“You Can’t Say We Were a Good Team”
Posted on September 29th, 2011 in Uncategorized | 8 Comments »
Don’t worry, David Ortiz, I won’t—and on one else will either. Not after the Red Sox last night completed “the greatest choke” in the history of baseball (thank you, Dan Shaughnessy), if not the world.
I mean, just look at what happened last night. Your best closer—even if he is kind of a jerk one of the most unpleasant players in baseball—gives up two runs with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the ninth. And that’s after you have a guy thrown out at home because of bad base running and David Ortiz thrown out at second because his steroids ran out of bad base running.
Meanwhile, in Florida, the Rays come back from a 7-0 deficit—7-0!—to win 8-7 in 12 innings.
That, said Alex Rodriguez afterward, is why “baseball is the greatest game,” in an apparent homage to my book on the 1978 Red Sox collapse and Yankee victory.
Red Sox Adrian Gonzalez had perhaps the most bizarre thing to say about the events. “God has a plan. And it wasn’t God’s plan for us to be in the playoffs.”
Well, at first blush that sounds pretty stupid. Because God, one has to believe, is not a macro-manager, and has better things to do than determine playoff teams.
But the comment becomes more interesting if you consider the possibility that Gonzalez isn’t just a dumb jock blaming God for his team’s ineptitude. Maybe Gonzalez is right. Maybe God didn’t want the Red Sox in the playoffs. Because maybe…maybe…God is a Yankee fan!
There’s abundant evidence in the historical record to support that.
Or maybe, when Tampa took the word “devil” out of their name, God perked up His ears and decided to reward them. That’s also possible.
Look, I’m sorry; it’s early in the morning (5:49!) and my head hasn’t cleared yet, and I’m sure that if this were later in the day I’d have some greater kindness perspective. But Sox fans have been tough to take in the last seven years. I think this’ll be good for you. Really.
8 Responses
9/29/2011 6:47 am
Oh, get off your high horse. A big collapse no doubt and not the nicest bunch of guys to root for either but need you be reminded of 2004 and the 3-0 “collapse”? Which is greater? Who knows and who cares. Last night was, however, a great night for baseball fans. That we should be able to agree on.
And, I agree with you that the comment by Adrian Gonzalez is stupid. And your take on God as a fan of any team is funny.
We shall see if you end up regret the collapse of the Sox if you face the Rays in the division championship. Now, that is a team even a Sox fan could root for.
9/29/2011 7:26 am
It is a great day for the Empire. It has seen the end of Kenobi, and soon it will see the end of the rebellion.
9/29/2011 7:39 am
did the yankees lay down for the rays? richard, you should honestly assess whether they dishonored the game last night
9/29/2011 8:53 am
God is definitely a Yankee fan. She told me so last night.
9/29/2011 9:25 am
Yes, Anonymous, the Yankees “laid down” for the Rays, elaborately building a 7-0 lead, then lovingly stretching out the tension through 12 innings before willfully losing.
Chris, I thought I was taking the low road!
I need not be reminded of 2004. Please. Don’t…do…it.
I won’t mind too much if the Yankees lose to the Rays-there is a soft spot in my heart for small-market teams. I care more about them winning the division against the backdrop of the Sox’s historic collapse.
9/29/2011 10:39 am
There is something so lovely in the phrase, “the Sox’s historic collapse.”
say it loud and it’s music playing
say it soft and it’s almost like praying
4/5/2024 8:17 am
But they made up for it after that and the disaster of Valentine and 2012. Boston Red Sox 2013 World Champions. We are all Boston Strong.
11/22/2015 10:54 am
Thanks so much, Rick! I’m glad it was useful. If soical media is teaching us anything, it’s how we as marketing and PR professionals have to work hard at our craft to create content that has the most impact on our target audience. While the tools are constantly changing and spinning faster and faster, the ageless rules around messaging still apply: keep it catchy, concise, simple and relevant.Thanks again!Stan