This just simply wasn’t Terry Francona’s week. After a dismal opening day affair in which Boomer and the bargain bin bullpen coughed up nine runs to an eager to please (George) Yankee squad, and a second game in which Sox hitters were little more than fowls in the headlights of new Steinbrenner boy-toy, Carl Pavano, poor Tito found himself being rushed to the hospital with tightness in his chest. While the initial fear was a recurrence of Francona’s well-documented circulatory issues, it turned out to simply be the crushing weight of New England sports fans’ already shattered expectations for a season so young, snow shovels were still at the ready on every front porch.
So, while Tito was recuperating, the world champions hit the field under the command of bench coach Brad Mills. Starter Tim Wakefield’s signature pitch wasn’t the only thing to knuckle, as Yankee closer (and fruit bat look-alike) Mariano Rivera blew his second save in as many days. This time, however, Mike Timlin’s well-placed fastball to Derek Jeter’s head assured no ninth inning heroics from Captain Intangibles this day, and Edgar Renteria’s two-run single gave Sox closer Keith Foulke the margin-of-error he apparently now needs.
By Thursday morning, the Red Sox were 1 and 2, Brad Mills was undefeated, and Terry Francona was hearing the harsh snapping of rubber gloves and feeling fingers where no man’s fingers should ever be. Thankfully, by Friday the skipper was released in time to see his bullpen nearly blow another lead against a Toronto Blue Jays team that featured pitchers by the names of Bush and League in succession. Foulke turned in another nail biting performance that was akin to watching a blind drunk stumble his way across Route 18 after last call at the Portuguese Feast, and, by game’s end, Francona wasn’t the only person in New England feeling tightness in his chest.
Sadly, the .500 ball would not last, as Saturday’s matinee featured David Wells giving up back-to-back-to-back homeruns, as well as Blain Neal’s surrender of a grand slam that had Boston fans clearing their throats in preparation for the opening day onslaught of much-deserved boos. The Sox ended up dropping that game 12-5, but, on the bright side, Mark Bellhorn didn’t strike out.
Still the Sox had a chance to go home even, and Matt Clement’s second outing hinted at the ability Theo Epstein obviously thought was worth $10 million dollars a year. The good news is that Clement struck out six batters. The bad news is he walked just about everyone else. And, seemingly still sore about that whole LILY chant during the 2003 ALDS, Toronto starter Ted Lilly started up where he left off last year, lulling Sox hitters into a curveball induced coma that had them swinging like Armenians in a Fall River disco. Once again, however, the Sox fought their way back to tie the game in the ninth inning, thanks to another clutch two-run single by Renteria. Yet, once again, the bullpen blew it in the bottom of the inning, with Mike Timlin giving up an infield hit and a double to end the game.
So the Sox now come home to friendly Fenway, where they will face the Yankees for another three game series on their own turf. The team will also be presented with their World Series rings, which will hopefully serve as a reminder for them to play like the champions they are.
This just simply wasn’t Terry Francona’s week. After a dismal opening day affair in which Boomer and the bargain bin bullpen coughed up nine runs to an eager to please (George) Yankee squad, and a second game in which Sox hitters were little more than fowls in the headlights of new Steinbrenner boy-toy, Carl Pavano, poor Tito found himself being rushed to the hospital with tightness in his chest. While the initial fear was a recurrence of Francona’s well-documented circulatory issues, it turned out to simply be the crushing weight of New England sports fans’ already shattered expectations for a season so young, snow shovels were still at the ready on every front porch.
