EDITOR'S ARCHIVE

The Editor-In-Chief

Ernie

Paicopolos

November 11, 2005—First things first. The "NYT-Globe-Red Sox Cabal Disclaimer Act of 2005" requires that I tell you this: your humble scribe appears in this new Cine King Studios production about Red Sox fans. Not a lot, but enough that some might shout, "Conflict Of Interest!". OK, there I've said it. However, I do not own 17% (or any other percentage) of Cine King Studios.

As we all know, the 2004 World Championship let loose a deluge of books and DVDs that celebrated the end of the drought. A lot of them focused on the experience of long-suffering Red Sox fans finally getting a chance to gloat. But, as you may have also noticed, a lot of these so-called "fans" were of the "Beautiful People" ilk. You know, your Ben Afflecks, your Doris Kearns Goodwins, and a host of other insufferable front-runners who bored us to tears with their self-indulgent bile.

This new DVD, "The Nation" deals with only two fans of any notoriety—the admirable Johnny Pesky and the decidedly un-admirable Dan Shaughnessy. That's it. The rest of the crew are a collection of "not-ready-for HBO Special" real life Red Sox fans. And, while some of us might go on a little much about our love for the Olde Towne Team, at least it's genuine. You gotta love that.

Film-maker Lenny Manzo and Cine King are local, and, therefore, the heartfelt testimonies you will see on the DVD ring true for everyone who actually grew up here. You will see a range of fans from a loveable nun to a cantankerous bar owner. You'll even hear the ramblings of a 50-something guy who runs a website. The bottom-line is: if you have the "Red Sox Thing" emblazoned on your soul, you will love "The Nation". And, I'd tell you that even if I wasn't in it.

November 26, 2005—So, why don't we just go with the transition from youngest GM to oldest GM? Bill Lajoie, the 71-year old who, apparently, was the driving force behind this year's Thanksgiving mega-deal for stud starting pitching, looks firmly in control to me. Maybe Larry Lucchino can get some national publicity out of this oddity—youngest to oldest. What else is Larry doing from his bunker these days anyway?

Do you believe this trend? Turkey Day rolls around and we land a top-of-the rotation starting pitcher for relative table scraps (I know, Hanley Ramirez might become Miguel Tejada--but he might also become Don Buddin). Tax your memory and try to recall what followed the last "My Dinner With Andre Dawson". You got it. The first World Championship in 86 years.

Will young Mr. Beckett deliver ring #7 next October? All I have to say is, "Pass the split-fingered Butterballs".

October 31, 2005—You might as well just go ahead and list your Boston Red Sox on the New York Stock Exchange for all the local connection they have now. In fact, the ONLY local tie to the New Ownership Group (NOG), former GM Theo Epstein, is now headed for greener pastures. Now, the NOG is just another out-of-state real estate empire.

Oh wait, I almost forgot, the Boston Globe owns 17% of the team. How silly of me. Larry Lucchino apparently didn't forget it over the last week or so. And now, loyal citizens of the Nation, don't you forget that, to get any objectivity on the Olde Towne Team you're much better off with the under-appreciated Herald than "Pravda on Morrissey Boulevard".

So, do you still think Commissar Selig did the right thing by anointing the NOG as your new masters over Boston native and current Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his group? Who knows, if the local guys had won, we might actually have a decent ballpark for the 21st century!

Theo, thank you for understanding, truly understanding, the passion that is Red Sox fandom. Thank you for three great years at the GM helm. Thank you for a World Championship. You deserved better. Good-bye and good luck.

October 17, 2005—There are two watershed decisions the New Ownership Group (NOG) will make this off-season that will overshadow all the others: 1.) inking GM Theo Epstein to a new contract and 2.) keeping Manny Ramirez in the heart of the most potent offense in baseball. Both are no-brainers.

Theo Epstein has delivered 3 straight post-seasons to the NOG—averaging 96 wins a year. He has not been perfect, but damn near close. He has won one World Championship and come within 5 outs and one brain cramp from another World Series appearance. He has made a $130 million payroll look like a bargain. For the NOG to make salary comparisons with Devil Rays GM Chuck LaMarr is laughable if it weren't so pathetic. If they love LaMarr so much, hey, he's looking for a job now.

Manny Ramirez has been twinned with David Oritz in the most potent HR and RBI combo since Ruth and Gehrig. That's not hyperbole, you can look it up. The NOG can't possibly think they can replace the production of Ramirez with one or even two other players—not to mention sap the effectiveness of Big Papi in the process. They can't be that dumb. With every passing 40+ HR, 140+ RBI season by Manny, that $20 million contract looks less and less burdensome. As Papi said, if they get rid of Manny, they'd better sign Pujols.

These two decisions will shape the NOG's legacy in Boston—assuming they hang around long enough to have a legacy. They need to do the right thing on both.

October 08, 2005—It ended "wicked fast"—three and out. It just doesn't seem fair that the Mao-like "Long March" of 162 games can end so abruptly in a silly 5-game format with ONE home game. Having said that, it's been clear for a long time that the 2005 defending champs were not built to win in October.

Ask yourself, honestly, what brought us the magic in '04? An historic run-producing offense? Well, we had that this year (although not really for the last month and a half). No, it was the 2004 starting pitching which propelled us on that magic carpet ride in August and September and seeped into the post-season, resulting in a ring. A reliable bullpen for 7, 8, and 9 helped; but it was the starters who were the true difference. Remember Arroyo's late-season roll? Pedro and Schilling winning all the key match-ups? And the way Curt willed his way past the Empire in historic Game 6 of the ALCS?

How about the World Series? Outside of a poor Wakefield start in Game 1, it was Schilling, Pedro and Lowe who made the vaunted "murderer's row" of the Cardinals look like AAA Memphis.

This year never seemed to click. From the drama of Manny at the deadline, to Damon's World Tour, to Foulke's working-class hero debacle. But, fundamentally, it was a lack of consistent pitching. Theo's one big failure was taking too many gambles with the arms—Mantei, Wade Miller, Remlinger (my God!).

