Fans' wish list longer
Red Sox fans are known for being a pessimistic bunch, a fact that probably didn't change much after the Red Sox lost Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees. And even though Red Sox nation should be in ecstasy after Curt Schilling agreed to waive his no-trade clause and come to Boston, some fans last night were not ready to raise their hopes again just yet.
Chris Penn, 39, remembers living through the heartbreak of the Red Sox' seven-game World Series defeats in 1975 and 1986, in addition to this fall's disappointment. When told that Schilling was indeed coming to Boston, he took the news with skepticism.
"I won't be excited until we win [the World Series]," Penn said as he headed toward the subway last night at South Station. "With the Marlins winning the World Series twice in 10 years, I can't get excited until we win the last one."
Frank Watson, 51, of East Boston, saw Schilling's arrival as an event that was long overdue. "It's about time we got a third starter," Watson said.
Unlike Penn and Watson, Mark Ruane, 21, wasn't born in '75 and is too young to remember '86. As Ruane waited for a friend, the University of Hartford senior showed more optimism than some of his older counterparts.
"It'll take some of the pressure off of the rest of the rotation," Ruane said.
"He'll take the load off of Pedro [Martinez] and [Derek] Lowe," added Patsy White, 48, of Savin Hill.
Ron Cannon, 33, heard the news while working at Clarke's Saloon in South Station. He called Schilling's acquisition "a step in the right direction," but hopes that more gifts await Red Sox nation during the holiday season.
"Hopefully, they can get one more [player]," Cannon said. "Hopefully, they can get [free agent closer Keith] Foulke, too."
Dorchester's Hung Tran, 33, says Schilling's arrival "absolutely" increases his anticipation for the start of the 2004 season.
"With him and Pedro and Derek Lowe, they'll be fabulous," Trang said.
