Chuck's 5-Piece: Sports Upsets

Don't worry, Canada. You still have curling.

(i.cdn.turner.com)

Do you believe in mini-miracles, eh? Well, we all did this past Sunday when the United States beat Canada in their own sport on their own home ice. In a day that was labeled the 'Super Sunday' of the Winter Olympics for the stellar hockey matchups (Sweden-Finland, Russia-Czech Republic), this border rivalry on ice definitely took the cake, and ate it, too. Unfortunately for the Canucks, that cake hasn't been agreeing with them lately after being on the short end of a 5-3 American triumph. I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was borderline comical. I mean, what's better than beating your rival in the sport that 99.33985954% of its citizens have played since they were fetuses? It's that accepted xenophobia that makes the Olympics a sports mainstay...well if you pass on all the figure skating stuff. Unbelievable that NBC passed this game up on their main network to broadcast some riveting ice dancing, but I digress. Hey, that's just NBC being NBC! Might this have been the karmic revenge of the 8-6 WBC loss in 2006, or the gold medal game on our own ice in Salt Lake in 2002? In the grand scheme of things in international sports, it would be entertaining to think so. But there's still one thing that bothers me, even in a win so tremendous. In an age when the immediate becomes the most extravagant, it is easy to be caught up in the hype of putting Sunday's game as the best in all of history. As good as that game was, it definitely doesn't even come close to some classic upsets of years past and probably not as good as some of this past year. There was 2nd Division Alcorcon defeating the million-euro giant Real Madrid in this year's Copa del Rey, Leeds re-sparking an old rivalry by beating Manchester United in the FA Cup on their own ground for the first time since 1981 and Y.E. Yang toppling Tiger in the PGA Championship. Without further ado, let's go through the my Top 5 games, the ones that really had the devil lacing up some skates in his own abode.

Boone does it again?

(i.cdn.turner.com)

5. Sept. 1st, 2007: Appalachian State Stuns The Michigan Wolverines
And this was supposed to be one of those steamroller games that generally turn me off from being a regular consumer of college football. It seems as if the Michigan faithful joined Boston in the "Bleeping Boone" club. How you ask? From a soul breaking loss to a Division 1-AA team from Boone, NC that romped into Ann Arbor and pulled off what you could call an improbable 34-32 upset over their perennial college powerhouse in the opener (Yes, I had to look up the locale.). It was sophomore Armanti Edwards who outperformed Heisman hopeful Chad Henne in a roller coaster matchup that was projected to be anything but. It was the first FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) victory EVER over a team from the bowl division in the AP era, all in front of a shell-shocked pack of Wolverines. The crazy part is that the Mountaineers controlled the game mightily and were even up 31-20 midway through the 3rd quarter. However, it looked as if it had reached midnight for the Mountaineers as Henne, Mike Hart and crew came all the way back to make the contest 32-31 with four and a half minutes to play. But Appalachian State chipped away by frustrating Michigan's field goal unit and again emerged with the lead with a field goal of their own with 26 seconds left. All it took was one of the most shown blocked college field goal attempts in recent memory to seal the deal for the small North Carolinian school. It was a game which not only destroyed national championship dreams, but impacted the future of a college juggernaut into a checkered unknown, almost as checkered as the Norwegian curling team's pants. Out went Lloyd Carr at the end of the season, and they have been 8-16 ever since. It goes to show you that the impact of a hardcore upset goes far beyond the failiure of the moment, but it the nuclear-like fallout it has to the once mighty.

I'd rather Chinese water torture over this pic.

(sportsmonarch.com)

4. Feb. 3rd, 2008: Giants Spoil The Patriots' Party At Super Bowl XLII
I still carry the symptoms from this game; the constant chills, the thousand-yard stare, that feeling of missing the bus and knowing that it wouldn't come back. Despite being two touchdown favorites in Vegas, I remember being very cautious going into that night's game. The Giants came into the Super Bowl with serious momentum by becoming the first NFC 6th seed to make it to the show, winning all of their playoff games outside their East Rutherford home. To top that off, I still had the visions of the G-Men nearly toppling our undefeated season in the last week of the regular season with a cliffhanger, but it was still hard to believe that this Patriots team would be stopped in Phoenix. Randy Moss's 23 TD receptions, Brady's 50 passing TDs, averaging almost 37 points a game during the regular season, us Patriots fans, as well as many in the nation, ultimately thought that this would be the team to accomplish what no other team had ever done, even the 1972 Dolphins squad. 19-0 wasn't exactly an inevitability, but it was a strong expectation after a season full of previously unreached accolades, while overcoming all the bitter emotions swirling from the 2006 AFC Championship game and Spygate. Plus, the Sox and Pats won in my first year of college, it was only meant to be that they would both win in my last, right? But it wasn't meant to be. The Giants defense rushed Brady and stymied the Pats' offense like no other team did that season. Of course, the play that will be emblazoned in my head for all eternity, the one where it was third down, Eli eluded the grasp of Jarvis Green, threw a desperation lob and found the hand and the helmet of David Tyree, all while Rodney Harrison failed to strip the ball away. It's when I realized that 19-0 wasn't meant to happen, even before Plaxico provided the final blow. As we have seen in the past couple of seasons, the Patriots really haven't recovered, and it is assumed nationwide that their days of outright dominance are over. 2 years later, I'm still trying to remove that dagger, wondering what could have been. On that note, I'm gonna go vomit now.

I don't remember this from 'Punch-Out'.

(virginmedia.com)

3. Feb. 11th, 1990: Buster Douglas Clobbers Iron Mike

What? Mike Tyson? On the canvass? It happened for the first time one February night in Tokyo when James "Buster" Douglas's flurry of punches in the 10th round shook the sports world off its axis, while competing heavily for story of the year with Nelson Mandela's release, which happened on the same weekend. The 30-year old was a 42/1 underdog going into the fight against a guy who practically invented the pay-per-view blockbuster, while making viewers question whether it was worth the investment to watch a lion maul a bunch of gazelles in two minutes or less. This bout was going to be no different. I mean, Tyson just came off his 17th bout that ended in the 1st round, so Douglas was just gonna be another gladiator thrown to the lions, or so we thought. With a dissolved marriage and the death of his mother, Douglas had more to be motivated for and had less time to dwindle on the intimidating aura of a certain 'Iron Mike'. He even showed it throughout the whole bout (feeling a little Don King) by carrying out a well conducted fight, using his size to his advantage to bully the bully. Even after being knocked down by the seemingly invincible Tyson at the end of the 8th round, Douglas, a boxer who was known to shut it down when he wanted to, countered with the most significant blows of his career by knocking the champion into the ropes in the 9th round, and ultimately turned Tyson into Jello in the 10th, silencing the lookers-on at the Tokyo Dome. Like with the other upsets on my list, the moment had a carryover that would impact the future of the defeated. That iconic image of Tyson on the mat with that crooked mouthpiece was more than an upset. It became somewhat of an omen to the downhill trajectory that his life was about to travel. Also pretty amazing considering that Douglas would lose the title of being the undisputed heavyweight champion in his next bout against some Holyfield guy several months later, who happened to be ringside sizing up Tyson for a future title bout. But hey, knocking out 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' is a fifteen minutes worth treasuring, and is also worth another fifteen minutes of basking in the awe of such a seemingly improbable feat.