To truly compete in 2006, we need to focus on two priorities: pitching (one stud starter) and pitching (signing Timlin, getting a real closer to mentor Hansen, getting another decent lefty). If they can also hold on to the core of the offense (don't trade Manny!), these additions should be enough to make the next championship wait only one, not eighty-six, years.

September 19, 2005—One of our readers, Ray Sinibaldi, made a comment on our "panic button" poll that got me to thinking. "If the Sox do not make it", opined Ray, "it will simply be that they will be outplayed down the stretch, not suffering from events of nearly a century ago. That in and of itself is refreshing as all get out." Amen.

God knows I have been one of those fans who has refused to give the Sox a "mulligan" for 2005. My "intensity level" (AKA: my propensity to throw things at the TV) has not waned in the wake of the World Championship. I get just as upset at frittering away a lead against the Devil Rays as I ever did. Nonetheless, this year will be different in one sense: we will win or lose on our own merits—ghosts, goblins, pianos in the pond, curses be damned.

You're right, Ray. That will be refreshing. So, bring on the Empire and the Tribe and the Halos and the A's and the Pale Hose. We will take our chances and live with the results. We may not be happy in the end, but at least we won't be calling Laurie Cabot to fly down from Salem on her broom.

August 28, 2005—The way the NOG (New Ownership Group) talks about Fenway Park, you'd think it was a cross between the Sistine Chapel and the Louvre. "A work of baseball art". "A religious experience". Blah, blah, blah. Isn't it interesting that their actions belie what they really think of it—that is: an aging cash cow they milk until it crumbles around our ears? Witness the shameful Rolling Stones fiasco that left the "holy ground" desecrated to the point that they needed to ship up 40,000 square feet of new sod (from New Jersey of all places) to repair serious damage to the outfield. On top of that, they had to delay the start of Friday's game by an hour to make sure the new stuff stuck. Even then, the field was "embossed" with marks left by staging and seating areas. Such reverence for the old girl!

So, let me get this straight. Fenway Park is too precious a landmark to replace with a state-of-the-art replica that provides leg-room for real baseball fans, but it's not so precious that we can't scar it for phony rock groupies of some has-been septuagenarians from England. Let's see, what's the key difference here? Oh yeah, a lot more cash for John Henry with the concert, a lot more discomfort for the fans in a relic of a ballpark. I get it. So, the next time Janet Marie Smith starts jiving you with the Sistine Chapel stuff, tell her where to go: a cramped, obstructed-view grandstand seat facing Kenmore Square. Shame on you, NOG.

August 19, 2005—In all likelihood, Mark Bellhorn will no longer be a member of the Red Sox by next Monday. The woeful offensive numbers he put up this year coupled with the refreshing play of newcomer Tony Graffanino have spelled doom for the soft-spoken second sacker. Few can argue that the time is right to end the relationship. But let's not forget that—on balance—it was a great relationship for both parties.

As he leaves us, let's not forget four key things. First, Bellhorn brought defensive stability to a position that had been the baseball equivalent of the Black Hole of Calcutta for years. Bellhorn has decent range and is very good at turning the double play. In case you've forgotten how important that can be, I have two words for you: Mike Lansing. Second, despite his hitting issues, Bellhorn had a pretty consistently good on-base percentage—all you really needed with the offensive juggernaut that followed him in the lineup. Third, please don't forget his heroics in the 2004 ALCS—most particularly the three-run shot off Leiber in Game 6 (in an eventual 4-2 win) and the clanging pole shot in Game 7 that sent the front-running fans of the Evil Empire scurrying onto the streets of the Bronx.

Finally, please don't forget his performance in Game 1 of the World Series. Remember how desperate we all felt after blowing a 7-2 lead and sitting tied 9-9 in the 8th? Up stepped Bellhorn, who clanged another one (this time a 2-run shot) off the Pesky Pole and sent us to victory. I'm not saying he deserves a spot on the 2005 squad. I'm just saying let's part company with these good memories. Thank you, Horn.

August 8, 2005—Remember during the World Series we had to hear about St. Louis being "the best baseball city in America"? At the time I thought, "Wait a minute..why exactly?" Because they turn out, lemming-like, decked out in the same red t-shirts night after night after night? Because they sit on their hands like they're at the Opera? Because they cheer the "good effort" of Jeff Suppan getting caught off third in one of the biggest bone-head plays in history?

Well, my skepticism was confirmed yesterday as I watched the final innings of the Cards-Braves game on Turner South (This MLB TV package is the greatest thing since Ginzu Knives). So, it's the bottom of the 9th and the Cards trail 3-1. A panoramic shot of Busch shows thousands, I repeat, THOUSANDS of empty red seats. It's a beautiful (albeit sweltering) Sunday afternoon in August, your team leads their division by 10 games, and "the greatest fans in baseball" have taken a hike? Where are they going that's so important? Gawking at that stupid Gateway Arch? Taking a cool dip in the mighty Mississippi? How many empty seats do you think there would be at Fenway in similar circumstances? Hell, if we were 5 games out, they're wouldn't be a fanny missing from our cramped, narrow confines! Of course, the Cards "fans'" were rewarded by ex-Sox David Eckstein crushing a game-winning salami. They don't deserve it. Best baseball city in America? Not even close.

JULY 29, 2005—I fully admit that I was dead wrong about the wisdom of the Nomar trade last year. At the time, I thought it was the worst move in Red Sox history. Clearly, it was not. Theo Epstein is, as Albert Brooks might say, “bold” (OBSCURE REFERENCE GUIDE: see “The Desert Inn Has Heart” from Lost In America). So, now Theo might deal Manny Ramirez. I say, resoundingly, “Don’t do it!" Sure, my position might be met with scorn: “There he goes again," one might say, “Chicken Little”. OK, maybe. But, does anyone out there in the Nation think that we can get anywhere near equivalent value for Manny? Mike Cameron! Aubrey Huff! Not in this sector of the Milky Way. The only positive result that can come out of a Manny dump is the salary relief—not an inconsequential factor. But, where does that leave the 2005 prospects of your first-place, defending World Champions? Forget it. Throw this entire year out the window. Our slogan could be “Look For The Fix In ‘06!” Manny Ramirez is probably the most exasperating and, at the same time, endearing Red Sox player in years. He is 9th All-Time in OPS—in the history of baseball! In 2005, he leads the majors in RBI, and is tied for the AL lead in Home Runs. So, why exactly are we dumping him? Because he jogged out a double-play ball, because he asked out of a rubber game in Tampa Bay, because he demanded to be traded for the 1,976th time in 5 years? All bad reasons. Good for talk show fodder, but bad for attempted repeat runs at world championships. Keep Manny!

