Go! Go! Red Sox!!!

WIN IT FOR

一个54页回贴的POST。 让我泪流满面的帖子。
感谢大家， 病稍微好点了。 也许是心情的缘故吧。

Win It For
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Win it for Johnny Pesky, who deserves to wear a Red Sox uniform in the dugout during the 2004 World Series. Mr. Henry, the trophy needs to be presented first of all to him.

Win it for Bobby Doerr, who, through the sadness of losing his beloved Monica, would love to see his Sox finally defeat New York in Yankee Stadium. Revenge is best served cold.

Win if for Dommie, the most loyal and devoted of men. If he hadn't gotten hurt in Game 7 of the '46 Series, Enos Slaughter would never have scored.

Win it for Carl Yastrzemski. While his heart still aches today, may a smile break through his personal storm-cloud this evening. His beloved son, Mike, will show us the way. God speed, number eight.

Win it for Ted, who once said, "If they ever won it, I would feel so @#%$ warm inside."

Win it for Tony, who taught us all the meaning of courage and grit. A day doesn't go by when I don't think of you, number 25.

Win it for Nedly and Ken and Possum - who provided us with nothing less than the soundtrack to our childhoods.

Win it for Richard Gorman, who followed the team passionately while residing in Queens and the Bronx. He was a master teacher, a supportive friend, and a diehard Red Sox fan.

Win if for Stiffy - who saw firsthand Denny Galehouse's hanging curves, worshiped the Golden Greek even after he died so suddenly back in '55, and got misty-eyed when Rico Petrocelli began to back-peddle on a squirting pop-up to short left-field on a placid October afternoon back in 1967.

Win if for Cheri - may she cry on Giff's shoulders tonight in pure joy and emotion - and not in the stew of pathos. Cheri's unconditional love for the Red Sox serves as a genuine measuring stick for us all.

Win it for Felix - who began living out "The September of My Years" last month as he hit fifty; a fan who has always believed that the impossible is just not a dream.

Win it for Eric Van. Eric, you have truly embodied Hemingway's definition of courage recently. Grace under pressure, indeed.

Win if for Eric Van's father.

Win it for Dalton and Moose and Norm and Buck and Zup and all of the other old-timers on this board whose lives have defined the virtue of loyalty.

Win it for our far-off posters, from Manila to Montana to Mark in London, who have continually kept the home fires burning thousands of miles away from Route 128.

Most of all, win it for James Lawrence Kelly, 1913-1986. This one's for you, Daddy. You always told me that loyalty and perseverance go hand in hand. Thanks for sharing the best part of you with me.

AT LAST

GAME 3

没有想到这场比赛居然是这样的，少了些兴奋和紧张。我想象中应该是异常激烈的。SUPPAN 和 WALKER 跑垒失误，居然断送了他们第三场几乎所有的机会。

PEDRO的表现很出色，这么多场以来，难得的好。仅有的两次险情也都被队友一一化解，更有 MANNY 和 VERITEK 进攻得分，为 PEDRO 的胜利奠定基础。根据NL的规则，投手也要上垒打球，PEDRO戴着 HITTER 帽子的样子很好笑，我从来没看他这个样子，举着棒子乖乖等着被三振，也居然混到了一次保送。回去的时候，MILLAR 他们肯定都在笑话他。

ORTIZ 当一垒手的样子也很好笑，居然还没出什么纰漏。

也许 PEDRO 也觉得这可能是穿 RED SOX 队服上场的最后一役了，所以赛后的发言特别感性，就象 FAREWELL SPEECH 一样。那些记者很讨厌，在这样的时候问续约的问题很可恶。今年的 FREE AGENT 有好几个。VERITEK，LOWE，CABRERA，PEDRO，我一个都不想让他们走。PEDRO 说了，如果他到最后不得不走的话，就一定是管理层挽留不利，但 RED SOX 有那么多钱把他留下吗？签个短合同 PEDRO 应该也不会干的。

不知道今天晚上 LOWE 的表现会怎么样，希望和上一场一样好吧，这样明年能签个好价钱。

GAME 2

为了庆祝伟大的红袜打败洋基夺得美国联盟冠军，mets同学特意从纽约赶到波士顿来观看红袜和红雀的世界冠军赛。比赛结果是，我们又赢了。。。

SCHILLING 在六局先发中依然表现骁勇，虽然鲜血还是一样染红了袜子，却一样气势夺人，六局只丢一分还不是自责分，仅释出四支安打全面封杀红雀的黄金打阵，让我们真是佩服之至。

在地人 BELLHORN 的二垒安打又得关键两分，这真是真是，三年不发市，发市吃三年啊。他接下来即使再变成 KKHORN，波士顿人民也会原谅他的。看下面的照片，这家伙跳得多高！

BILL BUELLER又搞出三个ERROR，真让我快崩溃了。居然在接球的时候因为吹泡泡糖而搞了个ERROR出来，这么心不在焉的，搞什么搞？！

在赛后我们又用了大量时间和 mets 请教了很多棒球知识，受益匪浅。在对JETER的恶劣评价上，我们达成了高度一致。

GAME 1

FENWAY PARK 终于又挂上一面旗子，2004。

真不容易啊，赢了第一场。大起大落。

RED SOX 这种防守，不知道能在WS走多远。太可怕了，失误到离谱。

BELIEVE

---- There can be miracle, when you believe.......

今天是星期五了。五天前的下午，天气也和今天一样阴沉，寒风刺骨。我躲在家里看电视和上网，虽然努力的不去想前一天晚上的 8 比19，但所到之处无一不沉浸在痛苦之中，哀鸿遍野。各种文章的标题仿佛在为这一季的红袜举行葬礼，0比3的失利已经为这个秋天划上了句号，一切就等今天晚上的第四场失利，等着比赛结束后，打包行李，再开始期待又一年的东山再起。

现在回想几天前，在那个星期天的午夜 12 点以前，到底有没有人会在那个时候想到红袜会有今天的从 0 比 3 到 4 比 3 的逆转呢？MLB的历史上是没有的。NBA的历史上也是没有的。一百年来，只有NHL的历史上发生过这种离奇的事情。有谁能想到呢？上帝一定是知道的，但上帝般主宰着红袜这86年来命运的 BABY RUTH，你想到了么？

我当然是想不到的。我做过的，只是那天下午，在BLOG上面留下"This season is over." 就离开了。我们还有生活要过，要买菜，要吃饭，要买东西，然后回家。