Maybe Rex was trying to do a Broadway Joe.

(4.bp.blogspot.com)

2. Jan. 12th, 1969: Joe's Guarantee In Super Bowl III

Even though there were two previous championship clashes between the NFL and the AFL, this would be the first game to carry the 'Super Bowl' moniker, and was there ever a game so ever-deserving to start carrying that torch. The Colts, like the 2007 Pats, were considered to be the upper echelon of the sport despite not having icon Johnny Unitas during the year due to an arm injury in preseason. At one point, backup QB Earl Morrall and crew pulled off 10 consecutive wins en route to a 13-1 season, with the only loss being avenged in the NFL Championship against the Browns at a 34-0 clip. With a high octane offense and with football's best defense (only 144 points allowed), there was no reason for people to think that the NFL wouldn't triumph again just like they had with the last two battles between the leagues, especially against a fledgling AFL.....well, unless you were Joe Namath and the Jets. The AFL rep for the big game had a head coach in Weeb Ewbank, who coached the Colts in "The Greatest Game Ever Played" a decade earlier. He was able to guide the Jets to a 11-3 record and was able to avenge the 'Heidi Game' loss against the Raiders with a comeback victory in the AFL Championship Game. The conductor of that comeback was be a guy named Joe Willie Namath, who would throw more interceptions than touchdowns (17 to 15). But he was undoubtedly the Jets leader when the game was on the line, where he would be as bold as the guarantee he would make a few days before the contest. When the going got going in Miami, it was the Jets who forced five turnovers, including 4 on their half of the field. While Namath would not throw a touchdown for the game (and still won the MVP), he managed the Jets offense well enough to score 16 unanswered points against the zone defense of the Colts, a run that was snapped only when Johnny Unitas replaced the struggling Morrall and lead an 80 yard TD drive with just over 3 minutes left in the game. What was the impact provided by this stunner? This game not only showed that the NFL-AFL merger was valid for competitive reasons, but would be the launching point in the NFL's dominance as America's pro sports league today. For that reason, something all-world would have to top this upset, well speaking of.......

U.S.A.: Believing in miracles since 1980.

(independent.co.uk)

1. Feb. 22nd, 1980: The American Miracle In Lake Placid
After reading the intro, what else did you think it was? It was the event in sports the truly shocked the world, still carrying its magnitude even after the 2 days and 30 years since it happened. There was so many reasons to give that game to the Soviets, like the 10-3 exhibition thrashing at Madison Square Garden, or the fact that they had only lost once in the last 4 Olympics, or that they had won all but one Olympic hockey gold medal up to that point. Although they were considered amateurs, the Soviets weren't even close to novices in skill level, and with a few 30-year old players on the team, in age either. The Soviets were trained and disciplined like soldiers, and even lived in barracks for almost the entire year. It was expected that this Cold War on ice was going to be a cakewalk, especially after the Soviets went through a demolition tour (outscored opponents 51-11 in 5 games) going into the game. But this was a different opponent than the one that showed up for the New York exhibition contest, and coach Herb Brooks would make sure that his young squad was up for the daunting task. Even after trailing twice in the game, including being down 2-3 after the 2nd period, captain Mike Eruzione (second oldest player on the team at 25) and crew were not gonna be content with caving in to the Kremlin. With 2 goals, including one by Eruzione, the Americans had their first lead of the game, and would have to persevere for 10 of the longest minutes in sports history. The 3rd period comeback, however remarkable, was routine, for it was a common theme for this United States squad (were behind in all but one game in Olympics). Glory would eventually arrive as Al Michaels uttered his famous proclamation, with The Olympic Center bathed in the proud Lake Placid screams of "U-S-A". They cut the Russian five years before Rocky did. It will be a moment that probably won't be duplicated ever again, considering that many of the Olympians now are players in the professional ranks. Most significantly, it showed the power of a bunch of college kids, who united a country that had been filled with social and political strife, as well as provided a story that would be the motor for many underdogs to create miracles of their own.

Apologies to..... Chaminade over Viginia in 1982 Maui Invitational, Miracle Braves over Athletics in 1914 World Series, Miracle Mets over Orioles in 1969 World Series, N.C. State over Houston in 1983 NCAA Championship, Villanova over Georgetown in 1985 NCAA Championship, Miracle on Grass: U.S. over England in 1950 World Cup, Rulon Gardner over Alexander Karelin in 2000 Summer Olympics, George Mason's 2006 Final Four run, Greece's Euro 2004 victory

Vernal Revival

Minor leaguers in parachutes. Must be Spring Training!
(cache.boston.com)

My spring has now started! Even though most of the players had arrived by Tuesday, today is the 1st official day for pitchers and catchers, and it couldn't have arrived any sooner. I'm still in recovery mode from the Pats' stinker in the playoffs while trying to endure the mediocrity/downright brutal recent meltdowns from the Celts and the B's, and that doesn't include me having to cope with Barça's first league loss against Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Even the Super Bowl of NASCAR was delayed by of all things, a pothole. Does Florida even have the type conditions to create a pothole? What a joke. It has been getting to the point where my safest option for sports viewing has been the Winter Olympics, which admittedly hasn't been that bad. The speed skating and some of the skiing events have been highly entertaining (And check out these pants!!). However, I wish they showed more Olympic hockey (which is better than the NHL in my opinion), and less of Johnny Weir. But all is good, because my team is ready to get back on the diamond, hoping to set the foundation that will bring the franchise's 8th championship. So before I get all excited over some PECOTA ranking, I would like to answer some questions that have been swirling around in my brain ad nauseaum about this team leading into this year's session of Fort Myers fun.

