The Angels have hurt the Red Sox, winning the first two games of their 5 game series out in California. Today is an off-day as the teams will next meet in Boston Sunday. During this break, the Sox and their fans will try to conjure up the usual gimmicks to imply that they are the ‘proper’ team to advance in the playoffs:

WEATHER
It will be cold, so when the camera scans the crowd, you’ll see folks bundled up and stirring about to stay warm. The implication is that autumn should be cold; Boston is cold; therefore, Boston deserves to play in autumn.

TRADITIONAL COSTUMES
The Red Sox have been around for more than a century, and they have the uniforms to prove it. For all the talk of Yankee pinstripes, the Red Sox also have a storied home uniform. And within Boston, Brahmins are not alone in giving a disproportionate weight to looks and lineage. Everyone in Boston is a snob who instinctively identifies with the BoSox home uniform, especially when the stirrups are worn in the old knee-high style—the fans eat it up and it fuels their confidence. But it’s just a big sock worn by a jerk jock.

BEN AFFLECK
Actor Ben Affleck will be spotted in the stands, probably in a very good seat. He might be interviewed by TBS. Plus, he might be with an actor friend such as Matt Damon. To Boston fans, this is proof that the Lord is smiling on the Sox—the Angels would be wise to hop on the next plane. But Affleck’s presence is even more superficial than uniforms and overcoats. There is nothing daunting about it.

YANKEES’ ONLY TRUE FOE
According to Sox and Yankees fans, the best rivalry in sports is between the … Yankees and Red Sox. An Angel victory would prevent that ‘ideal’ match-up, so the Angels must be prevented from winning. In case the Angels themselves don’t get this, Sox fans will be petitioning all Americans to in turn petition the Angels to quit, as the best thing for the country.

But all of the above is hogwash with nothing to do with pure baseball talent and fielding a team. The Angels have a superb and superior ball club. They will prevail. It might take a fourth game, but the Angels will advance to play the Yankees.

baseball

My previous post was a bit negative. It would have been more appropriate if posted a month earlier, when the Mets were truly within the grip of bad, bad vibe. Even though they lost Tuesday, there was a logical explanation: they had no one to pitch the 9th inning. Tonight, they came back and beat the Phils, setting up a deciding game tomorrow on “getaway day.”
(Rubber game means the deciding game in a series; getaway day is when the teams play a day game so that one or both teams have ample time to pack up and head out for the weekend series. Use in sentence: “The Mets and Phils will play a rubber game on getaway day.”)

It’s a fact that the Mets will lose more games, and we deal with each one as it comes. It is self-defeating to assume an inevitability of loser-status. President Bush spoke of the “soft bigotry of low expectations” regarding some of the obstacles facing minority students. When you do it to yourself, it’s called being “hard” on yourself.

Even if you don’t care for the Mets, you probably like Pedro Martinez if you’re familiar with him. He used to be a dominate pitcher-incredibly effective. (In 2001, I used to drive to a sports bar in Charleston, SC so I could see him pitch). When the Mets got him in ‘05, they did their “let’s not support our ace” thing (which they’re now doing for Johann Santanna). He may have won a combined 35 games his first 2 years, if not for the absence of offense. Nowadays he’s often injured, but can be effective. Regardless of his physical condition or win/loss record, he has always been in high spirits. He’s an affable, humorous, and intelligent ambassador for the Mets and all of baseball. Thus, he’s an example of being who you are through thick and thin.

In America, you can have several rises and falls of fortune in a lifetime. The measure of a person is his character, not his standing. It’s similar to how one sticks to his team. A fair weather fan bails when times are tough. A “true” fan cannot help but be remain a fan; he/she could no less drop the team than cease eating nachos. A “true” person sticks to his core values.

Anyway, I mention all this, because I just inherited nearly a million dollars!!

Just kidding.

Here’s what I mean to say: Life can Be Tough. Pedro’s dad passed away today after a struggle with brain cancer. For all his millions and success, Pedro is like everyone else in that his parents die and then are gone. For all his recent injuries and strife, Pedro’s biggest affliction is the pain and sorrow of love lost. Because of his great character, though, Pedro will be of great help to his family, and will soon be smiling again.

And in a few months, he and the Mets may be winning a World Series.

(*** note: this may have come off as a parody of a syndicated sports columnist, the kind of guy who not only never played sports, but also never has to report; only has to write schmaltzy drivel… That was not my intention, and I’m not interested in a sports columnist job *** )

baseball, Mets, Pedro Martinez