiz and Manny were Ortiz and Manny. Up and down the lineup, everybody produced, not least the rookies, Pedroia and Ellsbury. There’s nobody more deserving of the World Series MVP than Mike Lowell, but it could just as easily have been given to Jacoby Ellsbury. There’s so much more that could be said, but a lot of people with more time on their hands have probably said it already.
Good times.