Apparently he's tired of all this talk, too.
(weei.com)

What will happen to Mike Lowell?
Like everyone else, I think he's gone, but not as soon as everyone thinks. As of now, Lowell is still a couple of weeks away from resuming baseball activities. That means it's gonna be a couple of weeks before he even begins to prove to the rest of the league that he's still a functioning baseball player. Recognizing the fact that it will take him some time to heal up and to get at-bats in Spring Training games, Mikey might not get that immediate plane ticket to his next destination. Something tells me that he will somehow break camp in a platoon role to begin the season, where he will gain enough of a sample in time and in at-bats for a team to feel comfortable in pursuing him. It would be very welcome, considering I don't see the bench being a strong facet to our team. An extra month will delight Mikey Lowell fans like myself, as well as add a productive bat in Boston's pine corps......well until Max Ramirez comes to town.

A last laugh for the last spot.
(cache.boston.com)

Do we truly have the best rotation in baseball?
By far, and it's not because we have the best 1-2-3 since the Mulder-Zito-Hudson combo of the early 2000's. With Lester, Beckett and Lackey, the Sox have three top-tier starters that could be the ace of many rotations around the league. With Lester and Beckett, we have power pitchers that are sure to miss many bats, become solid contenders for a 20-win season and threaten for the Cy Young. With Lackey, we have a guy who is as much of a bulldog on the mound as the other two, while having the track record in both the regular season and the postseason to have Francona be more than comfortable in giving him the baseball every 5th day. But the staff's effectiveness goes far beyond the top. The dark horse not only for the staff, but for the season will be Dice-K, who has the most to prove. Can't forget that this was a pitcher that won 33 games in his first two years, while being able to miss bats in many instances. Let's face it, 2009 needs the MIB treatment. Matsuzaka's season was doomed since the arduous throwing programs of his WBC appearance, and the tensions of that along with subtle disagreements he had with management over the past three years, the powder keg was only inevitable. The recent outing of last season's hidden groin injury didn't affect me like it did the Boston media because I already accepted the fact that it was another stain amidst a season that we already know was filled with foul ups and futility that needed to be forgotten. I think the 'next year' mindset has been on the brains of Farrell and Francona with Dice-K since last September. Plus as the fourth starter, he doesn't have the previous pressure of a #1 or #2, while he will be able to match up very well against many other team's #4 starter, which many around the league will not have even decided on until the near completion of March Madness. With Wakefield, we have a solid veteran presence who will eat innings and will win around 12-15 games (if healthy of course). In Clay Buchholz, the Sox have a starter that has better stuff compared to most of the #5 starters in the league. If he can pitch with the confidence and the effectiveness he did in the second half of last season, he is sure to win many matchups against other back-of-the-rotation starters. Yes, we have 6 guys for 5 spots, but as we found out last year, you can't have enough live arms. The difference between last year's staff and this year is that it actually has true depth. In 2009, we were duped into thinking that former National League pitchers with past arm trouble were going to save our season, and we all know how that ended up. The 2010 rotation is without a doubt, the V8 to the Sox machine.

Who are you calling odd,.......man?

(cache.boston.com)

So who is the odd man out?
Wakefield is letting it be known that he expects to be the 5th guy in the rotation, however with the addition of Lackey and with Buchholz still in town, it doesn't seem as if management sees him as a full-time rotation horse. With the annual body breakdowns that the 43-year old's been having in the past few campaigns, the brass does have a legit concern. At the same time, I don't see too many bullpen situations that would suit Wake other than the last-hope long guy in one of those 15 inning marathons where you run out of pitchers. How often does that happen, 4 times a year? Meanwhile, we have to realize that Buchholz is a not-so-young 26 years old, and he's at a point where we can't send him down to AAA forever. The man has got high hopes pinned on him, so be sure will have a spot with the staff. I'm probably one of many that think the 'run prevention' strategy was a Plan B for the Sox that was put into effect after J-Bay's agent turned the cold shoulder on their efforts to retain him, hence the Lackey/Cameron signings shortly thereafter. By design, this put the longest tenured Red Sox in a bit of a limbo. So it looks like there will be an injury fake for Wake, unless Dice-K's back has a say.

Will the Boof be a boom or a bust?
(cache.boston.com)

Is our bullpen a lock?
Seems to be the most overlooked portion of the team, the part that virtually everyone has even deemed to be automatic. But I have concerns about this pen. I wonder if Papelbon will regain his splitter after heavily relying on his fastball till it ended our season. I wonder if Bard will come through in the big contests this year, all in an effort to not only be the future closer of this team, but to avoid the infamous sophomore slump. We also have to notice that Okajima's ERA went up nearly a run (3.39 to 2.61) from 2008 and wonder if the lefty is slowly losing the deceptiveness that has made him an All-Star reliever. Oh, and then there is Manny Delcarmen and his tired shoulder that caused him to have an 8.53 ERA in the last 2 months of '09, making us all wonder if he will ever reach his high potential that his high voltage stuff suggests. Now we have to figure out if a guy named Boof (5.12 career ERA) will be of use in a slot that was filled by Wagner or Saito, who recorded strong results for the most part in 2009. By looking through it all, there are as many question marks with the 'pen as there are with any of Lady Gaga's outfits. Like with the Sox offense, I'm on a wait-and-see basis with this pen.

No sign of a Youk manchu this spring.
(cache.boston.com)

Will our lineup produce?
Going into 2010, I have to admit that I have some doubts. We are minus a 30 homer, 100 RBI left fielder and I was one of many in the contingent that said we needed to acquire that 'Fear of God' bat this offseason. However, we saw last year as a down year, and that team scored more runs than the 2007 championship team. In spots 1-4 (Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youk, V-Mart), the Red Sox are stacked solid with consistent, on-base run producers, but after that it gets a little hazy. Will Papi avoid the 2-month slump? Will Mike Cameron agitate the Fenway boo birds with a whirlwind of strikeouts? Can Beltre get anywhere close to being the run-producer he once was? Granted, it's gonna be real hard to expect a career year from an 34-year old J.D. Drew, but we have to look on the bright side. A whole year of V-Mart will boost the offensive production from the catching position that has been lacking with 'Tek that past couple of years. I see Beltre being the offensive dark horse and will hit 25-30 homers with the assistance of a ballpark that is conducive to right-handed offense. And with a Cameron-Scutaro combo in the bottom of the order, the overall lineup will have more balance all the way through it than when Nick Green and Varitek were manning the bottom slots. As for Papi, he as well as the rest of the world knows he has to be more consistent. We would all love old Papi back, but if he does another Mendoza line nosedive, you can be certain that the Adrian Gonzalez circus will come to Boston once again. At the end of the day, I am slowly, but successfully talking myself into the fact that we will thrive with this lineup, but I think the main key will be the lineup's 10th man: The training staff. If one of our sluggers goes down, the bench only supplies us with question marks in terms of offensive production, not limited to Hermida (oft-injured in his young career), Varitek (can't hit from the left side anymore) and Bill Hall (definitely not the 35 homer guy he was in '06). With what's on paper now, health will be as important as ever if we are to ultimately give enough run support to our all-star pitching staff.

