April 1, 2005
ONE LOSS FROM DESPAIR:
Sox have clear psychological edge (Dan Shaughnessy, April 1, 2005, Boston Globe)
The Red Sox are better than the Yankees.You don't have to really believe it. Just keep saying it. It's the power of positive thinking. If you say it enough times and put all negativity out of your mind, it will become the truth.
The Red Sox are better than the Yankees because the Sox players think they are better than the Yankees. They are better because they put a hurt on the Bronx Bombers that will never go away. No matter how many millions George Steinbrenner spends, no matter how much they talk about those 26 World Series titles or seven straight first-place finishes . . . the 2005 Yankees start the season knowing they choked like no team in the history of baseball.
Back in October, just seconds before Mayor Thomas M. Menino instructed the newly minted champions to "mount your ducks," Red Sox captain/catcher Jason Varitek reminded Sox Nation that Boston fans forever will be able to walk into Yankee Stadium with their heads held high.
And so it is for the Sox ballplayers. It may look like the Yankees are better than the Red Sox because they picked up Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, and Jaret Wright while the Sox lost Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe, but do not be fooled. Even if the Red Sox finish second to the Yanks for an eighth straight season, it will mean nothing because Boston will have the advantage come playoff time. The Sox have the Yankees' number. We all know that now.
If the Sox lose on Sunday night the whole Nation will turn on them in a heartbeat. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 1, 2005 6:39 AM
With no little relief.
Posted by: David Cohen at April 1, 2005 9:59 AMWell, thank Shaughnessy for some comic relief. That was an April Fool's column, right? Or jus the mother of all wishful thinking.
The same Sox team choked in the 8th inning of game 7 at Yankee Stadium the year before.
The Sox won't even make the playoffs this year. Of course the Yanks will probably blow a three game lead to the Angels in this years ACLS.
(BTW when the Boston mayor said "mount your Ducks" was he referring to those amphibious vehicles that tourists to Beantown ride in? Jeez, they made the Sox parade in those? What a bush-league town! The agony of last year's defeat is somewhat redeemed by the Sox having to ride around in those ridiculous things.)
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at April 1, 2005 10:27 AMGo Blue Jays! Go Orioles! Go Devil Rays!
Yankee fans had better watch their back, because it looks like they've got serious competiton for their spots as most obnioxious, most petulant and most ungrateful fans.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at April 1, 2005 12:02 PMIt's a written rule in major league baseball that the Red Sox always win the first two series of the year in April against the Yankees, and the Yanks then always win the two series in June or early July. It's the September series that are the most unpredictable ones.
Posted by: John at April 1, 2005 3:31 PMNo matter how many millions George Steinbrenner spends, no matter how much they talk about those 26 World Series titles or seven straight first-place finishes . . . the 2005 Yankees start the season knowing they choked like no team in the history of baseball.
Any other amateur seamen here wanna tell me that blip on the radar screen is actually a sea monster?
Posted by: Matt Murphy at April 1, 2005 6:05 PM"choked like no team in the history of baseball"
The 1964 Phillies?
I looked at the projected pitching staffs of the yanks and red sox and said to myself: "Win the division with 90 games. The wild card will be in the West."
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at April 3, 2005 3:45 PM