Ugly Still Wins

The Red Sox win in Game 1 of the World Series was most assuredly not a thing of beauty and a joy forever but it definitely was a great relief. After blowing leads of 5 runs and 2 runs and committing 4, count them, 4 errors, they still managed to win a game in which the opposing team scored 9 runs thanks to a home run that whacked off the foul pole in the eighth inning. My favorite quote from the press conference came from right fielder Kevin Millar, who committed one of the errors, a throw to third base that sailed into the opposing dugout (thanks to coverage at espn.com for the quote):

In retrospect, Millar said, he never should have thrown the ball in the first place. But he thought he had a shot at an out at third. He just temporarily forgot, he said, that "they don't pay me to think. If they paid me to think, I'd make about four dollars an hour."

This mess seems to have convinced many Red Sox fans that the curse is over and they're going to win the Series, given that in previous years, any or all of the disasters happening in the game would have meant sure disaster for the Red Sox.

I think that everyone in the country who is even remotely interested in the World Series is supporting the Red Sox with the exception of Yankees fans, people from St Louis and their friends and relatives, and friends and relatives of the Cardinals players. How can you resist the possibility of history in the making?

P.S. Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy on espn.com and a lifelong Red Sox fan, has a nice account of his experiences watching Game 7 of the ALCS.

Ugly Still Wins

The Red Sox win in Game 1 of the World Series was most assuredly not a thing of beauty and a joy forever but it definitely was a great relief. After blowing leads of 5 runs and 2 runs and committing 4, count them, 4 errors, they still managed to win a game in which the opposing team scored 9 runs thanks to a home run that whacked off the foul pole in the eighth inning. My favorite quote from the press conference came from right fielder Kevin Millar, who committed one of the errors, a throw to third base that sailed into the opposing dugout (thanks to coverage at espn.com for the quote):

In retrospect, Millar said, he never should have thrown the ball in the first place. But he thought he had a shot at an out at third. He just temporarily forgot, he said, that "they don't pay me to think. If they paid me to think, I'd make about four dollars an hour."

This mess seems to have convinced many Red Sox fans that the curse is over and they're going to win the Series, given that in previous years, any or all of the disasters happening in the game would have meant sure disaster for the Red Sox.

I think that everyone in the country who is even remotely interested in the World Series is supporting the Red Sox with the exception of Yankees fans, people from St Louis and their friends and relatives, and friends and relatives of the Cardinals players. How can you resist the possibility of history in the making?

P.S. Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy on espn.com and a lifelong Red Sox fan, has a nice account of his experiences watching Game 7 of the ALCS.

Still Ugly, Still Serviceable

The Red Sox did lead the whole way, so that's good. But 4 more errors, a record-tying 3 from third baseman Bill Mueller (a former SF Giant), mean it's another game that won't show up in a highlights reel of well-played World Series games. Pitcher Curt Schilling redefined the term "Red Sox" with blood on his right sock, indicating his living out the plot of The Natural, playing once again on a stitched-up right ankle tendon and lasting 6 innings. Now the Sox head to St Louis, where the Cardinals play hugely better than they play on the road.

Favorite sign at Fenway tonight: "Sox Make Fox the History Channel"

Still Ugly, Still Serviceable

The Red Sox did lead the whole way, so that's good. But 4 more errors, a record-tying 3 from third baseman Bill Mueller (a former SF Giant), mean it's another game that won't show up in a highlights reel of well-played World Series games. Pitcher Curt Schilling redefined the term "Red Sox" with blood on his right sock, indicating his living out the plot of The Natural, playing once again on a stitched-up right ankle tendon and lasting 6 innings. Now the Sox head to St Louis, where the Cardinals play hugely better than they play on the road.

Favorite sign at Fenway tonight: "Sox Make Fox the History Channel"