ALCS Game 7 : Biggest Comeback/Choke In Post-Season History



Boston 10, New York 3.




Said Ben Schwartz, "for two teams you don't hear much about outside NY and Boston, that was a
fucking great series." Amen.

All credit for this stirring win has to go to my mother, whom before the game wondered in a grave tone, "what's wrong with Johnny Damon?" Clearly, all Boston's Charles Manson-esque centerfielder needed was a sign of maternal concern to snap out of a 3 for 29 funk with a monster night, hitting 2 HR's (one on a grand salami in the 2nd inning), and collecting 6 RBI's in the Red Sox's 10-3 clincher over the Yankees.

Damon became just the 2nd player to hit two homers in a 7th game, joining the rarified ranks of Yogi Berra and uh, Jason Giambi.

Speaking of whom, how's that for an immoveable object next year? Now that Kevin Brown and Javier Vasquez have proved to be no replacement for Clemens, Pettitte and Wells, how can the Yankees be expected to retool in '05, particularly with their depleted farm system? Hello, $250 million payroll.

I only hope Alex Rodriguez and his talented agent Mr. Boras can do something to force a trade to a contender. A player this gifted shouldn't have to spend his prime years toiling in a rebuilding situation.

Though Mariano Rivera's blown saves will loom large in this series, Kevin Brown's inability to fashion a quality start out of either of his chances was equally devestating --- even though New York won Game 3, that was more work for an relief corp that would be taxed greatly in the evenings to come. And while David Ortiz is a deserving MVP of the ALCS, spare a thought for the oft-criticized Derek Lowe, who had his finest hour in a Boston jersey last night, as well as Mark Bellhorn, who found redemption with crucial HR's in Games 6 and 7.

My Father opined yesterday afternoon that a victory in this series would be so meaningful to the Red Sox, subsequent failure in the World Series wouldn't mean that much. I disagreed --- this team was built to win the whole thing, not just the ALCS. Beating the Yankees is special, no doubt about it, but New York's history of knocking Boston out of the playoffs goes back a whole 5 years. The Red Sox's World Championship drought has been considerably longer. With match ups looming against St. Louis' Murderers Row of Pujols, Walker, Rolen and Edmonds, or the Astros' Gang Of Guys Whose Names Begin WIth "B" (in deference to John Belushi, I'm not calling them you-know-what), this can still end in tears. Or in more overturned cars.

Posted: Thu - October 21, 2004 at 08:22 AM      

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