Great pic for the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
(nydailynews.com)

When it's all said and done, will the Sox catch the Yanks?
Probably the most asked question around this time of year by many New Englanders. The Lackey acquisition along with Buchholz being a full time starter should play a beneficial role, for if healthy, will play a huge role in taking away the 38 starts that were occupied by Penny, Smoltz and Byrd last season. With Cameron in center and Beltre at third, we have shored us a defense that was suspect the year prior, while bringing in players who could not only surprise, but be big contributors to a 'rebuilt' offense. At the same time, I have questions on whether the Yankee acquisitions will help them be the first team to repeat since they did it in '99-00. With that short porch in right, Curtis Granderson has a chance to chase Maris, but his inability in the past to hit lefties, draw pitch counts, and his knack for striking out make me question whether the combo of Granderson and Jeter will be better than Jeter and Damon. While we know Vazquez is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game, but it seems as everyone has forgotten about his last forgettable stint in New York, which was punctuated by allowing 2 homers to Johnny Damon in Game 7 of the ALCS. I realize that Johnny Damon has lost a bit of his range in the outfield, but Randy Winn isn't a spring chicken either. The way things are now, I still have the Yanks winning another AL East crown, but I like where the Red Sox stand not only in the way they have closed the gap, but they're set up in a flexible position to make a move for the right piece that will make them a better team down the stretch. It's a hope, but it's that hope makes this time of year so special to so may baseball addicts like myself, waiting for the adrenaline rush that is the summertime pennant race. Play ball, folks!

Cloud 10 - The Chronicles of Chuck has finally hit the Technorati circuit! Feel free to make comments known to the blog community at large and help get my profile recognized to the masses. Cheers, ladies and gents!

Valentine's Day: My Anti-Christmas

If Valentine's Day only had a genie.....
(www.ventertainmentonline.com)

How come I feel a sudden urge to watch Scarface while in my boxers with crumbs of a toasted tuna sandwich over me in a dark room (come to think of it, that's every lazy Saturday night)? Oh yeah. Great. It's the 14th of February. Time to be exposed with more unnecessary occurrences of PDA and over gushing, all brought to you by Hallmark, making something so real become so corporate. I'm not exactly a big fan of an arbitrary day telling you that it's okay to be in love, or to have it be okay to passionately maul your boyfriend/girlfriend in the food court with the restraint of a set of brakes on a Toyota, just because he/she gave you that teddy bear that was sold on the street corner the day before. Even worse is that the day almost represents a day of death and torture for singles like myself. The day becomes a reminder of everyone asking you why you don't have that significant other to the point where I feel people are convincing me that I have some kind of invisible leprosy I have to get rid of. In this 'Ross and Rachel' and 'Carrie and Big' world, being single isn't exactly the 'in' thing, and that other person is the necessary antidote from everybody looking at you with the crazy goggles. To top it off, most of my closest friends are in relationships, which admittedly has me yearning a bit. I admit, I'm a little bitter, considering my love life is a eclectic cross of 'Some Guys Have All The Luck' by Rod Stewart, 'All By Myself' by Eric Carmen and 'Tie Me Down' by the New Boyz. But here's the thing: I like being single, in fact I love it. Hey couples, don't take this as an Angelina Jolie edict made to sever your relationship. Besides, on this day, I have the right to revel in my joy, too!

The look of a guy still on the go.
(CEB II)

Enjoying being single is definitely a process in today's society, but it's doable. All it is simply enjoying yourself in a way, while having that confidence to tackle goals by any means, regardless of what is said next to your marital status on Facebook. The open access to meet new people, to develop personal ideals and having the ability to make your own personal assessments make the single life as open as Route 9 at 4 AM. It's good to be free a young adult who is living life on his own terms, which comes naturally as an only child. Besides, independence is way more attractive than clinginess, and no one can afford clinginess (not to mention I can't really afford a girlfriend currently). I guess I was in the same mindset, like 80% of the world, that a "soul mate" was to boost my ambitions and be the completion of my personal jigsaw puzzle. In truth, my searching held me back a bit because I had the wrong mindset all along, that a person would complete everything and change my life. Every time I failed in a pursuit, I would question myself constantly, treating my continued solitude as ineptitude, all with Spandau Ballet in the background. But I realized that completion of self has to come first before you are ever to truly appreciate somebody else. To quote Chris Rock (because he's right almost 100% of the time), "You're never gonna meet somebody who likes Seinfeld and The Wu Tang Clan." There's no such thing as the perfect person, so why was I trying so hard to obtain her? Besides, I realize that when I do find that person, it's gonna require gigantic amount of commitment that I might not be ready for. I'm use to doing about things without having to please another person. I like booking that random trip to New York on a whim. I like wearing my semi-dirtied sports jersey on an important gameday. I like having the choice to eat mac and cheese for 3 meals a day. The challenge of commitment for me is not the person, but it is accepting the sacrifice of all of those simple pleasures and adventures that I have done and still want to embark on, and I'm not sure if I'm ready to give all that up yet.

Guess this year I'll celebrate with my new love: Soccer.
(imagebam.com)

So you probably ask after all that ranting, "Are you still looking?" Of course. I don't plan on keeping this life up forever. Besides, frequent flirting is just part of the fun when your single. The difference is when I flirt now, it's more enjoyable, and less of being about having throwing all the marbles to get a certain chick to like me, a mode which got me out of my more attractive social personality and misleading people with a more fabricated self, and sometimes even brought out my overly-competitive nature. Over the past few years, I have learned to enjoy being free of the chain without succumbing to the pressure of society to shack up with just anyone, which boldly explains why the divorce rate is at 50%. At the end of the day, I'm still in the exploration phase of finding that special someone who is willing to dance along to the beat of my distinctive drum rhythm every once in a while, not to mention accept all those quirky things that make me the unique person I am. I guess in a way, my active solitude will better ready me for that future relationship not only because I display to the woman who I really am, but I will have more to give back in a sharing-intensive interaction like a relationship. After all, you have to remember that relationships are more about shared experiences than filling personal voids. So I guess I'll ride this single thing out while I can, at least until I find the one whose drum beats along with my heart. Happy Anti-Christmas everybody!