是在到达 KENMORE SQ 之前，吴凡的一句话改变了这一切。他说，我们 U-TURN 回去看看吧。我说好，然后回去，就在那里待到夜里两点多。

那一场比赛看得我们忘记了时间，寒冷，沮丧，落魄。看台上到处是充满信心的球迷，场上是永不放弃的红袜队员们，是他们教会了我一个词，BELIEVE。我想那一场比赛会留在很多人一生的永久记忆里，就象有的人写的标语，“BORN IN 1918，STILL BELIEVE。” 如果我们的儿子能在这个时候出生就好了，我们一定让他将来打棒球。

这一场比赛的逆转，DAVE ROBERTS 的那个偷垒，ORTIZ 的那个HOMER，让接下来的三场比赛成为可能。经历了第四场的心跳，第五场和第六场几乎让人停止呼吸。阳关三叠在赢了第五场以后说，明天要是能赢下来，第七场就差不多。一切真的就是这样，RED SOX 又在第七场大胜 YANKEES，在死敌 YANKEES 的主场庆祝 ALCS 冠军的荣誉。那一天晚上，打开任何新闻体育频道，都在谈论 RED SOX 的胜利。那一天晚上，FENWAY PARK 附近聚集了六万球迷，在骚乱中，还有一个女孩被子弹打中不治而死。

现在，这一切都结束了，RED SOX 要走向世界大赛了。很多人都在说红袜精神，是真正的体育精神，不服输，不气馁，即使落后到无路可退，也要一直拼下去，这真的是让我成为一个 SOX FAN 的重要原因。但这种精神我不知道要怎么样用文字来描述，再说下去可能就是那时候说中国女排的拼搏精神等等，这些年已经没有什么人提了。但这一次，让我最感动的还是 RED SOX 坚持到最后一刻的毅力，队友们团结一致的精神，让我永远也不会忘记。面对红雀，RED SOX 曾经两次在世界大赛中败给的队伍，不管我们能走多远，只要象前四场一样，一场一场的拼，永不放弃信念，到最后，是不是拿下世界冠军，我想我都会是一个 DIEHARD RED SOX FAN。

DAVID ORTIZ
ORTIZ 得到了今年 ALCS 的MVP。不知道2002年放弃他不要的 Minnesota Twins 今年看到他的成就该做何感想。这个两次把 RED SOX 从平局带入胜利的胖子，看起来那么老，实际上还很年轻呢，不管怎么样，看起来也比那个药虫 BARRY BONDS 顺眼多了。

这是ORTIZ在第五场偷垒被OUT的那个镜头，ORTIZ大叫，COME ON。连解说都说，这应该是成功的偷垒，但没办法，裁判没看见。

但是很快，在第14个INNING，ORTIZ打出了一个再见德州安打，赢得了全场比赛的胜利。

DAVE ROBERTS
这个奔跑飞快的小个子，在LA DODGES是第一棒，到了 RED SOX 只能当个 PINCH RUNNER，但他是最让我有了信心的一个。不仅是那个关键的偷垒成功，还因为他每次比赛的时候站在 DUGOUT 旁边为队友加油打气的举动。一个好的球队，队员之间的团结和互相鼓励是能够开发最大潜能赢得比赛的强大动力。

CURT SCHILLING
SCHILLING来到 RED SOX 颇有点戏剧性。在 BOSTON GLOBLE 的一篇对 RED SOX 的GM，THEO 的专访上面写的，去年好几个队在争夺SCHIILING，包括 YANKEES。THEO 也是其中之一。感恩节就象中秋节，是阖家团聚的日子，而THEO去年的感恩节，是和SCHILLING一家一起在ARIZONA过的。不知道是不是这样的GM感动了SCHILLING，还是SCHILLING自己说的，因为 RED SOX 这将近一百年来悲情的命运，NEW ENGLAND 这一票最忠实地保持信念的球迷，最终让他在今年来到了 RED SOX。

在 ALDS 的第一场，SCHILLING的右脚踝韧带撕裂，因此，在 ALCS 的第一场，前两个 INNING，SCHILLING 就丢了6分，他回到 DUGOUT 的时候，教练紧紧的抱了SCHILLING 一下，SCHILLING 也低下了头。赛后队医们检查过伤势，就宣布说 SCHILLING 可能不能上了，因为脚踝要尽快做手术。但在第六场的时候，RED SOX 看起来已经没有可靠的先发投手可以上的时候，我们的 SCHILLING 又上了。听说是在赛前把表皮和肌腱先缝合，然后打了封闭止痛，但一活动就又会撕裂开来，血就重新渗出来，把袜子染成了真正的红袜子。这样做的危险 SCHILLING 肯定是知道的，他要担负运动生涯报销的风险，我猜这个时候，自私的 PEDRO 肯定就不会上了，但 SCHILLING 居然咬牙打了七局，仅失一分，有四局让对手三上三下。看他每次回到 DUGOUT 的时候，用毛巾蒙着头的样子，我都心疼死了；每看他投一个球，我的心都跟着疼一下，真是 TOUGH GUY 啊 SCHILLING。你是在 RED SOX 里面，我最敬佩的人。

JOHNNY DAMON 和 MARK BELLHORN
这一对难兄难弟，在整个季后赛表现黯淡了一路，最后时刻石破惊天的打了四个HOME RUN，把 RED SOX 带进了最后胜利。

这是 DAMON 的 GRAND SLAM

这是后来被裁判更正的那个 BELLHORN 的三分全垒打。

DEREK LOWE 和 TIM WAKEFIELD
这两个投手是因为成绩不佳而未被教练选中参加季后赛的，WAKEFIELD可能会上一场先发。但随着赛事变化，LOWE居然担任了两场先发，而且表现优异。WAKEFIELD救援的三个INNING表现也很好，VERITEK居然在三个INNING里面漏接了七次，足见蝴蝶球的威力。

D-LOWE不知道今年会不会离开。

WAKEFIELD是 RED SOX 自己培养起来的人，阳关三叠说应该签他到他退役。

还想写写 ORLANDO CABRERA 和 VERITEK，实在累了，改天再说，WS还要继续。
GO RED SOX！！！

FENWAY PARK 100 年

NIKE 的广告，在这里

100年来 FENWAY PARK，真是好感人呐。阳关三叠有一次说，他也要写，从 GREAT CY YOUNG 开始写，写 100 年。

那天打电话的时候，真的很为他担心，我自己也是每天难受，难受了这么长时间，所以很知道他的痛苦。阳关三叠，你快点好起来吧，自从那天你说“唉，什么都不用说了”，到现在，还有很多很多要说的吧。我也努力学习，帮你写这 100 年。