Just after we had decreed the Sox's second-half prospects as "glass half-full", they went out and made us look foolish. Hey, it's not the first time. But in the midst of this tail-spin, we have seen a more disturbing issue come to light. Namely, Terry Francona's questionable "loyalty thing" for veteran players—and (apparently) .190 hitters like Alex Cora. Anyone who heard the sound bite of our manager explaining why he didn't lift the light-hitting utility man in a 9th-inning, bases-loaded, no-out spot against the Evil Empire had to cringe. Are you ready?

"I really wanted to see Cora hit. Sometimes there's more to gain than there is to lose and it's not about just one situation. You pull a guy there, what kind of a message is that sending?"

How about this message? "I care more about the long-term prospects of a journeyman ballplayer than the short-term prospects of my team winning a HUGE, 2-game-swing contest against our blood-feud rivals at home!" Wrong message, Terry. Very wrong message! We won't even mention that this convoluted explanation was VERSION 2.0, clumsily offered after a brief closed-door session with GM Theo Epstein. VERSION 1.0 wasn't any better. Something about promising Bill Mueller he'd never play second base (essentially denied by the Sox third baseman).

Terry Francona skippered the first World Championship team here in 86 years. He deserves some slack. But this kind of behavior belies an underlying mind-set that is troublesome at best. Theo and theTrio need to make certain that Terry is on the same page. And that page reads as follows: Winning games is #1, soothing player feelings is a distant #2.

JULY 12, 2005—OK, it's glass "half-empty" or "half-full" time again. Your World Champions are at the break and on top of their division for the first time at this juncture (as "George Bush The First" used to say) since the Clinton Administration. Let's take stock. On the negative side: we've been without our ace starter for the entire year; have a woefully ineffective closer; have gotten no offensive production to speak of from first or second base; have the worst bullpen in baseball; and have an underachieving free-agent at shortstop (both offensively and defensively). On the plus side: Our third choice as a free agent starter (Matt Clement) is an All-Star with 10 wins; Manny and Papi are the Second Coming of Mantle and Maris; Damon has become the best lead-off hitter in baseball; Bill Mueller is hitting close to .400 with the bases loaded; John Olerud has been one of the best "under the radar" pick-ups of the year; Trot Nixon has had a healthy and productive year; and Varitek is living up to his new role as Captain (like we ever doubted that!). On top of it all, Schilling is returning—albeit in a different role to begin with.

So, what's the judgment? If we just step back a little from the dismal Camden Yards series (which could have set the tone for the second half), your humble scribe says we are in pretty decent shape. It appears that no one (including the Empire) is going to run away and hide with the AL East. The Sox have 75 games left—43 of them at Fenway. Moreover, 25 of the 75 remaining games are against Tampa, Kansas City, and Detroit. If they maintain their current winning percentage at home (.632) that will give them another 27 wins; their road pace (.510) would get them another 16 wins. So, will 92 wins get it done in 2005? It had better give us the division, because the Wild Card is no "gimme" this year. I think it will. So, the Bottom Line?: Half-Full.

June 30, 2005—Make no mistake about it. I was as outraged by Keith Foulke's "Johnny From Burger King" comment as anyone. It was about as stupid as stupid gets from a professional athlete. Managing to insult a.) fans as a whole and B.) a disenfranchised segment of society in ONE comment is quite an achievement. And, various media types have let it be known that "Foulkie" is not exactly Dale Carnegie in interviews. So, he's not the good-guy stereotype we all yearn for in our sports idols.

Well, frankly, Scarlet, I don't give a damn! The more important issue is whether or not Foulke has lost so much velocity on his fastball that his "change-up" is, in reality, EQUAL to his fastball. No difference in speed, no deception. This, of course leads us to the raft of completely unsubstantiated rumors about Foulke's health that infest the internet. Forget them. And, spare me The Alabama Trip Fiasco.

I say, realistically, the Red Sox have no choice but to stick with Foulke in the closer role. The various scenarios bandied about (trades for the D' Rays' Baez or Rockies' Fuentes, Call-up of Papelbon, moving Timlin/Arroyo/Mantei into the role) are all, to varying degrees, outright silly.

Keith Foulke is the guy we went out and got to finally put to rest the closer woes we had experienced over the last several years (remember "Closer By Committee", Wakefield and Lowe?). By and large, he performed brilliantly last year, especially during the post-season. Barring a serious medical problem, there is no reason to believe that he won't return to that form this year. I know it's painful to watch leads evaporate, but the alternatives just don't measure up to simply letting him work it out on the mound. Hey, we're in first place with a sub-par closer and no ace in the rotation. Count your blessings!

June 16, 2005—OK, you gotta trust me on this: I really, really don't want to discuss the "New Fenway" thing again. It's been done to death, the NOG has planted their flag in the ground and sentenced us to 90-plus more years of bad sight lines, aching backs, and no cup-holders. Fine. I've come to terms with this outrage. If this lets them pay-off their outrageous debt service to the Bank of America faster (and get some free agents in the process) that's cool.

Then, on this morning's Dennis & Callahan show on WEEI (850 on your AM dial), Larry Lucchino is asked to re-visit the issue in a quite pointed (and fair) question from John Dennis. Basically, it came down to: "You're making us live with this relic of a ballpark, what are you going to do to ease our pain by putting in roomier seats?". Lucchino then launched into some kind of Harvard Business School econometric trade-off scenario that made me wonder if he really gets it at all. Essentially, he stated that it's too problematic to rip out all the old seats (because some fans would lose their seats), and that the only ones that need fixing anyway are the blue wooden grandstand seats. What??!! Clearly, he has never sat in my "box" seats during a Spring game with the late John Candy's Evil Twin crowding your personal space with a parka the size of the Fenway tarpaulin. But I digress.