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

All of a sudden feeling a little warmer.
(cache.boston.com)

Spring is finally here......at least unofficially. Yes, they are only packing exercise machines, a bone (you read that right) and even some sticks of deodorant, but Truck Day is like the Sox fan's Groundhog Day in the sense that we know better days are around the corner. It may not be the first day of Spring Training. Hell, it may not be an event that I would personally attend annually, but the truck (much bigger than your average groundhog, or Groundhog) marks that the continuation of our beautiful national pastime is only several days and a thousand miles away on the I-95 (Get it, Gasper?). In fact, I am so giddy, that I'm dusting off my personalized #24 jersey as we speak! But while the truck heads to its sunny destination, many questions are popping up in my head as to whether this team will be good enough for a Soxtober run not just for this season, but past the many Truck Days in the future. Will pitching and defense be an effective blueprint for a World Series victory? Do we have enough bats to compete with the Yanks and the rest of the AL? Will all of these contract years on the team be effective or a nuisance? At least for myself, a Texas-sized question has been disrupting the dimensions of my mind.

Beckett: The spark to our fire.

(myredsoxtoday.com)

Should we re-sign Josh Beckett? After thinking long and hard, Beckett is the potential free agent to be that we must bring back. Sure, I have been critical of what exactly he does for conditioning, considering he has been hampered late in the past two seasons with injuries, which as a result has diminished his previously pristine postseason resume. There's also the the alleged tightrope being walked with his shoulder labrum, which apparently has been a ticking time bomb even before he went pro in 2001. However, if we expect to stay competitive in a division with a juggernaut in the Yanks, the thorn in our side known as the Rays and an emerging Orioles team, Beckett has to be the part of the equation. Health has been a significant issue with Beckett, but luckily it hasn't been his shoulder, which really hasn't been an issue throughout his whole career. Even if his labrum starts to go kaput, shoulder operations have become more effective than they were in the last decade, and I'm sure the coaches and management will be on top of the issue like they have been for the past 4 seasons. My bigger concern is his conditioning for the long grind of the season, for when he is healthy, he is undoubtedly the biggest late season weapon of any pitcher out there. You have to figure that Beckett won't have a mid-90's fastball on the latter part of a new contract, but one thing that is unquestionable is his undying work ethic, which can be a determining factor in the lengthening and the adaptation of his career as a successful hurler even if his shoulder goes Chernobyl on him (or at least Three Mile Island). Even after Pedro's rotator cuff injury, he still was an effective, ace-caliber pitcher for the next 4 seasons. Plus, you can't argue with a guy who has proven success pitching through the most talented division in baseball. With Lester readying himself to become the true ace of the staff, Lackey as a solid insurance plan, and if prospects like Casey Kelley are going to be as special as everyone says they are going to be, the Sox can be the no-brainer automatic write-in for the best rotation for the next 5 years if not longer. But this deal goes far beyond the stability of the Sox organization alone.

Beckett + This Guy = Future trouble for Sox
(cdn1.sbnation.com)

With the Mariners locking up Felix Hernandez to a long term deal and the Twins making a solid effort to lock up catcher/Minnesota folk hero Joe Mauer, all indications point to the fact that the financial health of the game is a bit better. If these smaller to mid-market teams are able to lock up some of their stars, who is to say that they can't get a centerpiece from the free agent market? A team of interest for me is an already talented, top prospect-loaded Texas Rangers team, who have new ownership, a new Nolan Ryan-based philosophy based on pitching and a team who can easily play the hometown card. If Beckett were to go to Arlington and rub-off on Neftali Feliz like he has with Lester and Buchholz, that could pose a huge problem to our goal of making the playoffs perennially. Can't forget about those Angels, who may want to make a big splash after striking out his year to keep Lackey and Figgins while their divisional rivals (Texas and Seattle specifically) seem ready to set a new order in the AL West. Even the Orioles may be a Beckett away from becoming an outright contender in the AL East for many years to come and be a threat to leave us out of the equation like the Rays have threatened to do in recent times. The best alternative in free agency next offseason is Cliff Lee, who has a Cy Young pitcher's resume. However, I have an issue paying the mega deal to a finesse lefty pitcher who will pitch a majority of his games at Fenway, a potential recipe for an all-out disaster. As each season (especially postseason) has proven, pitching wins in the big leagues. Beckett is an ace not only for his past credentials, but by the way he approaches his craft and influences others to approach it the same way. By signing Beckett to a 4 or 5-year deal, the Sox will be blessed not only with a gritty, proven performer, but with a true staff leader that the new guys can learn from. For the sake of the long-term success of the team, we have to get on the Beckett Truck before it rolls off and leaves us in the cold, possibly to sunnier pastures.

R.I.P. To An Olympian

Nodar Kumaritashvili (Nov. 25th, 1988 - Feb. 12th, 2010)

(abcnews.go.com)

2004 Sox Vs. 2007 Sox; Best Of The Rest

So close, you can almost taste the champagne.
(cache.boston.com)

So it's down to the final stretch of my analysis ('04 team up 5-4 if you're counting) of who was the better Sox championship team of the last decade. I have to be honest, these entries are truly revving me up for the upcoming season and have me a little more optimistic about the team we're fielding this year. The rising anticipation is also accelerated with the Bruins' recent flop-fest (have won 1 of their last 11), and the Celtics, who are too old to play a full 4 quarters, displayed by their blowing of countless double-digit leads against teams they must beat. Forget Groundhog Day, my spring indicator is coming on Friday when the equipment truck makes its voyage to Fort Myers, preceding the inevitable reporting of the hometown team's first preparations on sun-soaked fields, marking the official start of the spring for baseball nuts like myself. But until then, I have this last part of my championship comparison amongst a ferocious wind chill, and snowfall forecasted for the near future. J.D. Drew's inevitable hamstring injury can't come quick enough! Anyhoo, here are the final statements and verdict.