MIRACLE WORKER

这是昨天BOSTON.COM的REDSOX首页标题。
先转贴一篇。

红袜推翻「邪恶帝国」　期待射落红雀再写复仇史 路透社
10/22 15:10

[路透波士顿电]「奇迹缔造者」--这是波士顿环球报周四送给红袜棒球队的称号。

红袜队在美国联盟冠军系列赛淘汰纽约洋基，朝夺下86年来的第一个世界大赛冠军迈出了一大步。

这支被认为受到诅咒的队伍，在七战四胜系列赛先输三场后神奇逆转，以四连胜淘汰红袜球迷所称的「邪恶帝国」，夺得他们自1986年以来的首个美联冠军，并缔造大联盟季后赛的最伟大后来居上纪录。

在宿敌主场痛宰对手，对长期痛苦不堪的红袜球迷至为重要。红袜球团老板称洋基为「邪恶帝国」；洋基则在过去80年来不断打破红袜封王美梦。

洋基与红袜之间的恩怨非同寻常，整个新英格兰地区的球迷周三晚上都彻夜狂欢。

「每个人都称他们是一对宿敌，其实它更像是世仇，因为红袜一直是失败的一方，」ESPN网站的专栏作者Bill Simmons对路透说。

波士顿的棒球专栏作者Dan Shaughnessy把10月20日称为「波士顿棒球的Bastille Day」。
红袜的季后赛不仅成为引人瞩目的美国文化现象，而且对11月2日的总统大选甚至都有微妙的影响。

如果休斯敦航天员周四击败圣路易红雀，夺得国联冠军，那么今年的世界大赛堪称来自德州的共和党总统George W. Bush和民主党麻州参议员John Kerry之间角逐的体育翻版。

**再次复仇**
不过，圣路易红雀最后在国家联盟冠军赛第七战以5-2主场击败航天员，自1987年以来首度进军世界大赛。

身为红袜球迷的Kerry在选战途中观看了周三比赛的大部分赛事，还指着电视机发表评论道︰「他们是当今最伟大的反败为胜之师。纪律、纪律、纪律。」

如今，红袜球迷期待再次复仇。红袜与圣路易红雀曾在1946年与1967年的世界大赛中对决，但红雀两度击败红袜封王。

--翻译 段晓冬

STILL, WE BELIEVE

ALCS 的历史上，有二十五次，一队领先另外一队三比零的时候，只有五次，只有五次而已，落后的这支队伍赢得了第四场的胜利。这大概就是史帝分·金在昨天晚上接受电视访问，当他做为一个坚定的 SOX FAN，预言 SOX 的胜利之时，主持人会当场无礼的表示怀疑的原因。

昨天我和吴凡从88买完菜回家，在BROOKLINE AVE上面，远远的看到 PRUDENTIAL，用他们大楼每个房间的灯光，组合出两个巨大的字：GO SOX。这一瞥之后，心里就再也无法平静。每次比赛时看到的飞艇，也在天上飘着。

经过 FANWAY PARK 的时候，这第四场比赛才刚刚开始。经过了第三场被屠宰的打击，我们还能在开过 FENWAY PARK 之后又 U-TURN 回来，其实只是想看看那里有没有人，他们在做些什么。路上如我们预期，真的没有几个人。车刚一靠边就有人过来，一问票他就说有，我们问多少钱他说一百块一张，GRANDSTAND。这个数目出乎我们预料的便宜。毕竟这也是美联的冠军决赛啊，而且的而且，这很可能就是今年最后一场了，何况的何况，又是和 YANKEES。虽然我们两个加起来连二十块钱都没有，但还是决定吴凡去领钱买票，我去停车。当然最后的结果肯定是吴凡拿到票以后再去停车，而我则先跑进去看比赛了。

这是我第一次去 FENWAY PARK，里面乱糟糟的，又脏又破，四面漏风，到处是啤酒炸鸡热狗，混合着各种男性香水的味道。一个建成了一百年还在使用中的球场，我不应该期望它好到怎样。

等我终于找到自己的位子的时候，前后左右都是人不说，我还遭到大家的盘问：
“说！你是 YANKEES FAN 不是？”
“对对，先说清楚！”
“开什么玩笑，我当然是 SOX FAN！”
“真的不是？”
“真的不是！”
“那好，回答正确，你可以坐下了。”
等我坐下之后，后面的一个老头还提醒我：这一片是不许 YANKEES FAN坐的。
大家一阵轰笑。
这时候第一个 INNING 已经结束了。SOX 队员在场上练球准备下个INNING的防守。

球场比我在电视上看到的，要小一些，但异常明亮。电力公司的广告说，LIGHT UP整个FENWAY PARK，需要一百万瓦的电力，真不是盖的，亮如白昼。因为明亮，所以每一个队员看起来也都异常清晰。电视上虽然能看到眼睫毛，但在这里，我随时可以看到场上的每一个角落，除了 RED SOX 的 DUGOUT，因为我们就坐在它的正上方。

我上次看球还是一两年前在 FLEET CENTER 看姚明，那是体育馆里面。再之前在露天体育场看过几次演唱会，看球则是在北京看国安和泰山吧，还是泰达，反正是山东的，轰炸使馆游行那天了。同样是主场，同样是本城最受青睐的队伍，同样是对裁判不太满意，但两国的看球可真是太不一样了。

就说气氛吧，波士顿的看球气氛要热烈太多了。当然这可能和对手和比赛重要性有关，但工体要热起来，可是有号称七万观众的，比这里的人要多一倍，工体要有这么热闹，玻璃都要掉下来了。我说的气氛，主要是看球的人多，FENWAY PARK昨天有三万四千多名观众，我的前后左右没有一个空位，但在北京，一场比赛是不是能有这么多人看我也很怀疑，尤其是现在。。。

喊口号的人多，这里的观众没有什么用喇叭的，都是靠真气与胸腔共鸣，居然全场也能发出那么大的声音，真是很让人佩服。喊口号的时候也多，比赛的时候大概每过一两分钟，我们这一片就会有人带着喊一次，带头的不仅有老头，小伙子，也有小姑娘，小孩，全场各片都是如此，所以声浪不停，一波接着一波。

喊口号的种类也要多出很多，美语虽然用词简单吧，但还是能分成几大类的。第一类就是简单加油的，GO SOX 和 LET'S GO RED SOX，LET'S GO RED SOX每个人能在比赛中喊上几百遍。还有一类当然是打击对手的，别的队来比赛我不知道喊些什么，反正 YANKEES 来的话，就肯定是 YANKEE SUCKS了，还有些就是 JETER JERK之类的，这种只是有时会有人出来喊一嗓子，无法形成万人一词，有节奏的“朱六一，傻X”。打击对手的反面当然就是鼓励自己的队员，大概除了 BELLHORN，每个人在场上都会被屡次点名，GO MANNY，GO D-LOWE，GO DAVID，GO JOHNNY，这些都很多。对自己的队员失望，对裁判失望，对某个坏球失望，除了沉默之外，只有一句：COME ON，或者 COME ON MANNY。昨天上场的大概六个先发和救援的投手，除了 TIMLIN，每个人在走回 DUGOUT 的时候，都赢得了全场观众的起立和热烈掌声。