Then, Larry suggests a free-market solution to the Wounded Knee crisis at cramped Fenway: We will compensate you for your pain. Your crap seats will cost less! Or rather, the increase in price for your crap seats will be less than we originally planned. Zero-Sum. Everybody's happy. Have a nice day! Yikes!

May 17, 2005—On a recent trip to the Left Coast, your humble scribe had the opportunity to visit the Bay Area Baseball Shrine currently known as SBC Park (the venue formerly known as PacBell). Whatever its moniker, it is a wondrous place to watch a game. No obstructions, plenty of leg room for humanoids over 5'7", and, my God, cup-holders! Don't worry, I will spare you yet another rant about "The Lyric Little Bandbox That Opened The Same Day The Titanic Sunk" (AKA, "TLLBTOTSDTTS").

What I really want to talk about is an encounter with a hero of the 2004 Sox Passion Play—one Dave Roberts, San Diego Padre. The engineer of "THE STEAL" was casually exiting the San Diego clubhouse into the visiting dugout before his game with the Bonds-Less Giants. He looked up and saw yours truly—an old guy with a Red Sox hat looking over the pre-game field. He smiled in tacit recognition of the bond we all now share. I pointed at him and simply said, "Thank You." The smile became a beaming glow as he saluted back.

I know we are supposed to be focused on the 2005 struggle to repeat. But, I hope you'll allow me to relate this final moment of connection with the glory that was 2004. Thanks again, Dave.

May 14, 2005—Earlier this month, the target was Kevin Millar. Now that the Sox streaky first baseman is showing signs of hitting his stride, the Fellowship Of The Ignorant needs a new target. Enter Manny Ramirez. Even greybearded eminences like Peter Gammons have drawn the long knives. "Manny's disinterested", they whine, "He's no longer a dominant hitter in clutch situations." And, of course the toadies in the media and their on-line sycophants follow merrily along in the Manny-Bashathon. Shameful.

How many times must we go through this? Manny Ramirez is either THE best right-handed hitter in baseball, or at worst, the second-best. An argument can be made that Albert Pujols is a smidgen better—but not much more. Manny is #9 ALL-TIME in career OPS, and #3 active (The #1 active righty) . Manny is #8 ALL-TIME in career Slugging Percentage, and, again, is #3 active and the #1 active righty. Is there any reason to think this year will end up being different than his previous 12? No, of course, not. But that doesn't stop the Fellowship from flapping their lips. How about this year? He's 3rd on the team in Slugging Percentage(.530); 2nd in HRs (8); and number 1 in RBI (30). He also leads the team in walks (22). And how many games has that disinterested slouch missed this year? Manny has played in 34 of the 35 games through Friday.

As soon as Manny heats up (not that he's having that bad a year to begin with!), the Fellowship will gravitate to someone else. Until then, when they mouth off, do us all a favor, and set them straight.

May 6, 2005—Once again, the talk show world has decided it's time to single out a Red Sox player for scorn. For some reason, Kevin Millar has become the "whipping boy" for 2005. Granted, he has not had a scintillating start (no home runs as of May 6th). But, despite his annoying "rah rah" attitude (dating back to the onerous "Cowboy Up" garbage), I still like the fact that he is one of the few remaining free spirits on this club. And, as Curt Schilling and others have pointed out, that is increasingly important after the departure of Kapler, Roberts, McCarty et al.

And, attentive fans should have noticed that as Millar's offensive woes have mounted, he is playing much better in the field. In fact, just yesterday he kept Arroyo's no-no alive late in the game. And, for those among us who have fleeting memories, please recall that it was Kevin Millar who coaxed the walk off of Mariano Rivera in Game 4 of the ALCS—which allowed Dave Roberts to make "the greatest play in Red Sox history". Let's cut the guy some slack and give him time to heat up.

This one is easy. If you're a fan at a baseball game, anywhere, you just don't interfere with play. Period. End of story. To go beyond that, and actually deliberately take a swipe at a player (as was painfully obvious in this case), then you lose your privilege to view baseball. The Boston Red Sox should revoke the offending fan's Season Ticket privileges NOW. No review of the tapes. No appeals. Outta here. To do otherwise would belie the sanctimonious (though appropriate) policy of this ownership—you know, the announced warnings against loud cell phone use, interfering with play, smoking, etc., etc., etc. Now they have to back it up by making this moron pay for his actions. No matter how you slice it, Gary Sheffield showed laudable restraint after being assaulted while doing his job. If we want to lay claim to being the best fans in baseball, we had damn well better call out one of our own who makes us all look bad.

I'll make this brief. I have long been an advocate of a new Fenway Park. Don't get me wrong, I love Fenway. I grew up with this park. Our site bears the park's name. I saw my first game there on July 8, 1956. But, on that day, the park was 44 years old—having opened the same day the Titanic sunk. It is now 93 years old. I know it is a beautiful gem of a bye-gone era. But that's the point, it's bye-gone! We deserve better. We deserve a 21st Century, state-of-the-art baseball park. The Red Sox decision to stay at Fenway condemns another generation of fans to bad views, cramped seating, and nowhere to put your $4.50 Coke. What a disgrace. The new owners deserve credit for a lot—not to mention a World Championship. But in my view, this is a short-sighted, bad move. And now, the desire to put an ICE RINK on the playing surface further calls into question the judgement of this ownership. Hey, why not put skates on Jimmy Buffett and really rake in the dough?

One of the great joys of the last 3 months has been the endless viewing of multiple DVDs chronicling the October for the Ages given to us by the 2004 Boston Red Sox. If it's physically possible to wear down a DVD, many will surely be ruined over the next 5 or 10 years. All the more reason to buy several copies of each—not that I've done that. Really, I haven't.

