The worst part of being a Red Sox fan is the media. Reading the local papers after a loss is not suggested, because even if you aren’t in a bad mood because of the loss, the Boston sports writers do what they can to change that.
It’s funny. A lot of fans can put things into perspective. It’s only one game; it’s June; those type of responses, but the Boston sports writers will be calling for heads to roll today. For Theo to make some major trade RIGHT NOW. As if the Boston sports writers even care what happens to the team.
It’s no secret that I hate probably 90% of the Boston sports writers. And I don’t mean I hate them like I hate the Yankees. It’s much stronger than that. Instead of ‘reporting’ the news, they take every opportunity to write op-ed pieces about how horrible a person particular player is (even when they need to make up stuff – Steve Buckley I’m looking at you – to back up their claims) or they just flat out bash the team. I’m not looking for complete homerism here, but most of the Boston sports writers seem to go the total opposite way.
So, instead of my being able to read balanced accounts of what happened last night, these articles will be trying to get the villagers riled up enough to take up their torches and burn down the monster’s castle. It’s an old, tired act.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I actually decided this morning to read the stories on boston.com – and not one of them (written by Chris Snow, Jackie MacMullen and Gordon Edes) took any pot shots at the team. They all just, gasp, reported the facts as they were and made observations actually based on that!
I’m still stunned, really. I had expected much fodder for my blog this morning coming from those folks. I noticed that Gordon Edes had the same frame of mind I did last night, based on how he ends his piece:
But we should know by now. This happens. The Sox won twice over the Bombers last year by 17-1 scores, also by 10-1 and 14-3. The Bombers beat the Sox in Fenway in 2000, 22-1. The only certainty is they’ll play again tonight, and we’ll be watching.
The Globe, however, loses points for this (unrelated to the Yankees): The Globe’s Nick Cafardo will file live updates at boston.com/sports tonight from Lexington, Ky., as Roger Clemens pitches for the Astros’ Single A club in his first step back to the majors.
They’re kidding, right? They make a big deal out of touting this whole Yankees/Sox thing but they need to send one of their senior writers to Kentucky to watch Clemens pitch for the Single A team? That is a joke.
Ah, but Tony Masarotti of the Boston Herald, there is a bigger joke. He wants to know when the Sox are going to beat a ‘good’ team. Apparently he hasn’t watched much baseball this year. And it’s interesting to see the contrast between he and Gordon Edes, with how he ends HIS piece:
There are three games remaining in this series. For the doubters and for themselves, the Sox need to win two.
First off, does he really think the Sox care about "the doubters" (read: him)? Their only concern is to win games They didn’t win last night, they’re going to try and win tonight. This isn’t rocket science, Tony. I’m pretty sure Tito doesn’t care whether or not you think the team needs to win two out of four. (And, for the record, every Sox fan I know said "they need to win at least 2 out of the 4 games – every Yankees fan said the same thing. That’s what fans expect, Tony, for their team to win. Doesn’t make them ‘doubters’.)
I will never understand people’s desire to rub someone’s pain in their face. Boston sports writers (normally, I do have to give most of them their props this morning…maybe they’re all watching hockey?) seem to do that really well.
Before I forget, kudos to the Yankees fans who left in the 7th inning last night. It was a mass exodus. As I wrote in the comments last night, you leave when your team is losing and you leave when they’re winning. I will never get that. Ever.
So the Yankees took a good one last night. Doesn’t mean Beckett is ‘done’. (I don’t know what question preceded it, but some idiot actually asked Tito something last night that made him respond with “We think he’s a keeper, He just got roughed up a little bit.†.)
"We think he’s a keeper". I, too, happen to think he’s a keeper. And the fact that some idiot asked Tito a question to warrant that response? I mean, really guys, give it a break. If y’all want to burn this team down a month before the All-star game, while they are a half game out of first place, you’re going to have to do it alone.
David Pauley is on the mound tonight. I don’t expect a win (although I certainly believe they can win it tonight), but I expect my team will show up and do what they can to make sure we get a win. SO I know they’ll make it interesting trying to prove me wrong. And hey, the team got the win the last time he pitched (even though he didn’t) so anything can happen.
Which is exactly why I watch this game and root for the team that I do.
Have a great day folks!