观众站着看球的时候可是真不少，昨天的比赛打了五个多小时，我大概站了一半的时间。因为我如果不站起来，就看不见。从第三个 INNING 开始，每次到了 YANKEES 队员两出局，两好球的时候，大家就要站起来先鼓掌叫嚣一番，一直等到这第三个人被杀出局。而到了 RED SOX 进攻的时候，则是从头站到尾，真是累死我了。每打出一支安打或者得分，邻近的人就要和周围的人 GIVE ME FIVE 一圈，坐我旁边的小男孩甚至在严寒中脱掉了上衣挥舞。

当然，在众多的袜子饭中间，也有很少数摆明了立场的洋基饭，他们穿了洋基标志的衣服，所以很好认，在这种气氛之下，他们的声音完全发不出来，脸色看起来都臭臭的，可能就象袜子饭在洋基体育场看球的遭遇一样吧。

不过，两队球迷该打架的时候还是会打架，不管是在论坛上还是球场里面，球场外面。让大家真动手，这在北京大概是不会发生的，北京人最多互相骂骂算了。在 FANWAY PARK 外面，昨天布置了大批警察，骑马的，牵警犬的，各种防爆工具和车辆都在那里，看起来很吓人。这有情可原，被 YANKEES SWEEP 之后球迷的反应，恐怕要比被 TAMPA BAY 魔鬼鱼 SWEEP 的结果还要吓人。

第三场输了，被迫接受这个事实之后心情当然沉重，但是去看比赛，包袱也就放下了。周围的人在休息的时候不停的喝啤酒，说笑，我们也去买热狗饮料，到处遛达。天气真的很冷，我们又没有在外面待这么久的准备，开始坐下的时候冻得手脚冰凉。但一旦场上开始领先了，就因为激动而喊口号，因为站起来坐下去的运动而温暖起来。

Johnny Damon 和 BELLHORN 在季后赛中的表现让人惊讶，打击率创下了难以置信的新低，0.056 和 0.071，球迷还是喜欢 JOHNNY 的，认为他可以被原谅。只有 BELLHORN 成了真正的软脚虾，每次我看到他被 STRIKE OUT，低着头走会 DUGOUT 的时候，都会在心里生出些怜悯，一个球员自己不想打成这样，但结果终究如此的时候，心理上承受的压力真是可想而知。我也不知道 BELLHORN是不是在乎这些，球迷在叫，BELLHORN！SWING！！！可他就是举着棒子一动不动，真是服了。

昨天上场的棒次，教练做了小小的改动，ORLANDO CABRARA 和 BELLHORN 的位置对调了一下，ORLANDO 是用 NORMA 换来的，以他的防守来说我觉得是不错的。但 mets 每次和我说 ORLANDO 其实是摘桃子的时候我都很不服，毕竟在季后赛中他也有0.353的打击率，RBI也有四分进帐，常规赛的优秀表现延续到了季后赛，怎么还能说他是摘桃子呢？昨天的第一分就是 ORLANDO 的一个 SINGLE 取得一分打点。

当然，比赛的结果大家都知道了。RED SOX 以 6 比 4 赢了 YANKEE 活了下来。最大的功臣是 ORTIZ 在第12个INNING的两分再见全垒打，除此之外，我觉得 DAVE ROBERTS 可以和 ORTIZ 并列。当用他换下被保送的 KEVIN MILLAR 的时候，BILL MUELLER 上。全世界的眼睛都在看着 DAVE ROBERTS，因为每一个人都知道他要偷垒。面对全联盟最牛的 CLOSER，他一点也不畏惧，成功跑到二垒！这一时刻太激动人心了。这就好象卢浮宫里面挂着的蒙娜丽莎，全世界都知道 ROBERTS 要偷走，全世界有最好的警力严密看守，但他居然就在警察的眼皮底下把画偷走了。这一次偷垒，奠定了加时赛的基础，当 BILL MUELLER 打出一支 SINGLE 的时候，矮小的 ROBERTS 飞一般的从二垒跑回本垒，防守球员甚至都没有把球传回本垒，因为，ROBERTS 已经到了。四比四平！！！在第九局的下半，就在这个小个子的飞奔中，红袜子把比分追平了！！！

之后就是救援投手们使出浑身解数在阻止 YANKEES 的反攻，一直把平局的比分保持到第12个INNING，MANNY打出一个 SINGLE 上垒之后，ORTIZ 一记重镑，打出又一次历史性的再见全垒打。全场欢声雷懂，球迷们流着泪水拥抱与欢呼，队员们抱在一起又叫又跳。无数的媒体记者扛着摄影机跑到场中间。

我和吴凡也跑到 DUGOUT 旁边。OH MY GOD！我见到了我心中的每一个英雄，他们走出电视，就站在我的面前。他们没有ROSTER上面写的那么高，也没有电视上显得胖，ORTIZ 只是很魁梧而已，ORLANDO 则是一个小瘦子。我大叫 ORLANDO I LOVE YOU，他也不知道听到没有。哈哈。

TERRY FRANCONA和 THEO 也出来接受采访。还有好多电视节目的主持人也在那里站着，ESPN的FOX的WB56的，NESN的，好多呀，看起来都那么熟悉，可他们现在就近在眼前，脸上都有些化妆的样子，等着队员出来，或者自己对着镜头说着。

这时候已经是夜里两点了，比赛进行了快六个小时，做一个棒球节目的记者可真不容易。

我们依依不舍的走了。但还是很高兴。回去经过 CHINATOWN 的时候，还遇到我们旁边坐的那几个脱上衣的小男孩，他们对我们大叫GO SOX，我们也大叫，WE WON！WE WON!!

从1918年拿了世界冠军之后，一直到1946年，RED SOX 才又重回季后赛，再下一次，是1967年。那中间的五十年，RED SOX FANS 每到 POSTSEASON 的时候，该多么寂寞啊。五十年的时间，够我爸爸从小男孩变成老头了。多少 RED SOX FANS，就是这样等了一生，等白了头发，一代人又一代人，却从来没有丧失过信仰，从来都坚信，等待，重回世界大赛，拿冠军的一刻。我是从来不相信什么 CURSE 的，倔倔说，做一个 SOX FAN，让我们从无神论者变成有神论者，又从有神论者变成无神论者，就是这样来回来去的折磨。今天又看到阳关三叠染病的消息，心里很难过，所以写下昨天看球的经过，和你分享，哪怕这个季后赛只有这一场胜利，但我们也毕竟是赢了。也许今年还是打不进 WORLD SERIES，还是拿不了世界冠军，但我相信，在我们的有生之年，都会看到这一天。生病让你的身体受损，但是，你也教过我呀，让我去看RED SOX的那个电影，名字叫，STILL，WE BELIEVE。

你也要加油。

This season is over.