One shining truth comes through loud and clear when viewing these 'discs of destiny'—particularly those dealing with the ALCS—and that is the absolute gut-checking loyalty of this team's fans. Even at the bleakest of moments—ALCS Game 4, bottom of the 9th, 3 outs from a shameful sweep—there was a surreal energy in the crowd. Oh, the requisite signs were still there ("Reverse The Curse", "Believe"), but it was beyond just that. The TV close-ups of 8-year olds and 80-year olds showed that real hope—not desperate foolish hope—still resided in the hardball hearts of the Nation. If you really pay attention, it's extraordinary. There was no giving in.

And so, we salute the greatest baseball fans on earth for never giving up on a team that gave us so many reasons to give up.

The New Ownership Group (NOG) has a lot to be proud of. They have delivered the franchise's first World Series title in 86 years, they have made the Fenway Park experience enjoyable again for the average fan, and they have squeezed a disproportionate amount of talent out of a "meager" $125,000,000 payroll. They deserve our sincere thanks. OK. Now.....

The NOG has announced plans to add yet more seats to the aging bandbox on Yawkey Way—moving the 2006 capacity to about 38,000. Part of the plan involves the long-overdue de-fenestration* of the .406 club—the Harrington Era bastion of effete snobbery. This is a good thing. We have to admit, Janet Marie Smith is a certified genius—finding more nooks and crannies than a quality control VP at the Thomas' English Muffin factory.

But, once again, the 800-pound gorilla that will just not go away is the reported $350 million debt that saddles this ownership and continues to force them to forestall a long-range decision on a new ballpark. They remain the one franchise most dependent on seat revenues to make money. Make no mistake about it, folks, sooner or later, we will need a new park. The longer the NOG's debt service issues delay the inevitable, the more difficult it will be to get it done in this town. And, to their credit, the NOG did emphatically state that the new renovations should in no way be read as a long-term commitment to the best ballpark built in 1912. Good.

So, at the risk of sounding repetitive: Please, a new Fenway!!! More, not less, legroom and cup-holders for the masses!!!

Pedro Martinez has pitched his last game in a Red Sox uniform, but this member of the Nation will not fret. We need to put his tenure in perspective. He was perhaps the most dominating starting pitcher in Red Sox history—and that is saying a lot. But, he was probably asking for too much money and too many years to justify the risk for Theo and The Trio. We should feel lucky to have had him here for seven glorious years (he averaged almost 17 wins a year!)—capping in the elusive World Series Championship. We should remember him as a key contributor to that sweet result. Who knows whether his imagined slights by ownership were partly real? Who knows if he felt some petty jealousy vis a vis Curt Schilling? At this point, who cares!!!??? Freeing up $56 million over the next 4 years will buy a lot of new talent (Renteria is just the start). And, Theo Epstein has earned our trust that he can compensate and make this team even better. So long, Petey. You are now the King of Queens. The First Flinger of Flushing. Good luck, buddy!!!

October 30, 2004—One of the more amazing facets of this miraculous Red Sox World Championship has been the outpouring of emotion from long-suffering fans—not just for themselves, but for those who never got to see this moment. Red Sox message boards have been brimming with stories about friends and relatives who would have loved to have seen today's parade of "duck boats" through the asphalt and liquid by-ways of Boston. Many a Red Sox player made reference to the fans and players who tried so hard but came up short in the World Series of '46, '67, '75, and '86—not to mention the multiple other "also-ran" years in between. I am thrilled that my own Mom and Dad lived to see this day.

But, there are many in my own memory who would have been overjoyed by the achievements of this great 2004 team. One in particular was my late father-in-law, Charles A. Bloom. Charlie loved the Red Sox with that unique passion that all Sox fans know when they see it. He sat with me on his living room couch during the Summer of 1975 and watched a supremely talented team on its march to a World Series. But, a few days shy of winning the division title, he passed away. Even though that edition of the Red Sox suffered an excruciating 7-game World Series defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, I know that Charlie would have wanted to see every pitch, suffer through every torment. They were his team, they are our team—and they have finally done it for Charlie and all of us. Thank you, Red Sox.

Alan Embree uttered those words in the Bronx on Wednesday, in the wake of the most historic victory in Red Sox history. Not only did the team overcome what 25 other baseball teams could not, they did it against their bitterest rivals on their home turf. Nothing could be sweeter. As Theo Epstein so touchingly stated: This one is for Pesky and Doerr and Ted and Yaz and Rice and Evans and Lynn and Remy and, yes, even Nomar. Rest assured that every last member of this squad will have a special little corner of our hearts forever. No doubt, Doug Mirabelli will be appearing at the Malden Little League banquet in September, 2030. Along with David McCarty.

Nothing we write here can capture the glee felt in the hearts of Red Sox fans all over the globe. It is ours and ours alone. We own this moment. Cherish it. No one else can ever feel what we feel today. That said, we have one more hurdle to overcome. Bring on the next ghost. We're ready.

"Examine the wreckage of every Boston playoff collapse and there's always a crappy manager lurking somewhere."

Now, we can finally jettison the pre-eminent cliche of regular-season baseball: "It's a marathon, not a sprint". Can it. Never speak these words again until next April. It is now a for-real sprint. Eleven wins to glory. And, what may be the most critical element in this run is the quality of on-field management among the eight teams who will compete in what Bill Parcell's so aptly called "the tournament".

This is where a manager earns his salary. This is the true test. Regrettably, Joe Torre has dominated the recent past on this score (although, have you noticed, the Yankees have exactly the same number of World Championships as the Red Sox in this millennium?). The delicate "package deal" that brought Curt Schilling and Terry Francona to Boston, joined at the hardball hip, will soon be proven to be a brilliant coup or a fatally-flawed Faustian Bargain.

Can Terry pull it off? Can he overcome the ghosts of Grady, Jimy, Mac,--hell Pinky Higgins!!?? The evidence from a week-ago Thursday/Friday is not good. There is a sinking feeling in my gut that it may all come down to a managerial moment when Terry makes the irrevocable decision to bring in Leskanic or pull out Schilling or not pinch run for Mirabelli. We have to think this way, we are Red Sox fans. But, let's hope that at least the ownership, the GM, the manager, and, most importantly, the players are now in the sprint mode.

