Red Sox fans saw the 2006 baseball season come to an end Sunday. It ended on a somber note because they failed to reach the post season. I imagine that the owners are rather disappointed also in seeing this high paid bunch fall short of their yearly goal. Did they get their bang for the buck? They did from players such as Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz and as much as they were pleasantly surprised in the performance of Jonathan Papelbon they were once again frustrated by their prima donna player, one named Manny Ramirez.
It seems, especially lately, that each year the Red Sox play well enough in the first half of the season to be in first place. They generate a lot of excitement and the fans who call those sometimes obnoxious talk shows start discussing who they will play in the post season. They always have a tendency to put the cart before the horse so to speak. Three months don’t make a season, yet they will look ahead to October and try to set up the pitching rotation for the ALCS. They seem to forget that they are in the same division as the mighty team from the Bronx.
The high expectations are often unmet and there lies the problem. They have a tendency to look at their team through rose colored glasses. The adjective great is thrown around like a cheap cigar whenever they describe one of the team members. Matt Clement wins a couple of games and he is compared to the next Roger Clemens. Ten starts later and he’s ready for the scrap heap.
Next year do yourself a favor and try to assess the team with an open mind. If you thought this year’s team could compete with the Yankees, you’re probably one of those pink hat fans sitting with a cell phone glued to one ear while waving to the camera. Their third place finish behind the Yankees and Blue Jays is probably exactly where they should have placed.
The old Red Sox fans who remember “Space Man” Lee, “Stone fingers” Stuart and Dick “The Monster” Radatz have been placated by 2004 World Series victory. The newer Red Sox nation has jumped aboard and come along for the ride. They are nothing but fair weather fans who use Fenway as the place to be seen. They don’t come to watch the Red Sox, they come so others can see them at the ballpark. Do they care if the Sox lose? No, because they come to sit on the monster, or to be seen with RemDog and Wally or to have their picture taken with the World Series trophy. It’s all about them.
Unfortunately for this year they will not be able to bask in the national spotlight that would be afforded to them if their team reached the post season. They will have much to root for because former Red Sox players such as Nomar, Johnny Damon, Alan Embree, Clay Meredith, Rudy Seanez, David Wells, Scott Williamson, Josh Bard, Mark Bellhorn, Todd Walker, Dave Roberts, Derek Lowe, Aaron Sele, Jay Payton, Jeff Suppan, and Mike Myers will be playing and to top it all off the much maligned Grady Little will be managing. The player I most wanted to see play, Pedro Martinez has been shelved because of injuries.
Now is time to speculate on all the possible off-season moves that Theo and his band could make. Rest assured of one thing and that is that ticket prices to Fenway will increase once again next year.
I’m glad I’ve been following the Twins for a long time. At least I’ve been rewarded with two World Series Championships. Not bad for a small market team who’s payroll is half of what the Red Sox have.
Wait until next year.
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