这真是一个漫长的赛季，这个秋天也是漫长的。窗外邻居家的几株枫树一直火红的不肯退色，路上的树木也红的此起彼伏，人人都在说这是一个火红的十月。但这个红十月在昨晚的凌晨，在夜色中随着一个19比8的屠杀悄然落幕。

对于关心 RED SOX 的所有人来说，昨天应该是一个被永远记住的日子。
Once you mean disaster, that means couldn't be worse.

Naturally, it's a disaster

By Eric Wilbur, Boston.com Staff | October 16, 2004

Oh, so NOW you want the Twins. Hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.

This series is over. Baseball in Boston is over for another season. If you headed to the game this evening, you’re forgiven for leaving in the seventh. Not to avoid traffic. To avoid watching the Yankees celebrate on your team’s home turf.

Last night the bats finally came alive. Too little to late in what was an all-time ugly 19-8 win. This time it was that vaunted Red Sox pitching staff that fell apart. You remember, the one that had Boston “favored” in this ALCS. I suppose the Yankees winning is an “upset” then.

This wasn’t a baseball game. It was a deflating pinball wizard of an all too common disaster in these parts. When the game was more than three hours old, it was in the seventh inning, running at an excruciating pace. Even worse for Sox fans who had longer to watch their team fall into a 3-0 hole. Stay away from Manhattan for some time. The nausea is going to be overwhelming. Doubly so if you try one of those hot dog vendors.

There will be plenty of eulogies over the next couple days, so we’ll spare you one here now. But know this. This Red Sox team, the vanilla Red Sox for nearly half a season, choked at the wrong moment. The Yankees are their Daddy for reasons unknown. As one New York fan on the Manhattan subway following Boston’s loss in Game 2 put it, “You take those players, put pinstripes on them, and they win the World Series.”

And he’s right. We don’t know why he’s right, but he is.

It could be a nuclear winter for the Boston Red Sox roster. But we’ll discuss that at some other time. For now enjoy your last chance this year to watch what was admittedly a fun Boston team. Then prepare to assume your normal position for the winter, wondering where the hell it all went wrong.

Seeing as we’re sure after the National Anthem most of you ran out and picked up the Cowsills’ greatest hits and were forced to miss the game, here’s a recap…

First Inning: After spending nine hours over the past two days at a Fenway Park with less action than my post-prom party experience, and more than 68 hours after the last pitch was thrown in this series, Bronson Arroyo unleashes a first-pitch strike to Derek Jeter. Jeter backs away from the plate like it’s far too inside because, well, that’s what Jeter does on EVERY PITCH.

Following a Jeter walk, Alex Rodriguez drives him in with a double down the left field line. The only chance Manny Ramirez has at throwing Jeter out at home is that he’s not Johnny Damon. It’s not enough.

Hideki Matsui plants a 1-2 pitch into the bullpens in right field, and it’s 3-0 Yankees less than 10 minutes into the game. Arroyo is not confusing anyone, as the Yankee bats are swatting his pitches around Fenway. In fact, the only person he’s confused in the whole park is Tim McCarver, who still can’t figure out his name.
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I’m seated in the makeshift right field press section the Sox trot out come ALCS time. In Section 3. Should this concern me, particularly after Dan Shaughnessy rode back from New York Thursday on Flight 1918? Maybe this is all a ruse and there’s really no coincidence to it at all. Yeah, that’s it. A ruse.

Following a Ramirez infield base hit, which must have erroneously put it into his head that he is indeed, fast, David Ortiz singles to right, and Manny makes like the Energizer bunny for third. No contest. It may have been the first time Dale Sveum tried to stop a runner all year.

Second Inning: The temptation of free cornrows, as one barber salon was dishing out early yesterday morning on Lansdowne Street, really had the gerbil working overtime on my way into the office. Then I remembered the whole balding thing and decided against, thinking I might look like something out of “Hellraiser.”

Trot Nixon puts the first jolt of caffeine into the sold out crowd with a two-run bomb to right that cuts New York’s lead to one. The first “Yankees Suck” chant also breaks out. The highly offended among us try to explain that it’s not true. Yeah, neither is McDonald’s, “I’m lovin’ it.” So what?

The crowd really lets Kevin Brown have it, chanting his name. I wonder if Brown likes being the center of attention of the city of Boston. After all, just last year he was in Los Angeles, sitting under a palm tree with barely enough money to rent a yacht to Catalina.

RIGHT NOW! Kevin Brown is getting hammered.

Jeter bobbles a ball, and it’s 4-3 Sox. Questions begin to arise about the man’s deity.

Third Inning: Back to the Cowsills, who in addition to the Anthem, sang their hit, “Hair,” which I guess is apropos with this band of free-flowing locks Red Sox. But who exactly is lining up the singers for these ALCS games? Last year, Joey McIntyre and Michael Bolton were roundly booed during their renditions, and the ‘Sills (the inspiration for the Patridge Family!) didn’t exactly receive an outpouring of acknowledgement from the Fenway fans.

Then again, I guess it’s one less day that the Dropkick Murphys perform.

Which brings to mind a suggestions reader Steve Sylven submitted: “Hey Eric- Now that the Sox have proclaimed themselves "idiots" do you think we can implement a new theme song? I'm thinking we go with Jane's Addiction's "Idiots Rule" and finally dropkick the Murphy's over the Green Monster? I can't stand the thought of winning it all this year and having to hear Tessie for the rest of my lifetime.”

I like it. Although I’m sure when Charles Steinberg hears the lyrics, it won’t fly. Where’s Dickie Barrett when you need him most?
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A-Rod plants one over the left field wall and ties the game back up. A couple more hits later, Terry Francona makes his way to yank Arroyo, who obviously doesn’t have it. Ramiro Mendoza makes his way to the mound, and actually receives applause from eight fans down the first base line.

In the ALDS, Arroyo threw the best start of all Boston starters. This series, by far the worst with two-plus innings, allowing six runs. As Chris Berman would call a strikeout, “Ughagh.”

Torre lifts Brown after just two innings, in favor of Javier Vazquez. We can only assume this is because Ja-Ve-Air is tougher to chant.

Fourth Inning: It is 10 p.m. and I did just write fourth inning correct? At the rate this one is going, it’ll be a nice little three hour nap before we’re all back here again tomorrow.

