I'm becoming famous. People are asking me why I haven't posted about winning the World Series. Well - primarily, it's because I've really been tied up with "life" stuff, if you can believe it. But...I cannot just leave my blog silent of any mention that WE WON - AGAIN - and because I must capture the afterglow before it is tainted by the already dramatic post-postseason free agency crap.
So, without further adieu....
First...Game 3 cannot go without major recognition. Let's stroll down memory lane, shall we? Top of the order, young Jacoby Ellsbury hit Fogg's first pitch for a base hit. Dustin Pedroia - 2nd in line - base hit. Mike Lowell - 5th in line - base hit. No runs scored this inning - but, it set a tone that would take the Sox to a Game 3 victory. Being in National League territory - pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka had to bat...and though he struck out swinging (he was coached to NOT swing) on his first attempt - no one could have ever imagined he would hit a 2 run single to put the Red Sox on top, 5-0 - and then pitch a 1-2-3 bottom of the 3rd. In case you're wondering: no, pitchers don't bat in Japan, either. Every player in the lineup had at least one hit (save Manny, believe it or not - but he was intentionally walked) - and further, it was the first time in World Series history that 2 teammates shared 3+ hits each - Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia - with a total of 7 between them. Rockies' pitching - Fogg melted down in the 3rd, marking the end of his 2007 season. 2 final notes: This was the longest World Series game in history: 4 hours and 19 minutes. And - with this notch on our belt - we had the utmost confidence: No other team, in the history of baseball, has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the postseason....Oh wait...right, there was just one: The 2004 Boston Red Sox. :-) The Rox didn't stand a chance.
And....now, onto Game 4.
Truth is: I don't have notes from Game 4. Why? Because - me - Ann, the Red Sox fan - didn't get to watch the game. "Good God, Why??!?!", you ask? It's kind of a crazy turn of events, really and what I'll always remember when asked: "Where were you when the Red Sox won the Series in 2007?" Geez. It's not really that glamorous....certainly not worthy in the shadow of the memory of attending Game 1. Months ago - I registered for a national conference with the France tourism office. The conference is an annual event, held in a different U.S. city each year. This year - it just happened to be Boston. So - taking one for my own "home team" (boy, do I love my job or what??) - I was expected to attend an awards dinner on Sunday night, which began at 8pm, in true French (aka SLOW) fashion. On any other night, this would've been a lovely event, and being that I was only one of a very small number of Bostonians amidst the hundreds of other attendees - I'm sure it was a lovely event for them. For me - I had a very nice time, had an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues, which was the point - but there was a constant, nagging feeling of torture that the game was on and I wasn't watching it! I was fortunate that my sister is so supportive of my fanatic nature and indulged me the luxury of inning-by-inning score updates via text message. By 11pm, I had a double-digit number of attendees passing by, asking me for the score update. Finally - when I thought I couldn't stand anymore - I bailed out and rushed up to my room to see the last 2 innings. I know that John Lester had had an excellent game. I cannot deny that I had concerns about this start, more than any other start in this series. But, Lester, true to personal form - whether it be beating cancer or the Rox...he brought it. Good for you, John!
And, to be totally honest - after 2 glasses of champagne and 3 glasses of exquisite french wine - the details of those innings are just slightly blury. I couldn't seem to focus...when I turned it on, the score was tight, 2-1, anything could happen. Papelbon brought in for the 8th, with 2 outs - guys on base - I screamed inside when I saw him make his way from the Bullpen...."NOOOOOO!!!" I was so emphatic, as if Tito could hear me. I'd seen Francona put Pap in this position before - 1 out, guys on base - this is not his role and the last time Tito'd done this to Jonathan - it turned out very badly. Of course, it turned out - there'd be no losing for the 2007 Red Sox, they were ready to go home - home runs from World Series MVP Mike Lowell and PH Bobby Kielty and the always dominant pitching of our beloved closer Papelbon - we locked it in. Final: 4-3. Our 2nd World Series sweep in 4 years. Curse? What curse? There ain't no curse.
I didn't want to win this way. Oh, I predicted the Red Sox in 4. I wanted it to be so...wished for it to be so. Anyone can tell you that. But - personally - I never wanted to watch the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series as I sat, alone, in a 12th floor hotel room at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge. Pathetic...I know. BUT - boo freakin' hoo - because, the truth is: I watched the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series from the 12th floor of the Hyatt Cambridge, blessed with 10 foot wide by 6 foot tall windows - which, consequently, overlooks the Charles River and Fenway Park. So, as I watched the team celebrate in Denver on TV, I shut off all of the lights and watched the news helicopters fill the sky, sending the scene at Fenway to the local and national networks. I saw the handful of fireworks that went off at or near Fenway. I heard the sirens, I swear I could hear the crowd. Despite the late hour, I called a friend/severe Red Sox fan I knew would still be up, to just share the moment. So, don't feel bad for me, it's not a bad story. C'est la vie! :-)
As it's not ALL about me: The most sincere gratitude from me, Ann the Red Sox fan, to each and every one of you, the 2007 Red Sox:
Mike Lowell (WS MVP)
Josh Beckett (ALCS MVP)
Jacoby Ellsbury
Dustin Pedroia
David Ortiz
Manny Ramirez
Jason Varitek
J.D. Drew
Coco Crisp
Julio Lugo
Curt Schilling
Daisuke Matsuzaka
John Lester
Tim Wakefield
Jonathan Papelbon
Mike Timlin
Hideki Okijima
Manny Delcarmen
Kyle Snyder
Javier Lopez
Alex Cora
Eric Hinske
Bobby Kielty
Doug Mirabelli
And, for you, Terry Francona. Not since Bill Carrigan in 1915 and 1916 has any Red Sox manager guided us to 2 World Series wins. We couldn't ask for more. But...we will: Can we do it again next year? :-)
I know that business is business and some of you won't be with us in 2008. Some of you don't want to be here. Some of you will take better deals elsewhere. That will never change the fact that you have been a part of something so powerful - to have given us, millions of Red Sox fans - everywhere - a treasured gift of another World Series trophy and a season filled with the best baseball we could've ever imagined. On behalf of Red Sox Nation 2007 - we are forever grateful.
As I watched the Red Sox Rally (parade) on television from my sister's hospital room yesterday, I saw Mayor Mennino come out, holding the 2007 trophy. And, suddenly, someone else, who is probably political and I just don't recognize him - came out with the 2004 trophy. They stood with them, side by side, right in front of the railing that separates the grandstands from the box seats, the field and the Green Monstah behind them. I looked at the scene, and it literally brought me to tears. Ok, 2 tears, I didn't sobb hysterically - and the 2 tears I blinked back so as to not appear a complete freak. Nevertheless. Seeing those 2 trophies, side by side, brought so much joy to me in that moment, I couldn't help myself. I told this story to a close friend and he said: "Wow, that's a fan - BUT, if your team had placed last, 4 years in a row - could you still be a fan?" I replied as any typical Red Sox fan would: "Well, that's interesting, but if you look at our payroll, I'm doubtful that would ever happen!"
As a final note of the 2007 Red Sox season....Manny Ramirez was quoted (prior to Game 4) as saying: "We don't want to eat the cake first, before your birthday." Well - Manny - and the rest of the team - Go ahead - eat cake. You deserve it and it's all just so sweet.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Valentine's Day!
Truly yours,
Ann, the Red Sox fan
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