The tradition grows
In a quiet corner of the clubhouse, through the clouds of cigar smoke and the celebratory drizzle, the oldest member of these Red Sox stood alongside one of the newest. Tim Wakefield is going to his eighth postseason in Boston, Mark Kotsay his first. Between them are dozens of players who now serve as links on a perpetually growing chain.
 (Jim Davis / Globe Staff) |
The train keeps a-rollin'.
"They do a nice job here," Kotsay said recently while standing near the batting cage before a game. "They have a couple of superstars and they go out and surround them with baseball players."
And so the Red Sox are back in the playoffs again, Tuesday's victory over the Cleveland Indians guaranteeing the Sox of a fifth October trip in the last six years. No other team in baseball can claim a more successful run. And as much as this has been about the organization Sox officials have built, as much as it has been about their ownership, president, general manager, and manager, it also has been about the players connected by a uniform they put above all else.
Five years ago at this time, after the Sox clinched a playoff spot, second baseman Todd Walker was among those players who left the ballpark, in uniform, to celebrate in a nearby bar. Last night, Dustin Pedroia was the one vowing to run the city streets. ("We're going streaking," he said.)
Right down to the strikeouts, Jed Lowrie looks more and more like Mark Bellhorn. Bay came here the way that both Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz did, by virtue of a potentially cataclysmic trade that might have shaken a lesser team to the core.
But not the Red Sox. Not anymore. The pursuit of excellence supersedes all else. About a year ago, during one of the many celebrations the Sox had in the final weeks of a championship season, Curt Schilling spoke of how the Sox once were seen as "fractured," a team defined by the most damning slogan of all-time: 25 players, 25 cabs. But now the older players embrace the young. The new acquisitions are seen as reinforcements rather than threats. Paul Byrd joins the team in August and virtually no time passes at all before Jason Varitek goes out to play catch with him in a public park during an off day in Canada.
The reason?
Because that is Byrd's routine and because Varitek respects it.
And because they both want to win.
Before anyone interprets this all as some sort of commentary on the importance of team chemistry, stop. That would be badly missing the point. The bottom line is that the Red Sox are winners now, and winning breeds harmony. In a successful enterprise, even the smallest contributions are celebrated; a successfully executed bunt means as much as a three-run homer. The Red Sox have older players and younger ones, but there is absolutely no class system within the brick walls at fabled Fenway Park.
They all strive to do their parts.
"You look out on that field at the end, there are a lot of young guys," manager Terry Francona said last night when asked about the importance of experience as the Sox enter the postseason. "[Jacoby] Ellsbury, Lowrie -- a pretty young group of guys out there. It's a good mix. I think we all feel good about that."
For what it's worth, the 92d and heretofore decisive victory of this Red Sox season required some assembly. Francona used six pitchers, including three righthanders, two lefties, and a knuckleballer. Eight of the nine Sox starters had hits. Five scored runs. Three had at least one RBI. Dueling MVP candidates Kevin Youkilis (a two-run homer) and Pedroia (a two-run double) had positively huge hits, and newcomer Bay broke a 4-4 tie with an RBI single that landed him both at first base and, ultimately, in his very first October.
Following the clinching victory, Bay was among those players standing in the middle of a clubhouse scene that has become, at once, both unique and familiar. Byrd stood no more than 15 feet away. While Jonathan (Ox? ) Papelbon doused clubhouse attendant Edward (Pookie) Jackson with a 5-gallon jug of spring water, players took turns spraying one another with cans of beer pulled from a seemingly endless succession of cardboard suitcases (better known as 30-packs) of Budweiser and Bud Light.
Last winter, after winning a second world title in four seasons, the Red Sox made astonishingly few roster changes to a team that annually undergoes as much winter reconstruction as its home. As it turned out, the renovations didn't come until summer this year. And yet, for all of the changes the Sox have made over recent seasons, including this one, Fenway Park remains a necessary stop on the road to the World Series.
Polish the fixtures.
Steam the carpets.
Next month, there are visitors coming.
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Excellent writing once again, Maz.
Good take on the way things are done around here and why it works.
What a fantastic team. The Sox have proven time and time again what a great group of guys they are. No Nomar? No Problem. No Manny? Who? They never even missed a beat with such huge trades, the transitions have been almost seamless. Seeing Pap celebrate will never get old.
No other team in baseball can make claim to such a run? Mazz, did you miss all the stories today about how this is the first year in 13 years that the Yankees havent made the playoffs?
I am a die hard Red Sox fan, but come on...
And I thought sportswriters new their beer. Great column, but a "suitcase" of beer is 24 beers. A 30-pack is a 30-pack. Drink up.
Very well written article
Love your take, Maz.
Why I love this team.
Thanks so much for your great article. I'm very impressed by your writing style and for succinctly and effectively saying what so many of us feel. Great work!
Please Start Matsusaka in Game 2 and Lester in Game 3.
Matsusaka is so much better on the road, and Beckett it's a lock in Fenway in Game 3.
Maybe Jonathan Papelbon can start to act like a winner, like he's been in this position before. After the Sox won the division last year and he did his riverdance in the outfield, I have lost all respect. After the sox won lastnight, I had to turn it off, and regretfully see Papelbon on the news in the morning running around the park like a pompus imbecile. Like Tom Landry said, Act like you've been there before.