Which reminds me…must tape “Desperate Housewives.”

They ran out of Swiss Miss up here and I thought more than a few of the New York media guys were going to lose it. Like BA Baracus before he flies.

Sheffield. Bomb. 9-6. It is THE FOURTH INNING.

Triple. 11-6. FOURTH INNING. This game in the end is going to have more runs than your average day at Taco Bell.

Fifth Inning: Before the game, Howie Long, in town for Sunday’s Patriots-Seahawks game, and the rest of the FOX NFL crew were hanging out down by the Red Sox dugout. Long was giving Mets pitcher Al Leiter, who by all accounts has been great in the booth, some advice about the broadcasting business. Hopefully he passed some on to McCarver.

They should have Francona miked for this game. I can only imagine the Boston manager. “Get an out. Please, can’t someone get a &^%$#@& out?” 13-6 Yankees. The 19 runs combined thus far set an ALCS record for most runs in a game. Can we mention it is the FIFTH INNING?

Sixth Inning: Fans in right field start to chant, “We want Tanyon,” as in Worcester’s own Tanyon Sturtze. Speaking of the Sturtzes, The Newark Ledger had a piece Friday about how they were forced to convert to the dark side after their son was traded by Tampa Bay to New York. There is good news for Tanyon’s family though. His performance this season for the Yankees pretty much assures them they can go back to rooting for the Sox once the season is over.

By golly, we’ve had our first inning last less than 45 minutes. Now we’re cooking.

Seventh Inning: Mark Bellhorn picked a fine time for one of his worst games of the season. A strikeout hat trick, and now he can’t squeeze a pop fly in the top of the inning. Time for Lobel to whip out those “Pokey would have had it” bumper stickers again.

As the Yankees run it to 16-6, fans start cheering, “Let’s go Patriots.” Thousands start to file out toward the exit.

Seventh inning stretch at 11:32. This is ridiculous.

Jason Varitek homers to make it 17-8. Not exactly the moment that makes the columnists here start to re-write their pieces to alter the outcome.

Eighth inning: It’s the eighth. One more inning to go. That’s really all the commentary I have left at this point.

Sweet Caroline is a heck of a lot less peppy tonight for some reason.

Ninth Inning: Hooray!!!!!

By the time this game ends, there are going to be about 17 people left here at the rate folks are rushing to the gates, unable to take the pain anymore.

Matsui homers for two more. Don’t these guys want to go to their hotel already?

Twenty-one hits by New York tie record for an ALCS game. Boston had 21 against Roger Clemens and New York in 1999.

Twenty-two hits by New York are a new record for hits in an ALCS game.

It was the longest game in ALCS history. And quite possibly the worst.

Apparently this won't be the year the Sox enjoy a pregame ceremony at Foxborough. How many times are they going to have to invite those guys here without a return trip?

Why I still believe...a Rally Call !

晚上看到的这篇文字，其实已经是好几天前的了。第一场输掉之后的。虽然已经又输了两场，但它仍然让我难过的无以复加。

Why I still believe...a Rally Call !

From: bostonsbleachercreature Oct-14 12:53 am
To: ALL (1 of 90)
102157.1
I still believe because we as TRUE Red Sox fans want to win, many fans from the outside assume we enjoy losing, or that we cannot live with out the curse. They feel losing is winning and that the world is right when we fall.

When did we become losers, I am not a loser, my fellow sox fans aren't losers, and the last I checked we won are freedom in this great city of Boston!

I know as New Englanders, we like being the blue collar do it our way sons of b&*^es you can always count on. It's who we are and how we live and were proud of it. BUT I want to win, we all want to win.

So my fellow Red Sox fans were looking down the road and you know we have taken that street before. My question to you is which way do YOU really wanna go?

I still believe, I believe because I can't accept anything else we have for too long accpeted some thing else...THIS TEAM MORE THAN EVER NEEDS US...AND I WILL BE DAMNED IF I AM NOT HEARD ON FRIDAY NIGHT...AND I WILL BE DISAPOINTED IF YOU ALL AREN"T HEARD AS WELL...THIS IS OUR TIME, OUR SEASON...and if we gotta step in and remind our boys then for god sakes we better do it...because TRUE Boston Red Sox Fans want to win...

I STILL BELIEVE...theres no other choice!

这样的 YANKEES FAN ，才是值得被尊重的。

General - from a yankees fan notify me whenever anyone posts in this discussionSubscribe

From: djeterturn2v2 12:57 am
To: ALL (1 of 4)
103273.1
Hey guys. I am not copming to slam you.

This game was not reflective of the team you guys have.

You guys have one of the best teams in history.

Today, i watched the game in the bar surrounded by sox fans. THey were the coolest people i have ever watched a game with. I know that boston fans are loyal to their team. I respect the he!! outta all red sox fans.

Today i wish i could have got a picture of me and the sox fans sitting there watching the game togather both cheering and hoping our teams won, neither talking smack...just rooting for your team with class.

my hat goes off to boston fans in respect...you guys are a class act...you guys are the most loyal group of fans i have ever seen.

again i respect you sox fans to the utmost...thanks for being true fans and staying with your team through thick and thin

HERO OR GOAT?

boston.com上面的 POLL ，问题是这样的：

Which will most likely be Derek Lowe's designation after he starts Game 5 of the ALCS (assuming there is a Game 5)?
A. HERO
B. GOAT

2/3的人的回答是HERO，我投的是 GOAT。不过，还有一种情况没列进去，那就是： NEITHER，因为四场就可能已经结束了。和和。这个周末，为了全家的安全，我决定不去接近 FENWAY PARK 为圆心一英里内的地方。

DEREK LOWE 真的很倒霉呀，SCHILLING 上不了所以也只有他了。今年又赶上要签新合同，这个时候要做了 HERO，明年还能混下去。波士顿是不大会要他了，虽然去年还 HOT，但今年。。。现实真残酷。

去看了看 MITBBS，从波士顿版到棒球版，没有一个懂球的 FAN，除了瞎吵吵得意忘形幸灾乐祸痛不欲生，就是谴责 AROD 和 JETER 是 GAY，真是没营养到家了。还不如张耀宗。

想念阳关三叠，问了乔治，可他也不知道阳关三叠去了哪里。

KEEP THE FAITH

做一个 SOX FAN，真的很需要这句话，KEEP THE FAITH。

就象是婚姻，两个人在艰难的时候互相鼓励，在顺利的时候分享快乐，无论是什么时候，都不离不弃，互相体谅，互相忍受，这是前两天一个老朋友写给我们的话。他说，等我们到了他们的年纪，就会体会另外一种美妙了。