Starting Rotation
The official logo for the '04 Sox starters.
(i2.cdn.turner.com)

2004 (over 50 IP):
Curt Schilling: (21-6, 3.26 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 203 K, 226 2/3 IP, 32 GS)
Pedro Martinez: (16-9, 3.90 ERA, 1.17 ERA, 227 K, 217 IP, 33 GS)
Derek Lowe: (14-12, 5.42 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 105 K, 182 2/3 IP, 33 GS)
Tim Wakefield: (12-10, 4.87 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 116 K, 188 1/3 IP, 30 GS)
Bronson Arroyo: (10-9, 4.03 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 142 K, 178 2/3 IP, 29 GS)

Undoubtedly a vital part of the profile turnaround of a franchise that historically favored sluggers that aimed for Landsdowne Street. And it all started with the most famous Thanksgiving acquisition of all-time in Schilling (2nd in Cy Young voting), who with the best K/BB ratio in the AL (5.8) and his league best 21 victories, helped anchor the Sox staff throughout the season. It was his postseason achievements however, that entered him into Red Sox lore with his three victories, including two with a sock that matched his team's moniker. He teamed up with Pedro Martinez (4th in AL Cy Young voting) to make the most formidable 1-2 punch of any pitching staff in '04. While it wasn't '99 Pedro, he was good enough to get his 8th 200+ K of his career, and fought off a horrible September (2-4, 4.95 ERA) to obtain two October wins, including a World Series masterpiece in Game 3 in which he struck out 6, allowed no runs and retired the last 14 Cardinals he faced. Arguably the best story from the rotation was Derek Lowe, who was so marred with so much inconsistency during the season that he was banished to the bullpen for the playoffs. All he did was become the first pitcher the win all three clinching games, earning himself a 3-0 record with a 1.86 ERA in the postseason and was as big of a factor in bringing the World Series trophy through Boston with a Rolling Rally Parade. The most outstanding attribute of this staff was its ability to stay healthy, with the main five making all but 5 starts (Abe Alvarez (1), Pedro Astacio (1), Byung-Hyun Kim (3) with the others). The importance of this staff was truly highlighted in the World Series where in Games 2 through 4, Schilling, Martinez and Lowe allowed 0 ER and 4 BB in 20 IP while shutting down the mighty bats of Rolen, Edmonds and Sanders to a 1/39 clip through the 4 games. The 2004 starting rotation, a staff that boasted 5 double-digit winners, was a signal of the direction of philosophy with how these new Red Sox were going to win games in the future.

A man who knows the way come the postseason.
(cache.boston.com)

2007 (over 50 IP):
Josh Beckett: (20-7, 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 194 K, 200 2/3 IP, 30 GS)
Curt Schilling: (9-8, 3.87 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 101 K, 151 IP, 24 GS)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: (15-12, 4.40 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 201 K, 204 2/3 IP, 32 GS)
Tim Wakefield: (17-12, 4.76 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 110 K, 189 IP, 31 GS)
Julian Tavarez: (7-11, 5.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 77 K, 134 2/3 IP, 23 GS)
Jon Lester: (4-0, 4.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 50 K, 63 IP, 11 GS)

Although showing a different look, the influence of the '07 starting rotation definitely wasn't underestimated, leading a pitching corps that had the lowest ERA in the American League. One facet to that new look was the arrival of Japanese phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka, who came with a lot of buzz to go along with a $103 million price tag. The Dice Man actually was a solid pitcher in his first few months and the bigs, and probably was at one point one of the best pitchers in the AL (1.59 ERA in June). In the end, he led all rookies in wins and in strikeouts while winning 2 games in his first postseason despite late season struggles. '07 showed that you had to recognize the veterans too, for Tim Wakefield took a drink from the fountain of youth and tied a career high in wins (17). A nagging shoulder injury however, would ultimately leave him out of the World Series roster. Enter, Jon Lester, who came back from cancer to not only win the clinching game of the World Series, but showed the nation a strong character that would one day help him become an elite pitcher. And even though this old ace's stuff was down a couple ticks, you can't ignore Schilling's impact. The 2004 hero's season was hampered by a tired shoulder, but he came 1 batter shy of recording his 1st no hitter, while racking up another three postseason wins (11-2, 2.23 ERA overall). The latter win became significant for he was the 2nd pitcher to win a World Series game over the age of 40, and it would end up being the last game of his career, all under a standing ovation. But everyone knows that 2007 was all about Beckett, who had a '04 Schilling-type season, finishing 2nd for the AL Cy Young while resurrecting his place as one of the most dominant pitchers in the game by establishing his secondary stuff. His out-of-this-world postseason is what the fans will remember when he pitched to the tune of a 4-0 record with a 1.25 ERA, 35 strikeouts in 30 IP while only issuing 2 free passes and winning the ALCS MVP for his pivotal role in helping the Sox come back from a 1-3 deficit. The fact that the team got 7 quality starts from the enigmatic Julian Tavarez showed that the 2007 staff had the depth to get an innings eater when options seemed limited.

Winner: I find it amazing that the 2004 staff only missed 5 starts, and like I said in the right fielder comparison, being there is half the battle. Even though I believe the 2004 staff had the better 1-2, it is the 2007 staff's depth that proved more versatile, and according to the statistics, had the solid numbers to back it up. As you will find out later in the piece, the true depth goes deeper than those 6 listed above. ADVANTAGE: 2007

Bullpen

Simple as Foulke.
(cache.boston.com)

2004: Playoff Roster and Others
Mike Myers (5-1, 4.64 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 32 K, 42 2/3 IP, 75 GP)
Ramiro Mendoza (2-1, 3.52 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 13 K, 30 2/3 IP, 27 GP)
Alan Embree (2-2, 4.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 37 K, 52 1/3 IP, 71 GP)
Mike Timlin (5-4, 4.13 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 56 K, 76 1/3 IP, 76 GP, 1 SV)
Scott Williamson (0-1, 1.26 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 28 K, 28 2/3 IP, 28 GP, 1 SV)
Curt Leskanic (3-5, 5.19 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 37 K, 43 1/3 IP, 51 GP, 4 SV)
Terry Adams (2-0, 6.00 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 21 K, 27 IP, 19 GP)
Keith Foulke (5-3, 2.17 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 79 K, 83 IP, 72 GP, 32 SV)

The 2004 bullpen unit may have not been the the most acclaimed during the season, but they definitely pulled their weight. It all started with the other big acquisition of the '03-'04 offseason in Keith Foulke, who not only provided the Sox a go-to guy in the bullpen (which was run by "committee" the year previous), but the comfort that they were handing the ball off to one of the elite stoppers in the league. Foulke was backed up by reliable set-up men Mike Timlin and lefty Alan Embree, who combined with Foulke, tallied 219 appearances amongst them. It was in the postseason that the bullpen shifted into another gear, especially after overcoming a 13-run shellacking in that 19-8 Game 3 in the ALCS. For the rest of the ALCS, the bullpen allowed only 4 runs in 19 2/3 IP (1.83 ERA), including a 13 2/3 inning scoreless run though the marathons of Games 4 and 5. The bullpen unit impressed in the Series as well, allowing 4 ER in 12 1/3 innings and being a huge reason why the Red Sox didn't trail at any point during the 4 games. Like with the rest of the team, there were so many unsung performances. For instance, Curtis Leskanic (3.58 ERA with Sox), who allowed 3 ER in 1/3 of an inning in Game 3, pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball in Game 4 that would not only give him the win, but would end up being the final appearance of his career. The bullpen even benefited from cameo roles, evidenced by Wakefield's bullpen-saving effort in Game 4 and his 3 scoreless innings in Game 5 while pitching to Varitek, who caught only 2 2/3 innings of knuckleballs all year. But it all goes back to Foulke, for throughout the entire postseason, he threw in 11 of the 14 games, threw 257 pitches in 14 innings, and recorded 19 Ks while only allowing 1 earned run throughout the entire month of October, and was the man who made the assist in the most memorable out recorded in the history of the Red Sox. While staying in the background of the heroics of Ortiz and Damon, the '04 'pen proved that they weren't just ordinary fo(u)lk(e).