I disagree. This is piece is a meandering, preachy, 'un-memorable' article. It has none of the insight of Gammons, or the bite of Ryan or Shaughnesey, or even the wit of new guy Finn. It is college sophmore claptrap. Once a Herald writer, always a bore.
See how many responses it generates. My over/under is ten.
Nice having you at da Globe. Keep it up Mazzy.
Great sports writing. A pleasure to read.
Great article -- guys who whine about articles crack me up. If you don't like it click away, if you don't prefer the writer in general, why click there?
Also, read the article if you're going to critique it. Iceman, in THE LAST SIX YEARS, as the sentence postulated, no other team has done what the Sox have done. Oh, great as the Yankees streak was, the Braves did it 14 straight times with a lesser payroll over roughly the same time period.
Rory - recaps are recaps. On its face, this piece is an opinion on why the Sox are here -- while it's no mystery as to the team aspect, it's only a decent writer that can engage someone to read that in which they already knwo the overall content -- which you proved that you did.
Spitballing is for losers.
Mazz - the coup de grace on your team, young & old thesis came last night when Papi was posed the question "What was your favorite part of this season?", and he verbally passed the torch when he said, "Watching Pedroia all season has been the best -- he has put this team on his shoulders so many times, man!".
Gotta love that comment from a guy who has been Atlas to the Globe called the Red Sox -- nothing like, "Hey, coming back from an injury meant a lot", or "I'm just glad I've been hitting the ball harder lately", which would have been totally acceptable. Rather, he called out the Pedey machine. Subtle recognition of the changing of the guard of sorts.
Why should they treat this differently, and not celebrate like they have before? That's the problem with the Yankees -- they "act like they've been there before" and take all the joy out of it, setting up the expectation that anything short of a World Series win is failure. That's not what Theo and team are about -- they are about trying to get to October every year, and recognizing that October success is somewhat random. So, celebrate this one, celebrate every one. It is a treat to play in October, and do not take it for granted.
Keep up the good work (That's twelve!).
Seriously, its the wild card. Take it easy on the over the top champagne nonsense, very painful to watch. Boys, you're defending champs - act like you've been there before.
Read more carefully, Iceman. The reference to the run is over the past six years. In that span, the Sox have been in the playoffs five times, same as NY, and won two World Series, two more than NY.
Enjoyed this report immensely. Thanks.
I like seeing the Red Sox celebrate their accomplishment. Not all the players have been there before, and those who have may never be there again. It is not easy to make the playoffs every year, just ask the Yankees or Cleveland. We know the Sox will focus on the business of winning when they need to so good for them for taking some time to enjoy their success.
What a complete organizational transformation since John Henry took over as owner. Their success completely mirrors the Pats since Kraft took over that mess of an organization. Goes to show it all starts at the top and filters down. Henry, turns the reins over to Lucchino and Epstein, et al., who create a real team and not just an assemblage of talent (see 08' Yankees) After Grady Little fell asleep at wheel, they bring in the perfect manager for them in Terry Francona who's calm head and patience with certain players, i.e. Mark Belhorn, and masterful use of bullpen key one of the greatest comebacks of all-time against their arch-rivals and the first World Series victory since 1918. There is so much credit to go around, it couldn't have been done without the players, from Schilling to Ramirez, from Wakefield to Pedroia, Varitek, Papi, etc.. of course, or Francona and his staff, but lets start at the top and thank John Henry, Larry Luchino, and of course Theo Epstein. They turned it all around. Instead of the Boston Red Sox being seen as a "cautionary tale...cloaked with failure" as Jerry McGuire says, they are now the model franchise in Major League Baseball. Spectacular job guys! As a life-long fan, I say, thank you!
I've lived in Washington, DC, Philly and over seas and I always amazed how well the globe sports writers are a voice box to most of my thoughts. Thanks!
Nice sum-up of the feelings coming with another year in the playoffs. It is fun to see the mix of new and old players still having a blast.
Only mistake is that "no other team" has had a run like this. Um, how about the Yankees? You have to respect the run they've had, even as a Red Sox fan.
three chances to take over rays but failed, being swapped by angles at home court, once-dominating Pap blew wins, once-overawing Papi shines sporadically.
The redsox is living in the last official day of summer.
October looks like looming iceberg.
Guy, a 30 rack is called "a packie" in New England. It might be called something else somewhere else but those people dont know what they are talking about. New England breeds Champions, and 2 Champions can drink 1 packie between them, easily. Trust me kid, trust me.
if you take what ellsbury, pedroia, lowrie, papelbon, delcarmen, masterson , lester make it looks like the payroll of the florida marlins and teams that cant compete, and then you realize two of them could win mvp, ...the other is the team ace right now and masterson has become a solid 8th inning guy,,,, looks like beers parties might be the norm for a long time at fenway
"Tradition of Winning" Are you serious?