SOX DEAL AWAY HEART, SOUL, NOMAR

"Shame on the Red Sox. Shame on them for mistreating one of the greatest players in their history."—Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

by Ernie Paicopolos— Can someone please explain to me why self-described "important" Sox fan web sites are so giddy over the departure of Nomar Garciaparra? Have they no shame? Citizens of the Nation: we have now lost the best Red Sox player of our generation. And the thought that he may wear a Cubbie hat into the Hall of Fame should sicken us all. In my humble opinion, this is one of the worst trades in my lifetime. I hope I am wrong. I hope the two Gold Glovers we got in this deal will propel us to a World Championship. Right now, all I see is a gaping offensive hole in the middle of what was a fearsome line-up. And, more importantly, a gaping hole in the heart and soul of the Nation. See ya, Nomah. You were one of the best we ever saw.

The Tortured Torch is Passed

JULY 1, 2004—There are certain defining moments between a father and a son. Last night's 4-2 loss to the Evil Empire was one of them. Here's the scenario: My 8-year old son is wearing his Nomar home jersey. We are just settling in to watch the game from the Bronx. We turn on NESN. Every Red Sox fan will understand it when I say that the familiar knot in the stomach appears as I search for the score: 2-0 Sox!!! OK! Wakefield is pitching his heart out.

Around comes the 7th inning. The Sox load the bases with none out. They do this, curiously, by having Pokey bunt with runners at first and second. He fails, and, eventually walks. We're talking good karma, here. Bellhorn, after a decent at-bat, pops to shallow left. Runner sticks at third. I turn to my son and say, with 50-plus years' experience in my voice, "They won't score this inning, and they'll lose 3-2". My son, who is just starting to get hooked on this Fenway Thing, says, "Come on, Dad, there's only one out". Ah, to be so blissfully naive.

Well, I wasn't completely right. They lost 4-2. Let's not even talk about the Franconian Blunders that caused it all. It's all summed up by the weary response my son gave after Rivera punched out the side in the 9th. And this is an exact quote:

I didn't have the heart to tell him that, in fact, it was in his nature now. Forever.

FROM THE AP 7/22/04: "A number of Red Sox players were laughing before the game when they watched a replay of Manny Ramirez cutting off CF Johnny Damon's throw on Newhan's inside-the-park homer in Wednesday's loss."

Apparently, 2003's clarion call of "Cowboy-Up" has been replaced by the more laid-back 2004 version: "Stand-Up". But this routine might go over better at The Comedy Connection than Fenway Park. Why is it that the fans of this team are MORE angst-ridden than the players. We're the ones paying out thousands of dollars each year for tickets, and they're the ones getting millions for playing a little boy's game. We're angry; they're loosey-goosey. You think there might be something wrong here? For a $125 million payroll, I think it's reasonable to ask for a little more urgency and attention to fundamentals. Hey, Theo: Is this really a lot to ask? These guys will have all Winter to chill out and joke around—and, at the pace they're going, they maybe even have all of October, too.

AT THE BREAK:

GLASS HALF-EMPTY OR HALF-FULL?

I've always thought that the REAL question should be, "Why isn't the glass COMPLETELY full?" Especially if we're paying almost $126 million for the water. This is a legitimate question for the Nation—that is, why the heck aren't we a LOT closer to the MFY than we are? Of course, there are the obvious reasons—like not having a full complement of starting position players until the 81st game of the season. That's all well and good.

But, this team, for all its talent, has lacked a certain identity—I don't mean that Cowboy Up nonsense. They just haven't jelled into a cohesive unit—at least in the eyes of most fans. The recent homestand, when they again became the Raiders of the Found Offense, was a glimmering sign of hope. But, you know, they still don't have what the late, great Globe columnist George Frazier called "duende"—that special something that last year's team had, the '67 team had, and yes, even the benighted '86 team had.

Maybe it's because you just can't quite love this team yet. I'm not sure why—they certainly have all the elements. Manny. Pokey. Schilling. Foulke. The New Nomar. Trot. Even Foghorn Bellhorn.

So, you think this is heading toward a "half-empty" judgment? I don't think so. This past homestand may have been more than an offensive explosion. All the parts of the game seemed to come together—hitting, pitching, defense, smart baseball. Think about it, at the start of the homestand, they were not only far behind the Empire, but 3 out of the Wild Card—and behind two teams to boot. Had they limped to a .500 record against Oakland and Texas, we would be in deep trouble. But, instead of trailing in the Wild Card, we sit a game on top at the Break. Quite an achievement for a team that looked embarrassingly dysfunctional in the Bronx not long before. So, the judgment?: Cautiously Half-Full.

BABE II—THE $1.86 MILLION MISTAKE?

Buster Olney of ESPN has recently suggested (on WEEI) that the "non-deal" last Winter that would have brought A-Rod to Boston may go down in Red Sox infamy as the second worst move by team ownership—behind you-know-what. As the $130 million SleepWalkers fade in the American League East, one has to wonder whether Theo and The Trio should have ponied-up the extra $1.86 million dollars a year (over 7 years) that would have consummated the deal.

Considering what the implications of failure were (putting Nomar in a funk and watching A-Rod go to Baghdad-on-the-Hudson), once they were so publicly engaged in negotiations, they HAD to make it work—especially for the relatively paltry difference in cost. Hell, executive compensation could have been trimmed a little bit to make the difference. Instead, stubbornness and parsimony resulted in what we have on the field today: disgruntled superstars, bad defense, sluggish play and fraternization with the Enemy.

This is the team constructed to win it all in 2004, before the imminent departure of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Not bloody likely. So, maybe Olney is right. Perhaps our grandchildren will look back and talk of the great A-Rod Blunder of 2004—right up there with the Bambino.

SHOULD WE PREPARE FOR MEDIOCRITY?

May 6, 2004—It is becoming painfully clear that the NOG (AKA Theo and The Trio) are prepared to let all four of the Sox primetime free-agents-to-be (not to mention David Ortiz) test the waters beyond Boston Harbor at the end of this season. The latest flap over Pedro's negotiations indicates that even the much-ballyhooed "hometown discount" theory is not enough for this ownership. According to the Globe's Gordon Edes, Pedro was agreeable to a $2-3 million reduction from his current contract (just as he said he would do last year). Instead, the NOG came back with a "voidable" contract offer—which, outside of Pudge Rodriguez's new deal, is not the way baseball works. Football, maybe, but not baseball. As Edes says, "Others might ask where the Red Sox plan to find pitchers, a shortstop, a catcher, and DH better than they already have." Indeed.