Luckily, he pitches better than....whatever that is.
(fotr.mlblogs.com)

2007: Playoff Roster and Others
Javier Lopez (2-1, 3.10 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 26 K, 40 2/3 IP, 61 GP)
Kyle Snyder (2-3, 3.81 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 41 K, 54 1/3 IP, 46 GP)
Manny Delcarmen (0-0, 2.05 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 41 K, 44 IP, 44 GP, 1 SV)
Mike Timlin (2-1, 3.42 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 31 K, 55 1/3 IP, 50 GP, 1 SV)
Joel Pineiro (7-5, 4.33 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 60 K, 97 2/3 IP, 42 GP)
Eric Gagne (4-2, 3.81 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 51 K, 52 IP, 54 GP, 16 SV)
Brendan Donnelly (2-1, 3.05 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 15 K, 20 2/3 IP, 27 GP)
J.C. Romero (2-2, 1.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 42 K, 56 1/3 IP, 74 GP, 1 SV)
Hideki Okajima (3-2, 2.22 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 63 K, 69 IP, 66 GP, 5 SV)
Jonathan Papelbon (1-3, 1.85 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 84 K, 58 1/3 IP, 59 GP, 35 SV)

The 2007 Sox bullpen were as dominant as you could get, and kept in rhythm on the mound like they were with their makeshift instruments in the 'pen. It was built with solid contributors, like Mike Timlin (a.k.a, captain of the "Black Pearl"), who at 41 years young recorded a lower ERA than he had in '04, while throwing a plus sinker that still made him a reliable option. Then there was Manny Delcarmen, who struggled a bit in the playoffs (8.31 ERA), but had the stuff and the numbers in the regular season to show that he could be a formidable presence in the 7th or 8th inning. The '07 bullpen didn't come without surprises. While Dice-K got all the attention coming from abroad, it was Hideki Okajima who emerged as the more dominant of the two, emerging as an All-Star set-up man from the get go with his quirky no-look delivery and his "okie-doke" screwball. If Okie was the ying, Eric Gagne was definitely the yang of the equation. After being acquired by Boston at the trading deadline, Gagne (a.k.a., Gag-me) had a 6.75 ERA with the Sox and removed all hopes of a 2 closer bullpen, while making me lose faith in pitchers who wear goggle-like eye wear. But the constant was our lord of the dance in Jonathan Papelbon, who followed his dominant 2006 with a 2007 of equal prowess, and it didn't stop at the regular season. Like Foulke in 2004, Papelbon had a dominant postseason, throwing 10 2/3 scoreless innings, beginning a streak that lasted until 2009 on a day I just don't wanna talk about. Like the 2004 bullpen, the '07 pen seemed to step it up a notch in the playoffs especially when facing elimination. After being down 3 games to 1 against the Indians, the bullpen didn't allow a run for the rest of the ALCS, and earned an ERA of 2.14 for the rest of the second season. The overall postseason would have microscopic if it wasn't for the complete meltdown in Game 2 of the ALCS where they allowed 7 runs in the 11th inning of a 13-6 beatdown, which seems to be a running theme for the Sox, even in the next year when Tampa trounced the Sox 13-4 before almost pulling off another amazing LCS comeback. Thanks to the work of the '07 pen, everyone got to dance in the end.

Winner: 2007 gets the victory here. The Papeljima show was just so dominant, while like the rest of the team, proved that homegrown talent can thrive immediately in the Boston spotlight. The 2007 Red Sox had the best ERA in the AL pitching in the AL East, and that bullpen deserves a ton of credit for the overall dominance of the pitching corps. ADVANTAGE: 2007

Bench/Call Ups/Others
Just inches away from changing history.
(3.bp.blogspot.com)

2004:

Pokey Reese (3 HR, 29 RBI, .221 Avg, .271 OBP, .303 SLG)
Doug Mientkiewicz (6 HR, 35 RBI, .238 Avg, .326 OBP, .350 SLG)
Doug Mirabelli (9 HR, 32 RBI, .281 Avg, .368 OBP, .525 SLG)
Gabe Kapler (6 HR, 33 RBI, .272 Avg, .311 OBP, .390 SLG)
Dave Roberts (4 HR, 35 RBI, .254 Avg, .337 OBP, .379 SLG)
David McCarty (4 HR, 17 RBI, .258 Avg, .327 OBP, .404 SLG)
Kevin Youkilis (7 HR, 35 RBI, .260 Avg, .367 OBP, .413 SLG)
Nomar Garciaparra (9 HR, 41 RBI, .308 Avg, .365 OBP, .477 SLG)
Lenny DiNardo (0-0, 4.23 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 21 K, 27 2/3 IP, 22 GP)

Many discard the benches when they analyze the overall health of the team, but usually the best teams have contributors from 1 to 25. The 2004 Sox were a true testament to that belief, and it goes deeper than the 3 2/3 innings that McCarty provided from the mound. For one, it was actually Gabe Kapler who was the mainstay in right field with 59 games started while taming Fenway's right field effectively. Then there is Mirabelli, who caught 186 of Wake's 188 1/3 knuckleballing innings during the season, while providing some extra pop at the plate every 5th day. 2004 also marked the debut of some Youkilis guy, who homered in his first game and was an admirable fill-in when Mueller was recovering from having his knees being under the knife. The bench also showcased some defensive specialists as well. Who can forget Pokey Reese, who provided flashy speed and was an artist with the leather in the middle infield positions, not to mention that game against the Royals in which he clubbed an inside-the-park and an outside-the-park homer May 8th against the Royals. But we all know the trading deadline acquisitions that defined the year, the bench and the franchise. It was the infamous three-way Nomar deal in which we got first baseman and defensive whiz Doug Mientkiewicz from Minnesota (who we were playing that day). In that same afternoon, a speedster from the Dodgers by the name of Dave Roberts was shipped to Boston and would be the protagonist in the reversal of fortune for the Sox in the ALCS with his 9th inning steal on Mariano Rivera. With a full tool set in reserve for every game, not to mention a future franchise corner infielder in the making, the '04 Sox proved that they were in every contest no matter who was to answer the call.

