Save us (again), Pedro

A second close loss to the Yankees has put the Red Sox in quite a hole. Or maybe we have 'em right where we want 'em. Just ask the Indians what happens when you go two games up on the Sox.

Can Pedro Martinez save the season, or are we pretty much done with baseball in Boston for the century?

Ed, Northport
I've read some comments about the Yankees buying the pennant. Let's see now, how much are the Sox paying Pedro?
The '99 Sox are an overachieving team. They did very well to get this far, but they're banged up and just about spent. They remind me of the Padres last year: a team that beat all expectations by getting to the World Series, but by then had shot their wad. It seems that Pedro and Nomar are the only ones left able to soldier on but, as we are seeing, that's not enough.
I also can't quite figure out the animosity that Sox fans have toward Roger Clemens. He was the ace for years and then the organization didn't want him anymore. They said he was "in the twilight of his career," right before he won two more Cy Youngs. He didn't dump the Red Sox, the Red Sox dumped him.

Jay, Somerville
Somebody quick call Reggie Jefferson! I could take better hacks up there than Brian Daubach, Butch Huskey and Damon Buford.

Matthew, Keene, NH
There's no need to worry at all. The next three games are on our turf, and the all the breaks are going on our way. Roger is going to try way too hard on Saturday and choke while hearing "ROOOOOOOOOGER, ROOOOOOOOGER" while Pedro will be his usual self and mow through Knockhead, Jeter, O'neill, Williams, Brosius, etc. They won't know what hit them. Pettite won't last 3 innings on sunday. In game 5, "El Duque" won't be as lucky and won't get out of any jams this time. There is still a long way to go New Yorkers so don't start planning on WS tickets just yet just because you were EXTREMELY lucky the first two games.

Jon, NY
what was that dance pedro did after garciaparra's homer. the last thing you guys need is bad karma.

George, Kansas City
What do you mean no blown calls last night. The ump's blew several against the Yanks. Further old Jimy boy blew a few as well. Some of his moves are just plain stupid.
The curse remains. Will we live to see the Red Sox win. I am beginning to believe that the answer is no. Just not in the cards.

Tricia, Weston
We must win two out of three at home. The Sox can definitely do it. The Yankees are not better than we are. The teams are very well matched. We need to have strong performances from our pitching staff to keep the Yankees in check. Most importantly, we must not miss any opportunities to score. You don't win playoff games by stranding runners in scoring position.

Michael, Derby, CT
The Yankees are true champions and it shows in their demeanor as it does in their play. But the Sox HAVE given the Yanks all they can handle thus far. New York should feel EXTREMELY fortunate to be going up to Fenway up 2-0, as Game 3's potential classic with Pedro and Roger should be any sports fan's delight. But, in the end, the Sox are indeed overmatched. They have heart, but the Yankees have the hearts of champions.

Catherine, Attleboro
The Red Sox were down two game to Cleveland and came back victoriously. With Pedro pitching tomorrow, it will bring back all hope to us Red Sox fans. GO SOX!!!

John, NY
As a Red Sox fan currently living in Manhattan, I am appalled at the treatment Sox fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium have received. In addition to the unsurprising (and unoriginal) insults dished out by Yankee fans, members of Red Sox Nation have had to deal with a multitude of projectiles as well. There is a nice article to the effect in today's New York Times Metro section.
I would like to issue a call to action for all attending games 3 and 4 at Fenway. Give it with back with gusto to the Yankee fans at Fenway!

Andrew, Ashland
Fine. Play Daubach. Just take him out of the three spot, where he virtually guarantees an out each time he steps to bat. Offerman's tearing it up at lead-off. Valentin's holding his own....And Mike Stanley, batting over .450 in the playoffs, would sure look good in front of Nomar....The twenty-seven year old rookie can bat between Lewis and Nixon.

Bomber, NY
Clemens will prove to everyone how much of a genius he is for deserting that forsaken disgusting city that people refer to as Beantown. He will make minced meat out of Pedro. We aren't the Indians folks. We are NY. The greatest. The best. Numero Uno. The Sox should be honored and thankful that the Yankees allow them to play on the same field. In 2 games, the rest of the loser Sox and console themselves with lots of pizza and fries with Garces and Beck. In the meantime, the Atanta hillbillies better watch out because my Yanks are going to put a hurin on em!!

