By Staff
A World Series sweep of the formerly red-hot Rox by the Sox gives us someone new to hate.
Starting with Game 5 of the ALCS, the young Bosox, who need no Botox, won seven straight by outscoring the Indians and the eight-days-rested-to-rust Rockies 59-15, trailing after only three of 63 innings.
The Bosox became the first team ever to tally double-digit runs in three straight postseason games.
Boston knocked out every opposing starter before any of them could get an out in the seventh evening.
No wild-card flukes here.
The Red Sox are the first team since the 1998 New York Yankees, former objects worthy of our loathing, to clinch the world championship after winning the most regular season games, too.
Third baseman Mike Lowell, 33, the World Series MVP, said, "With the Red Sox, people expect you to win."
What, he never heard of an 86-year curse?
An ownership group headed by John Henry which took over the Bosox in 2002, has all the swagger and spending power of the Bronx Bombers, but performs on the field (8-0 in World Series games under Terry Francona, the only manager ever to win his first five Fall Classic games).
So now we have Red Sox Nation and the marketing of Fenway Park as "America's Most Beloved Ballpark."
Green Monster these days refers to the cash this landmark spews.
The Red Sox spend more money on players than Cleveland and Colorado combined.
It cost $51 million just to negotiate with Japanese righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka.
It's painful to see the fatalistic insecurities of a Red Sox fan replaced with sunny optimism, but that's what winning 15 of the 17 postseason games they've played since 2003 will do for you.
Heaven help us if the Cubs ever find their way out of the woods of a century of summer futility.
The touchingness of the 2004 flag seems so long gone.
You know, the church bells pealing and New Englanders assembling in cemeteries to share the good news with generations of dead relatives.
How long does it take to pass from sated to spoiled?
Three seasons!?
The Red Sox probably still don't have enough money to sign up Babe Ruth to pitch for the 90th anniversary of his 1918 title in Beantown, but third baseman Alex Rodriguez is shopping himself after opting out of his Yankees contract.
Boston could afford his $30 million salary, but made it known any interest in A-Rod would be "only on our terms."
Boston fans at Coors Field chanted "Re-sign Lowell" as the players and brass celebrated.
Through 2010 the Bosox control contracts for pitching ace Josh Beckett, 27, leftfielder Manny Ramirez, first baseman Kevin Youkilis and shortstop Julio Yugo.
Closer Jonathan Papelbon (four saves in the seven-win streak, including three in the World Series, for a scoreless postseason), first baseman David "Big Papi" Ortiz and rightfielder J.D. Drew are on board through 2011, plus Matsuzaka, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, reliever Manny Delcarmen and the Game 4 winner with 5 2/3 shutout innings Jon Lester, 23, through 2012; and 2005 first draft pick Jacoby Ellsbury, 24, who makes centerfielder Coco Crisp expendable, though 2013.
Boston coaches prospects such as Ellsbury on dealing with the media as well as conditioning. He hit .438 in the Series.
You have to go back to Joe Garagiola in 1946 to find a four-hit rookie in one game, as he did in Game 3. Ellsbury and Pedroia, a 2004 selection, reached base 16 times.
Quips, quotes and qulunkers: "It's give and take. If you're on the public stage, it's your public stage. Otherwise, don't be on the public stage. If you're on it, accept it, if you don't want to accept it, get off."
– Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson Nov. 1 on Heather Mills McCartney's rant against the British press on talk shows in London and the United States. Paul McCartney's estranged wife is going through a bitter divorce from the ex-Beatle.
South Carolina Democrats chafe at being played as suckers Nov. 1 by Stephen Colbert's White House bid. Colbert, who plays a conservative talk-show host on Comedy Central, filed to get on the ballot as a Democratic candidate in his native state, paying a $2,500 filing fee (he'll get back) before the noon deadline. After 40 minutes of discussion, the executive council votes 13-3 to keep "The Colbert Report" host off the ballot lest he detract from "serious candidates on the ballot."