Don't blink! The future might run past ya!
(i.a.cnn.net)

2007:

Eric Hinske (6 HR, 21 RBI, .204 Avg, .317 OBP, .398 SLG)
Doug Mirabelli (5 HR, 16 RBI, .202 Avg, .278 OBP, .360 SLG)

Alex Cora (3 HR, 18 RBI, .246 Avg, .298 OBP, .386 SLG)
Bobby Kielty (1 HR, 12 RBI, .218 Avg, .287 OBP, .287 SLG)
Jacoby Ellsbury (3 HR, 18 RBI, .353 Avg, .394 OBP, .509 SLG)
Clay Buchholz (3-1, 1.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 22 K , 22 2/3 IP, GS)
Kason Gabbard (6-1, 4.65 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 55 K, 81 1/3 IP, 15 GS)
Wily Mo Pena (13 HR, 39 RBI, .253 Avg, .319 OBP, .439 SLG)

The 2007 reserves, like the team in 2004, had a solid cast of seasoned veterans that were easily to rely upon when the need came. Doug Mirabelli was the only returning cast member from the 2004 reserves, and while he declined at the plate a smidge, he wasn't a slouch when it came to catching Wakefield's dancing knuckler. Players like Eric Hinske, a former Rookie of the Year with the Blue Jays, was no exception in his reliability. Just ask the fans who saw the May 17th game vs. the Tigers when we made an unbelievable face-plant catch to keep the game scoreless, then hit the go-ahead homer two innings later. Then there was Alex Cora, who was the epitome of a skilled utility player who always came prepared and did the little things that never went under appreciated by the Boston faithful. Hell, the fans were calling for him to get the job at second when Pedroia was hitting .172 early in the season. Last, but not least in this group was Bobby Kielty, who played with as much intensity as his hair was red, while providing what proved to be the deciding homer in the World Series clincher on the only pitch he saw in the entire series. As good as the seasoned vets were, the defining characteristic of the 2007 team was the youth movement. Lefty Kason Gabbard, a May call-up, tossed a 3-hit, complete game shutout against the Royals in a mid-July game against the Royals, which apparently was good enough to get traded for 2 months of futility known as the Gagne project. You can't forget to mention Clay Buchholz, who in his second start on Sept. 1st, no-hit the Orioles, and thus making his profile known in an instant around the majors as the next potential young phenom (or my favorite piece of trade bait). The most important piece was Jacoby Ellsbury, who literally raced into relevance with his lethal speed and his game-breaking abilities that would change the Sox offensive attack. The World Series ended up being his coming out party, with his 3 doubles and 4 hits in Game 3 and his .438 average, helping him gain some serious national recognition while giving hope to the fans that he would be Damon's outright successor as the lead-off man and center fielder of the future. Overall, the 2007 extras displayed why the Sox were a force to be reckoned with in the present, as well as mirrored the potential success of the future of Red Sox baseball.

Winner: I think if it was just purely the bench, the edge would tip to the 2004 team, considering it had two guys who were starters in their previous team (Mientkiewicz, Roberts), a guy who was practically a starter for them during the season (Kapler), and a better Mirabelli. However, 2007 proved that prospects can play a fundamental role in a championship team, and the Sox had youth in abundance who could walk on the diamond and contribute immediately. You can't deny that the performances of Buchholz and Gabbard helped prove that the 07 Sox's rotation depth was deeper than that of the '04, who to be honest really needed to have all 5 healthy for them to be successful that year with what was available in the farm. In regards to the offense, replacing Crisp for Ellsbury was a logical decision even at the time because Ellsbury's catalytic potential was much higher. Plus out of the two teams, '07 demonstrates the only example of a changing of the guard not just for the current lineup, but for the future of the team, showing how influential a role that the youth movement plays for the new Red Sox. ADVANTAGE: 2007

The Ultimate Champion
ADVANTAGE: 2007!!!!!!!!!
(tfc.rwbcs.com)

Man, this is tearing me up. This is almost like picking your favorite kid! The tough part for me about picking between the two teams before was the power of context, but let's just say that these last three categories were definitely the difference maker in my final decision. The weight of expectations on that 2004 team was tremendous, with the 86 year drought plus having to face a deficit in the LCS that had never been overcome before against their bitter rival that always overcame their advances. Not only did they triumph in the ALCS, they went on to dominate by winning 8 straight games against 2 historically great teams that had won 100 + games in '04 (New York: 101, St. Louis: 105) with mega-lineups. Would the 2007 team be able to pull off this feat? I think with the mixture of highly-skilled veteran players and dynamic young talent, I think the 2007 team would not only beat the '04 Yanks, but would have had an easier time due to better overall pitching and team depth (not to mention a 7-5 category advantage). You also can't discount the heart of the 2007 team, who had to come back from a 1-3 gap against a team that had 2 Cy Young Award candidates, which was arguably harder than against a Yankee team that didn't have a 15-game winner on their staff and an aging bullpen that noticeably hit a wall. 2004 looked like a team built more for the short term, a team built to win that magical one title that would change the profile of the franchise. 2007 was built with the blueprint of the way the future Sox teams were going to be assembled, which included a number of young impact players. As Spring Training approaches, I'm hoping that this blueprint will engineer something resembling our team entering Government Square in amphibious vehicles, with a certain trophy in hand.

Only 4 days till Truck Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click Here For Part 1
Click Here For Part 2

Before I Peace: Colt Killers
(sports.yahoo.com)

It's one of those moments where I feel so ecstatic to be proven wrong! And who would have known that it all turned around on an onside kick......in the third quarter! Congrats to the Saints and the city of New Orleans for a 31-17 Super Bowl victory over my personal football nemesis known as the Indianapolis Colts in Miami in front of the largest TV audience in history. You have to give huge props to a team that beat Warner, Favre and Manning to earn the franchise's first title in its 43 year history. It's even more outstanding for a city that has gone through over four years of rebuilding their city and their spirits following Hurricane Katrina, only to finally to see their beloved black and gold hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Also a big congrats to to Drew Brees, who won on the turf of the team that chose Daunte Culpepper over him almost 4 years back, while giving New Orleans a superb reason to extend what's already gonna be a crazy Mardi Gras. Seeing Peyton picked in the 4th quarter, the underdog team overcoming the odds, and Megan Fox in a bathtub, it truly was a Merry Man's Christmas!