Question: is the current stage of the rivalry, (that is, a competitive one) on its way to being over too?
Answers: No, probably not. The key will be what happens with their free agents this offseason. They won't ALL re-sign. Before the last two games against the Yankees, I'd have said Pedro might be back, now I don't think Boston will or should re-sign him. If Lowe pitches anything other than a complete game shutout tonight he's not going to be invited back. They'll make a play for either Pavano or Clement to replace them. The big question is how much more will the Sox spend? They are still competitive. But to fill the holes they will have on their team they will need to sign some free agents and that's where the offseason will get interesting. As a Yankee fan obviously I have no problem with the Sox going out and signing FA's to big contracts, but I wonder how
their fans feel about it deep down inside, knowing that in the last few years they've put their teams together the way we put ours together (rape and pillage the farm system, trade them away for do-it-now vets, sign FA's to big contracts) and in doing so, are becoming the antithesis of everything they say they stand for. Witness the baseball fans in the ALCS thread and other thread in this forum who won't pick a side in this series because they want both teams to lose when WE know this is what we have waited all season for.
Question: This was supposed to be the year right?
Answers: No, last year was. This year's Sox statistically were better but where it counts, the heart and soul of this team, it just isn't there. As irritating as "Cowboy Up" was last year for Yankee fans, it was their rallying cry and unified the team. It's just not there this year. It's like after that hot late season they had, coming all the way back from 12 games back and still couldn't catch the Yankees, they threw it in the tank. And that's why, like I said in the other thread, Pedro's remarks were unacceptable and should lead to him not being asked to come back. And if they DO re-sign him, they are dooming themselves to repeat performances as long as he's with the team.
Question: What happened?
Answers: Boston's heads were never in this series. Not like last year, when they were much more competitive, and they believed in themselves more. In 2003 they were riding the wave of emotion after their dramatic Division Series comeback win over Oakland. It empowered them, and it carried them all the way to the 11th inning of Game 7, when the Bambino took over. This year, they were complacent from easily sweeping Anaheim, who rolled over for them. We almost could have put together a team from TFP and beat the Sox in this ALCS. Just like last year's Yankees were spent after the REAL World Series (2003 ALCS), and had nothing left for Florida. Francona made some boneheaded moves. How do you bring in Wakefield? He should have brought in Derek Lowe, and kept Wakefield for Game 4. Sox baserunning was atrocious. When you're giving up 19 runs, it's not helping.
Question: What happens now?
Answers: The Yankees pound Derek Lowe in Game 4. They sweep the Sox and go on to meet the Cardinals in the World Series and win in 6. Matsui is the Series MVP.
Question: Where does Boston go from here?
Answers: They continue to have the loyal, faithful fans and the inept ownership and management that have been hallmarks of Boston baseball for 86 years. They re-sign Varitek, Ortiz, and Nixon. They don't re-sign Pedro or Lowe. They make a play for Pavano and Clement and sign neither, the Yankees get one. They put Francona on the hot seat and fire him at the end of next season when the Sox finish in 2nd place again.
One thing is absolutely certain: HE will be back next year.
-Mikey