Greg, Park Ridge, NY
I am rooting so hard for he Sox. Yankee fans are such arrogant and obnoxious SOB's. A rematch of 1986 would be so nice.
PS I am a Mets fan, but secretly root for the Sox

Jimmy, Chelmsford
I love Jimmy Williams but what was he thinking last night. I think he had a major brain lock.
1) Lets not wait until the cow has left the barn to bring in a reliever. Why make Ramon pitch to just one more batter? You have a bullpen full of guys that could have come in and blown away that chump Knoblouch.
2) Damon Buford. This guy is not a major league hitter. Everyone knew that he had no chance to hit mariano. Jimmy, do something to give us at least a chance to score the tying run. How about a suicide bunt? how about just closing your eyes and sticking the bat out? ANYTHING but letting him swing thru three pitches.

Q. J., Leominster
Execution. It all comes down to that. We Sox fans can whine if we want about to balls off the wall that were inches from going out. But both those hitters wound up on 3rd with less that two outs. All that was needed were two sac flies. Nope, we got to K's. The only part of the box score you need to see is "13 LOB". Let's hope the trend doesn't continue into Games 3 and 4, or it's golf season for the Sox.

Tony, Newton
The odds are that Pedro will have a bad game soon and Rodger will shine so he can get his W/S ring. A Sweep it is! The Bambino Lives On!

Carol, Watertown
All I know is that I will celebrate my daughter's 2nd birthday watching the Red Sox in Game 1 of the World Series!

Danny, Dallas
I am a Red Sox fan who has lived in Texas all my life. I do not get to see the Red Sox on a regular basis but I am there cheering them on everytime I get to see them in a televised game. I have seen my heart ripped out on many occasions since the 1975 World Series. I became a fan as a kid in 1974 because my dad was a Yankees fan and they always televised Red Sox/Yankees and I fell in love with the Red Sox. I watched the last two nights of the Red Sox "gut wrenching" losses. I shake my head in amazement sometimes and say "same ole Red Sox". I was not at all shocked last night to see Boston lose the way the did. I've seen it before but what keeps my faith is the 1986 ALCS against the California Angels when the Red Sox were down 3 games to 1 and down to their last strike in Game 6 and we came back and won that game and eventually won the series. I also keep in mind we did it against the bats of Cleveland. Yes, Cleveland does not have the pitching the Yankees do, but this is baseball and anything can happen. No matter what happens, it's a gallant effort by this group of Red Sox who were picked no higher than fourth by most experts. Let's see what happens Saturday and Sunday. If we manage to even the series and win again in Game 5, just maybe all those unlucky bounces will begin to bounce Boston's way. Maybe the Leprechaun of the great Celtics of the past can rub a little magic our way and maybe we can look back one day in history and say it was one of the greatest series played in the history of baseball. I for one get tired of seeing the home run hit by Bucky Dent. Maybe when it's all said and done and the Red Sox can prevail, we'll provide our own highlights that will be shown over and over again and put that 78 playoff game to rest for the time being. Good luck Red Sox in Game 3. I'll be watching and cheering you!

Eric, Biloxi
Dear Roger Clemens,
By now you know that you have blown all chances of "Ted Williams Satus" in New England. Well, Roger, too bad your deal with the devil backfired. You are hated in Boston and barely known in New York. The disappointment of the "Faithful" chanting your name made you fold once and you will fold again. You could have stayed in Canada and been cherished in Boston, but I guess you felt a ring outweighed respect. Now you'll have to face the hard facts of no ring and no respect. By the way, how come you wouldn't sign my baseball card when I was 10?
Sincerely your,
The Fenway Faithful

E.Z., Brighton
It's only the darkness before dawn. Otherwise baseball has no charm of its own. Red Sox will upstage another brilliant comeback in Fenway and wrap up the 20th century with its name carved on the World Champ Cup!!!

JD, NY
NY STINKS. I HATE THE JETS, GIANTS, METS, YANKEES, RANGERS, ISLANDERS, BILLS, NICKS AND EVERY OTHER BUSH LEAGUE TEAM FROM NY. AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T BUY THERE WAY INTO THE PLAYOFFS.