Ruth, Dent, Boone, Curt's Ankle
First, a diclosure. I've hated the Yankees with a white-hot passion for a long time, peaking when Jim Leyritz hit that hanging slider off of Mark Wohlers for a three-run homer in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series.
But I digress. Even with my anti-Yankees sentiments firmly set, I confess that I've gotten a little tired of the same old woe-is-us, we're so cursed whinings of Red Sox fans. Like they've cornered the market on despair when it comes to professional sports. Like they deserve some sort of special status as sports martyrs.
Well now, I'm starting to reconsider ...
I mean, GradyGate was bad enough last year, but at least that was a self-inflicted wound. But what happened to Curt Schilling was downright cruel. Here was the missing piece for the Sox. The big horse that would pair with Martinez to make Boston downright scary in a seven-game series. And Schilling was a guy who understood baseball history and wanted to change it - the perfect guy to deal with the annual New England psychosis that surrounds the Sox.
So what happens? The ankle injury that he's kept under control all season gets tweaked against the Angels. Then it's clear early in Game 1 against the Yankees that Schiling just can't push off. He's a power pitcher without power. And now, the Red Sox are left to rely on guys like Bronson "Don't call me Brandon" Arroy and maybe - gulp - Derek Lowe to pick up the slack.
I say the Sox are dead. Heck, if you believe all this Curse stuff, maybe they were dead before the series even started.
What do you think? Do the Sox have a shot?
Comments (1)
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You don't believe in the Curse? The Sox got shut out on two hits over seven innings by Jon Lieber, for crying out loud. Jon Lieber! That's like being no-hit by Kevin Tapani.
Schilling's ankle likely is their doom. It's always something. I think Bronson "Don't call me Brandon Arroy" Arroyo will salvage one win. Yanks in five. And it pains me to say it.
Posted on October 14, 2004 1:12 AM