So, are we as Red Sox fans prepared to face 2005 with a star-depleted team of "Bellhorns and Crespos and Shopachs" (Oh my!!), while the ownership figures out how to pay off its $350 million debt? While this new ownership has performed laudably in making the Fenway experience much more fan-friendly, and have done a great job finding value in the baseball marketplace (Ortiz, Mueller, and Millar being the best examples), they may be seriously misgauging the willingness of the Nation to sit idly by and watch the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse leave town. One of our long-standing concerns about the NOG is that—fundamentally—they are not local. Only Theo (not an owner) can claim local roots. So, the big question is: "Do they really get it?" If they leave us with a team that looks north in the standings at the Blue Jays, Orioles, and the Empire, we will have our answer.

RE-SIGN NOMAR NOW!!!!!

We are now in "damage control" mode. Nomar is clearly still miffed (as he has a legitimate right to be) about his being all but shipped off to—in baseball terms—the wrong side of Chicago. He is now in the proverbial driver's seat—negotiation-wise. It is no longer a question of whether he wants to stay in Carmine Hose; it is now whether Theo and The Trio are really interested in him.

For whatever reason, the delicate negotiations over the A-Rod/Manny-Nomar/Mags mega-deal became public. No one can criticize the NOG (New Ownership Group) for trying to get better by adding baseball's premier player (while unloading a burdensome contract with Manny). And the only way they could do that was to also deal Nomar (since A-Rod would obviously never switch positions..wink, wink). But once that deal definitively collapsed (in the form of A-Rod's defection to Baghdad-on-the-Hudson), Theo should have been at Nomar's kitchen table laying out a new proposal to keep him in Boston for at least 4 more years. If that means caving on price (e.g., offering $16 million a year), then so be it. We have to have Nomar back. There are no acceptable alternatives now. Spare me the Hanley Ramirez talk.

We have a Hall of Fame-bound shortstop who bleeds Red Sox red every day. The high-stakes gamble on A-Rod failed. You have to pay the price (literally) now. Do it!!!!! Before it's too late.

Re-Hire the "Rim Man"(01/04)

In the whimsical days of the early 1990s, I can recall asking myself, "Who is the only REAL athlete we have on the Red Sox, the only guy you can legitimately call exciting?" The answer was always one Ellis Rena Burks AKA "The Rim Man". Those of you who did not grow up in the Boston area in the 50s and 60s will not understand the Rim Man moniker. But that's OK. We don't want you to know.

In any event, Burks spent 5 plus very productive years in Boston until he was let go in free agency. Since he left Fenway, he has produced the following numbers: .299 BA; 258 HRs; 818 RBIs. His career totals are: .292; 351 HRs, 1,205 RBIs; .364 on-base percentage. Against lefties, you ask? A mere .311 lifetime. Sounds like a credible choice off the bench.

Oh, and one final reason to get Burks: his birthday is September 11th. Nothing to do with reminding us of the horrific terrorist attack of 2001, but, rather, the day we last won it all—September 11, 1918. We can't possibly make this stuff up.

The Manny Situation (9/03)

So, I'm making my first foray into a Red Sox "discussion" thread the other day, and this one guy has posted an article calling for a blockbuster trade. "Manny and Nomar", he says, to the Rangers for A-Rod and Mark Texiera. I smirk, begin to move on, and then I notice that there are 3 or 4 replies posted—all in one way or another sanctioning the idea. One guy tweaks the trade with a different Ranger; another says it's proper to get rid of the "cancer" Manny is on the team; another says Nomar is older than A-Rod and not as good.

What planet are these people habitating? Why, in the name of Peter Gammons, would Red Sox fans want to give away the two best position players of our generation. As we have stated many times here at the Nation, Nomar is the heart and soul of this franchise. He burns with a desire to win a championship in Boston. OK, he may not be outwardly "fiery" and, this year, he may seem to leave a maddeningly high number of runners on base (his batting average with 2-outs and runners in scoring position is a paltry .240). And, yes, he swings at a lot of first pitches—except he's hitting.357 with a .999 OPS on those first pitches. Anyway, I find it annoying to even have to justify why Nomar should always wear Carmine Hose. We need him signed for life.

Now, the Manny Situation. Let me me start my analysis by throwing out a statistic you probably aren't aware of. Never mind that Manny has had eight straight years of 30 home runs or more. Try this next one on for size. The top six all-time career leaders in Slugging Percentage are: Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Hank Greenberg, and (you guessed it) Manuel Aristides (Onelcida) Ramirez. That horrific cancer in the clubhouse is 6th all-time in slugging percentage. He is Number One among all active players. Who do you think is just behind him? Some stiff named Barry Bonds. And that Alex Rodriguez fellow—he's three slots further down the line. If you don't believe me, check it out here in the Baseball Almanac.

Forget the sore throat, forget the pick-offs off second base, forget the jogs to first.....let Manny be Manny. If we're lucky he'll wear a Red Sox cap into the Hall of Fame—and he'll also be wearing a couple of rings at the induction.

A Tale of Three Cities:

Safeco; PacBell;Network Associates

On a recent junket to the Left Coast, your humble scribe had the rare opportunity of visiting three different ballparks on three successive nights. Two of the parks were entered in a strictly legal fashion: I bought tickets to games at Safeco Field in Seattle and Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland. However, to get my first look at the magnificent Pac Bell Park, I had to fall back on skills learned on the mean streets of Somerville, Massachusetts.

As thousands of surprisingly laid-back Giant fans streamed out of the park in the 8th inning (with the home team up only 5-2 over the Phillies), I approached a diligent young lady guarding the exit way, and proceeded to, well, lie. "Excuse me, I left an important package on my seat", I grinned in a verecund manner (I knew that "Word Wealth" training in the 5th Grade would pay off some day) as I started through the gate. "Uh..., "she said suspiciously, "Oh, OK". Bingo. You just never lose those well-practiced moves—the same ones that gained me free entry to Celtics, Bruins and Tech Tourney games at the Old Garden.