做一个 YANKEES FAN，是容易的，一个冠军队伍永远都不会缺少追随者，就象有钱人，永远都会被足够多的人羡慕，就象 BLUE JAYS ，永远都不会有比 YANKEE FANS 更多的追随者。对于一个可以每年用 30 MILLION 去买 AROD 这样的人的球队，其实赢起来也不会有 SOX 赢球这样的快乐。不是 AROD 不好，而是，他不值 30 个 MILLION。

输了就输了，虽然 SOX 的 OFFENSE 今天真的不行，仅仅要求 PEDRO 一分不丢，也是不会赢的，这对 PEDRO 也是不公平的。下午看到 BOSTON.COM 上面有一个和 TOM CARON CHAT 的节目，跑进去问了个问题。那时候问的是 SCHILLING 的 ANKLE 怎么样了，因为下午还没有消息。他说这个不知道，还要等 FRANCONA 晚上宣布。晚上开赛前，就知道 SCHILLING 要做手术了，第五场可能没办法上。想必队员们的心情也为此大受影响，成绩不佳，也是可以理解。今年到了 ALCS 就一切不顺了，也没有办法，如果四场都输了，那，就再等明年吧。

KEEP THE FAITH。
KEEP TO BE A SOX FAN。

WE KNOW DRAMA

这一切就象在演戏。棒球总是这样，大起大落。

输球了，但是我并不难过。如果这是第七场，输了，我可能会有点难过吧。不过，那也没有什么。
SCHILLING 一开始输的太多了，再加上 WAKEFIELD，能到这样已经不容易了。DAMON 四次被 STRIKE OUT，该到指望他的时候指望不上。MUELLER 也一样，最后一个 DOUBLE PLAY，就把他排在今年 TOP 1 的对 YANKS 的 HOMER 断送了。

我和倔倔除了有些怨叹，也有些争论，争论的要点是，第八个INNING 2 OUT 的时候，应不应该换掉 TIMLIN。根据概率来讲，Bernie Williams career with TIMLIN 为0.125，倔倔认为应该让 TIMLIN 继续。我认为应该让 TIMLIN 下，换 FOULKE 上来，因为前两天对 ANGLES 的那个臭名昭著的6：1的 BLEW OUT，让 ANGLES 打出了 GRAND SLAM。正在争着，果然不出所料，Bernie Williams打了个DOUBLE，TWO RUNS IN。这样，就造成了无法挽回的10比7。当然，ORTIZ的那个差10公分的TRIPLE也是一个遗憾，但 TIMLIN 这样的投手，完全不能信任，尤其在这样的关键时刻，完全不能信任，这应该成为 RED SOX 在今后比赛中的一个信条，要当作宪法来严格执行。

这场比赛中，最不要脸的还是 FOX 的解说，急不可耐的抱了MUSSINA 的大腿，在十分钟之后开始自扇耳光。哈哈。

下面的文章，发表在今天的 YAHOO FINANCE 上面。呵呵。

Boston's Hottest Stock
By Bob Bobala (TMF Bobala)
October 12, 2004

That queasy feeling in my stomach has returned. The Red Sox are playing the Yankees again for the American League championship, and the night sweats, indigestion, and high anxiety are back.

I have made boneheaded investment decisions. I rode Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) from $80 all the way down to $24. I am the only person in America to sell Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) at a loss. I have stood on the sidelines while hot properties such as Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) and eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) had double-digit returns -- every day during the bull run.

You can blame me for this. That's fine. I am responsible for my own actions. But I could do nothing about my birthright. I grew up in Massachusetts, heir to Boston Red Sox fan misery.

One year ago, the Sox suffered what would have been an unfathomable collapse to the Yankees in the seventh game of the League Championship Series -- except for one thing. They were the Red Sox, and if you study trends and history, you should have seen it coming. World championships since 1918? Yankees 26. Red Sox 0. The only thing the Red Sox have outpaced the Yankees at in the last 86 years is heartbroken fans.

If I charted stocks or the stars, I would be shorting the Red Sox right about now. Surely there are patterns one can find as the Sox continually rise up only to fall flat on their faces -- look at 1978, 1986, and 2003 as just the most poignant losses to New York teams.

Unfortunately, I'm not smart enough to be a technical analyst. And if you look at these Red Sox from a fundamental perspective, they look like a stock poised to take off.

First-mover status
Despite the Alex Rodriguez fiasco, the Sox moved first against the Yankees last off-season. They plugged the holes that kept them five outs away from beating the Yankees last year. They got the best starting pitcher -- and a Yankee killer -- available on the market in Curt Schilling. They got the best closer available in Keith Foulke.

They also got a new manager who presumably would have enough sense to take Pedro Martinez out of a close game after he's thrown 100 pitches and tires beyond effectiveness (this was not proved out during the regular season, but hopefully Terry Francona has learned his lesson in time for the playoffs).

Increased funding for research and development
Since new ownership and super-boy general manager Theo Epstein took over, the Red Sox have proven they are not satisfied with the status quo. Rather than swing for the fences and hope for the best, as they've done for years, they've been committed to statistical analysis to make the team better, hiring gurus like baseball statistician Bill James and enthusiastically following some of the precepts adhered to by Oakland A's GM Billy Beane -- like a steadfast focus on on-base percentage.

Beane was made famous in Michael Lewis' book, Moneyball. Tom Gardner recently did an excellent interview with the author, which you can get gratis by taking a free trial to Motley Fool Hidden Gems. (I highly recommend the book and the interview, and Tom Gardner's stock picks, too).

Taken to the extreme, Beane's philosophy involves signing unathletic fat guys who can't run or field but can hit and take a lot of walks and come cheap. It's a great way to exploit inefficiencies in the market. It's the same kind of thing we do in Motley Fool Inside Value (also available with a free trial). Buy the ugly stepchild whom no one wanted on their team; he could grow up to become Mr. Clutch.

Epstein has not taken it quite as far as Beane, but he's had some great pickups like Mark Bellhorn, who struck out 177 times this year but walked 88 times and hit 17 home runs with a .373 on-base percentage. Another walking machine, featured prominently in Moneyball, was mid-summer call-up Kevin Youkilis, who filled in admirably at third base while Bill Mueller was on the disabled list. (For more on Moneyball, see this fine column from Zeke Ashton).

In general, though, this team has adopted a playing style that makes opposing pitchers work hard. Sox batters are patient. They take a lot of pitches. They grind down the starters they face so that they can get into the other teams' bullpens more quickly, which usually leads to good hitters facing weaker pitchers.

