2004 ALCS Roundtable – Game 3
October 17, 2004
GROUP DISCUSSION

Jeffrey Fishman: What happened? Not to the Red Sox, of course I expected, actually predicted the epic catastrophic implosion that has become of the Boston Red Sox 2004 playoff run. But what happened to the blind faith of the Red Sox Nation? Where is your nonsensical optimism now. I've been waiting all day by my inbox for someone to chime in with ridiculous visions of a four game sweep. After all the Yanks have won six straight certainly they're due to drop four – especially since they've scored all their runs for the rest of the playoffs in the last three games!

Fine, if the entire Red Sox Nation was finally slapped across the face hard enough during last nights DRUBBING to realize that the Sox will never beat the Yankees no matter how hard they try to convince everyone that "this is the year." "This years team is unbeatable, our lineup is a better murder's row than theirs." "Our pitching is better and the rotation is setup." Shit! You even had Vegas convinced this year!

As I awaited today's thread concerning last night's massacre I had even persuaded myself to have fun reading all of the inevitable whiny analyses to eminate from Red Sox Nation. But no such bitchy emails arrived. Has Red Sox Nation finally been silenced? Are they just too fearful of pulling out two games to allow the new Bronx Cheers to ring out as the Yanks clinch at home? I just can't believe that not one of you has a damned thing to say whatsoever as the final hours of Boston's season tick away. Shame on you all! Have ye no faith?

And by the way, on behalf of the Yankees and their fans, thank you for laying down this year. Whereas, last year the World Series was anticlimactic after an amazingly competitive SEVEN GAMES, this year's impending sweep has left us all with a sense of unfinished business. Perhaps your lack of a fight will actually propel the Yanks to a 27th World Championship (all of which have been earned since 1918!).

Michael Walls: Fitch and I discovered something while we watched the Pedro game (game 2). I use to think Yankee fans were the greatest fans in the world, with the way they're so into the game and supportive. Turns out they're actually all just assholes. (See above.)

Mike Webb: Walls, I would think you would be used to losing by now, but – oh, that's right – your allegiances change like the wind. What did Fish say that makes him a bad Yankee fan? We're Yankee fans – we're enjoying the "drubbing" – that makes us assholes? Aren't you the one that said the world would end if the Sux won – so aren't you getting what you asked for?

I'm with Fish – it ain't over, til it's over. But I'm sure not feelin' any support from your side – not even for just one win. Of course, it's what seems to be your side today – tomorrow it will probably be the Astros or Cards....

Alexander Washburn: I never understood why people think Yankee fans are the greatest in the world. I've also never understood why people hate Red Sox fans for believing in their team.

Yankee fans actually booed Derek Jeter this year. To boo someone who has bled for the franchise dispalys zero class. Red Sox fans who blame mysterious curses and deride an "evil empire" fail to take into account that they lose games because they're poorly managed. Pedro doesn't go out in the 8th and Buckner is not playing first base in the 9th, if you have competent management.

The Red Sox nation did have reason to cheer their team this year and should be proud. I don't agree that they've "laid down." Outside of the last two innings of last nights game, all Yankee fans knew deep-down that no matter what the score, it wasn't over. Read David Brown's account of Game 1 if you don't believe me.

As I wrote in my blog today, I don't see how Yankee fans can feel all so great about the way their team is playing. After the "anti-climatic" World Series last year, you'd think the great Yankee fans would keep in mind that beating the Red Sox is not the real goal. The Yankee pitching has not been good and if you're asking Mussina and Lieber to repeat those performances, I would have to say you're asking alot.

It was a little unsettling to see Fenway almost empty by the time the game ends. Then again, with the bars closing in Boston by 1:30, it's hard to argue with wanting to knock down a few. Especially after that DRUBBING.

Mike Spinney: I'm not going to pretend I'm not bumming in a big way. Stuff happens that is outside the control of anyone (please... no talk of curses here), like injuries or mediocre pitchers having their best performances of the season back to back. It's baseball, after all, and it's why I still prefer it over football.

But monitoring this spate of "analysis" of the series so far reminds me of something I try hard to forget.

There's nothing so obnoxious as an ignorant fan. In Fenway, you don't have to look far to find 'em; just listen to the idiots chanting "Yankees suck!" and you'll understand what I mean. And listen to the empty bravado of a Yankee fan who, emboldened by his team's success, decides he's had some measure of influence on the outcome of a game.

Like the impotent father living vicariously through a son's atheletic performance, shouting down coaches, players, and other spectators, nothing so kills the joy of a sporting event than the inevitable "I told you so" of a Yankee fan following a Bombers' win.

Sure, there's some sour grapes here. I wouldn't be a fan if I didn't ride the crest with my beloved Red Sox, and feel the pain when they falter. But my life takes on its importance from the things I do as an individual. I'm a bigger man than to crow obnoxiously when the Sox win.

My bill collectors have yet to give me a discount when the Sox win, or charge me extra when the Sox lose. The checks my clients write me don't include a bonus when the Sox win, nor do they expect me to shave a little off my invoice when the Sox lose. There are no local talk shows dedicated to analyzing my day-to-day performance at the keyboard, and Trot Nixon has yet to inquire as to the status of my latest project.

So, while I wish them the best, cheer hard, and sit glued to the television at times such as these, I'm intelligent enough to know that the Yankees don't suck, and that I must soldier on tomorrow morning no matter what transpires at Fenway Park tonight.

Michael Walls: I don't know fellas. I guess you're right, I don't have any right talking at all, because I'm not a dedicated, life-long, rabid fan of anybody. I just like baseball. I guess I'm a bit disappointed (at Yankee and Red Sox fans) because the game has gotten diluted with hype and nastiness. The coolest thing I ever saw this year was the Dodgers going out to shake the hands of the Cardinals after they lost game 4 and the series to them. It was the ultimate sportsmanship and ultimate show of respect for some some good baseball players. You would never see that type of class or respect in Boston or New York. And if they did, the fans wouldn't like it. They don't have that type of respect for anyone else but they're own team. (Unless their own team or individual players start to slump, then they'll turn on them too.)