Now that my confession is out of the way, here's the bottom line: Safeco Field is the best fan experience of the three parks. While Safeco is a big, spacious "pitchers" park, it feels cozy. You're almost as close to the action as in Fenway (I was 11 rows back behind home plate) and I could actually feel blood flowing in my stretched-out legs. Oh, and my quite reasonably-priced Coke fit nicely in the roomy cup-holder in front of me. Speaking of value, my Field Box Seat cost only $45.00 at the Safeco Box Office—purchased 10 minutes before game time without a line. Close to the action, comfortable, reasonably priced. And, why is it again we can't have this in Boston? By the way, if it rains, the mechanized roof closes in about 20 minutes. But, who cares? It never rains in Boston, right?

Finishing a very close second in the Fan Amenity Sweepstakes is Pac Bell. While I only got to spend a half-inning in my ill-gotten left field grandstand seat (I saved $28.00), I was able to drink in the splendor of the late afternoon sun as it warmed the China Basin air (warm being an important feeling for anyone who has attended August Giant games at Candlestick). The waterside setting for Pac Bell is just awe-inspiring—something that could be equally impressive here is Boston. But, unfortunately, our sports are controlled by exemplary politicians like the recently-departed CM (sorry, out-of-towners, this is strictly a Boston reference).

Finally, bringing up the rear (and I do mean rear) is the AlDavisDome—more formally referred to as Network Associates Coliseum. The welcome mat is lovingly set out for you in the form of intricately wrought razor barbed wire above the entry from the BART train station. This place is the Hitler Bunker of ballparks. Having said that, the view from my $30 Box Seat (17 rows behind the Oakland dugout) had pretty good sight lines. Oh, yeah, and legroom and cup-holders. I guess I'm just too demanding.

Finally, I'll leave you with the most remarkable occurrence during the 3-day park marathon. As I wandered through the emptying Pac Bell (after the Giants beat the Phillies, 5-2), an usher—seeing my Sox hat—called up to me, "Hey, you know, the Red Sox lost today". Huh? Sure enough, the seventy-something Giants usher is a lifelong Red Sox fan (you just never know). The usher and his wife made a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Fenway in 1999—when he heard it might be torn down. Go ahead, tell me it isn't special to be a Red Sox fan.

Ernie Paicopolos is Editor-in-Chief of FenwayNation and is so knowledgable about baseball that his fantasy team is almost in last place.

Millar Envy

"Shinjiro Hiyama belted a two-run homer in the first inning and Atsushi Kataoka added a three-run blast in the fifth Wednesday as the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers cruised to a 14-3 victory over the Chunichi Dragons. With the victory, Hanshin opened up a 13-1/2-game lead over the Dragons." Fox Sports, July 2, 2003

Wow, the poor Chunichi Dragons. Not only did they lose out on Kevin "The Babe" Millar, but now they are mired 13 1/2 games out of the lead in the Japanese Central League. Sounds like they could have used Millar in that key contest against the Tigers (kind of odd, isn't it, that the Hanshin Tigers could probably wallop the stripes right off the Detroit Tigers?) Then again, when you have to go up against the likes of Atsushi Kataoka, maybe it's a lost cause anyway. Looks like Chunichi could also use some design help on their little dragon logo. Wow, he's intimidating, huh?

It's hard to believe that Kevin could have been languishing away on this sub-par Japanese club, when he is, arguably, one of the big keys to the contending 2003 Red Sox. I will not hold back. I love the guy. He's kind of a rich man's Brain Daubach. He has the same softball player look and mentality—and a whole lot more talent than Dauby.

After 82 games, Millar has piled up the following offensive stats: .316 batting average; .381 on-base percentage; .555 slugging percentage; .936 OPS; 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 59 RBI. For Pete's Sake, he's even got one stolen base!

Can all of us in FenwayNation give some credit where credit is due? Great work, Theo.

Rocket Fumes

''Somebody told me there are a couple of guys who don't even have a hat on. But that would be disrespectful to what Mr. Steinbrenner has given me: an opportunity to come here and continue my career, to be able to achieve these moments and become a Hall of Famer.'' -Roger Clemens

Well, well, well. The skunks are coming home to roost. Roger Clemens, who spent 13 formative seasons with the Red Sox (compared to 5 "come along for the ride" seasons with the Evil Empire), wants to wear a New York cap into the Hall of Fame. And if he doesn't get his way, the petulant cretin will boycott the ceremony with his Mommy and a phone booth full of his closest friends in Palm Beach. What a fraud. No wonder even three out of four Yankee fans hate him.

Maybe it's true that environment has a greater impact on character than heredity: Roger is truly acting like a classic Yankee now. But, even the Yankee organization has shown some class recently. After the 6-person no-hitter tossed at them by the Astros, "The Boss" sent down a case of champagne for the Houston pitchers. Way more class than Roger.*

Roger Clemens is probably the greatest pitcher in Red Sox history. Numbers don't lie. Two 20-strikeout games don't lie. Three Cy Youngs don't lie. We can recognize his achievements with the Sox by displaying the class that he so clearly lacks, and retire his number "21" at Fenway in 2009.

He can bring Koby, Klecko, and Cujo if he wants; or, he can stay away. All of us at FenwayNation will move on, he'll wake up the next morning and still be Roger Clemens. Poor guy.

* Editor's Note: Later information showed (true to expected form) that The Boss chewed out the clubhouse guy who sent the bubbly.

All-Time Ranking	Career OPS
1. Babe Ruth	1.1636
2. Ted Williams	1.1155
3. Lou Gehrig	1.0798
4. Barry Bonds	1.0533
5. Todd Helton	1.0480
6. Jimmie Foxx	1.0376
7. Hank Greenberg	1.0169
8. Rogers Hornsby	1.0103
9. Manny Ramirez	1.0102
10. Frank Thomas	.9960