Valuation
It's tough to say the Sox have really searched for bargains given that their payroll is some $130 million, the second-highest in baseball only to the Yankees' $180 million. But still, they paid $1.3 million per win vs. the $1.8 million per win the Yankees paid.

Sure, the Sox have a salary albatross around their necks in Manny Ramirez (though we love Manny this year!) at $20.4 million. But they also nailed down David Ortiz ($4.6 million this year) to an extended contract, and he's proceeded to do nothing but club 41 home runs and drive in 139 runs.

The aforementioned Bellhorn is only making $490,000. Gabe Kapler, who played 136 games in the outfield while Trot Nixon was hurt, cost them only $750,000. Bill Mueller is only making $2.1 million. Pokey Reese, who was the opening-day second baseman, makes just $1 million (yes, I do feel stupid saying anyone makes "just" $1 million).

Compare that with the Yankees one through nine. Second baseman Miguel Cairo is the only one without a multimillion-dollar contract (he's making about $900,000 this year).

So the Red Sox have not been afraid to make bets in value plays, and they have really gotten their money's worth.

Outstanding, emotionless management
The Sox have also benefited from some of the best front-office management in baseball. While he is one of the youngest GMs in the history of professional sports, Theo Epstein has proven to be a wily negotiator who does not give in to his emotions. He's the ultimate stoic Sox fan, and he proved it this summer when he sent New England icon Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs and got two outstanding defensive players in return -- shortstop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz.

Talk about being contrarian. Talk about being a Rule Breaker. This deal made young Theo the bogeyman for a few weeks, with fans threatening him and kids crying over the loss of their hero. But he persevered, and the Sox have thrived since that deal. With the oft-injured and sullen Garciaparra gone, the Sox clubhouse got a monkey off its back, and the defense went from giving up an unconscionable amount of unearned runs to one of the best in the league.

This is exactly the type of management you want in the companies you're investing in. You don't want anyone who manages with a sentimental streak. In fact, you don't want to be a sentimental investor. Period. Don't be afraid to swim against the currents. You can't hang on to your losers just because you like their products or because they once made you money. If their time is past, cut them loose. Be ruthless.

Don't rely on just one product
How many companies out there have had one hot product and then hit the bricks when the marketplace changed? Think Iomega (NYSE: IOM). That has been the Red Sox over the last six years, with only one ace pitcher, Pedro Martinez, on the staff.

But now they have Schilling, who entered this postseason with a 1.66 lifetime ERA in the playoffs.

And if Pedro Martinez can remember who he is -- that just a few years ago he was everybody's daddy -- the Sox have a one-two punch unlike anything since Schilling and Randy Johnson did in the Yankees for Arizona in 2001. Schilling was the co-MVP of that World Series. This man is no stranger to postseason pressure.

Pedro did falter down the stretch in September -- uttering the now infamous remark that the Yankees were his "daddy" and that they had his number after yet another heart-wrenching loss in which the manager left him in too long. But he rebounded nicely in round one against Anaheim last week, and he has a lot to prove, which should fire him up. Ex-Sox manager Grady Little's mistake for leaving him in too long aside, Pedro has had last season's Game 7 loss to the Yankees hanging over his head for a year now. He's got to be pitching for revenge. He's also pitching for a contract -- he's a free agent next year. Money is always a motivating factor.

If Francona is smart enough to take Pedro out after 100 pitches, I would not bet against him.

Exploit your opponent's weaknesses
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) has never made the best products, but it has made the most of its chances. Its eye-of-the-tiger opportunism has always eaten Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) lunch. No matter what you think of the Redmond giant, you have to give it some credit. Whenever it has smelled weakness, it has stepped on the necks of its opponents and never let them up.

Such has been the case for the Yankees, who have kept the Red Sox at bay for 86 years. The Sox too often played a stodgy type of baseball thanks to stodgy management that couldn't think outside the box. That has changed now. And while Red Sox management has become stronger off the field, the Yankees have been become weaker on the field.

Yes, they have a Murderers' Row type of lineup. But their starting pitching is not what it has been over the last several years. Gone is Clemens, Wells, and Pettitte. Instead they have a volatile and brittle Kevin Brown, an untested Javier Vazquez, a clutch but injured Orlando Hernandez, a John Lieber who pitched well down the stretch but doesn't exactly strike the fear of God in anyone, and a Mike Mussina who has crumbled under big-game pressure and is coming off a season in which his ERA was a full run over his career standard.

If ever there was an opportunity to exploit a Yankees' weakness, it is now. Mariano Rivera can't pitch three innings a game. And the Sox have already beaten him twice this year.

The hottest stock in Boston
All this puts the Red Sox in the best position to beat the Yankees since Babe Ruth helped win Boston's latest championship in 1918. (By the way, they were not always the Red Flops. Boston won world championships in 1903, 1904, 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918 -- they dominated early-20th century baseball).

Always the conflicted Red Sox fan, I'll say this, too: It could be now or never. If they can't get it done this year, I really will have to start believing in curses because I'm out of other excuses.

Here's my prediction. I predict panic attacks, nosebleeds, skin rashes, sleeplessness, weight loss, and the Red Sox in seven. For the good of my health, I'm just praying for no extra-inning games. Aaron Boone is not on the Yankees' roster, right? Bucky Dent? He's long retired, right? Miguel Cairo, Red Sox killer? Naw.

赢了两场

下面的两场希望可以一举搞定。ARROYO 我觉得很难说，不是不信任他，他大概是没打过季后赛先发的，打不好也很正常。反而是 WAKEFIELD 有越战越勇的潜力，心理素质很棒，老将了嘛，帽子一脱，都光了半个头，跟 FRANCONA 快不分伯仲了，哈哈。实在不行还有 SCHILLING 可以指望呢。

不知道下一轮会碰上谁，TWINS 打得很顽强，SOX 比较怕这种死缠烂打的队，要是没办法先拿几分回来就会慌了手脚。反而是 YANGAYS 我觉得比较好打，今年 SOX 打他们一队 GAY 人马，还是赢的时候多，看每次 JETER 输球后恨得牙痒痒的样子都很高兴，这二百五，现在装不了老大了，大概很郁闷。

想起来上次，ICHIRO 安打破纪录，西雅图人民给他放焰火。其实我对这人打的没有意见，就是他每次站在打击前那举着武士刀般的一比划，特别让人讨厌，装腔作势的，吓唬谁呀！这要在中国观众面前比划，就等着死吧。

上次听朋友说起来中国足球腐败的盛况，真是非常惊讶，都这样了，还玩什么呀玩。球迷知道这些事情，还能压抑的看着球，这心理素质真让人佩服。比起来美国的这些俱乐部人道多了，虽说也是为了赚钱，但多少还能照顾点观众情绪。球迷还是比较幸福的。