Have we gotten so arrogant in the Boston area that we suddenly think we have a tradition of being the best? Let's live with a bit of humility and wait until we actually win it to start proclaiming our baseball splendor. How quick we forget about our 86-year drought. Besides, we made the playoffs as a Wild Card...we technically were the best of the worst. Yes, the Red Sox have been on a roll and have had a string of very good seasons, but any Bostonian would agree that we still have a deep rooted anxiety about our beloved team.
Puhleeze Redsoxgoddess. Being a "great group of guys" doesn't win championships. Hitting and pitching does. This team waltzed through an easy 2nd half schedule, but our bullpen isn't what it has been in the past, and we will definitely miss Manny as we lose in 5 to Anaheim. Lowrie and Bay were performing over their heads--don't expect big results. Bay's great for popping a meaningless HR when down by 6 or up by the same, but doesn't inspire fear the way Manny does. Your Pink Hat is on too tight I think.
To number 3- Maz said no team can claim MORE success over the past 6 years. The Yankees are 5 out of 6, just like the Sox.
The key to all of this is the fact that the Sox have the highest ticket demand in all of baseball, which allows ownership to charge the highest average ticket price in all of professional sports which allows Theo to basically write off or ignore mistakes (Renteria, Lugo, Drew, etc.) that cost the team tens of millions of dollars each year. There is so much margin of error that they can basically buy their way out of horrible decisions that would severely harm smaller market teams. The fact that the Sox will most likely finish behind the Rays despite spending $90 million dollars more (an average of almost $4 million more per player on the entire roster) is noteworthy to me. The Sox fans and organization spin that they somehow fought and over came adversity to scrap their way into the playoffs is pure folly. Somehow they survived Manny each of the last 7 and 1/2 years and many other teams survived injuries this year.
Similar to iceman... "guaranteeing the Sox of a fifth October trip in the last six years. No other team in baseball can claim a more successful run."
Uhhh, didn't the yankees make it to the playoffs an ungodly ~13 years in a row!?
It was good to see Papi with his beer gogels on
Too bad the same seemless strive to good reporting can't be said for you and the Globe. Why the dig at Lowrie in what could have been an entirely positive article? That low class style is why I didn't read the Herald.
Yankee series now meaningless unless Rays lose next two.
Sox have been a classy organization for a while. Anyone else like to be the one to throw the switch on Yankee Stadium, or is it just me?
Hey Maz!....Like the Yankees....Greg Sucks! Greg Sucks! Greg Sucks! Greg Sucks!
Great article, Maz. Glad you're with the Globe, since I stopped ready the other paper until they make a personnel change in their sports dept.
.570 with" being Manny" and .670 "being without Manny". Congratulations to a management that is willing to change for the better of the team. In this case the sum is certainly better than its parts. This is fun!
"Bay's great for popping a meaningless HR when down by 6 or up by the same ..."
Not to mention the decisive RBI in the game that clinched their playoff spot.
"... but doesn't inspire fear the way Manny does."
So he actually gets pitches to hit those game-winners. But yeah, aside from his consistent, clutch offense, top-notch defense, and superb attitude, Bay's pretty much been useless.
Seriously, do you even follow the team?
"Let's live with a bit of humility and wait until we actually win it to start proclaiming our baseball splendor."
No, let's ride this wave as long as it lasts. We're living through the best era ever in Boston sports. Someday, we'll look back on it all as a fond memory, but right now, it's REALITY!
Thanks Greg (post #9) - I finally found another fan who sees Papelbon as he is. A very talented arrogant loudmouth and it's wearing thin with me. As was stated, "act like you've been there before". Not to worry, though. "Winning" the wild card is the last celebration Pap will be into this season...want to see him do his riverdance after he blows one against the Angels. And he won't have his public relations dept. at WEEI to soften the crash this time. In my 62 years of being a Sox fan, this year has given me the most amazing story I've ever experienced......the Rays improving 33 games in the standings with a $41,000,000 payroll..The manager of the year is Joe Maddon..
"No other team in baseball can claim a more successful run."
I think you must be talking specifically about the last six years., right Maz? Because to say no team in history can claim a more successful run would be ridiculous. Of course the Yankees can claim a playoff birth 5 of the last 6 years as well.
Well said BC and Phil - the Manny lovers just can't handle the fact that the TEAM was winning at a .570 clip with him, and .670 without him
Guess what? He QUIT on us. He QUIT on Boston. His bad knee (which one was it again?) - the one that kept him out of games here - is now somehow allowing him to run like a deer for the Dodgers.
Hey, he was a great hitter for us. But he doesn't play here anymore. Deal with it.
And BostonGuy1980 - your whining about losing is kind of out of date like your name - 28 years ago, we hadn't had the success we've had of late. Instead of reminding yourself of the past, trying joining the here and now - enjoy the fact that this team is now winning/has won it all a couple of times. The wave doesn't last; don't take it for granted!
Sheesh, some of you clowns sound like MF NYY fans... living in the past... that's all they have right now...
Who are all these idiots challenging that the Yankees last 6 seasons compare to the Red Sox's.
Are You also going to say that the Kansas City Chiefs were equal to the 49ers in the 80's since both boasted consistently strong R_E_G_L_A_R season Records?
TONY: GREAT ARTICLE - I MOVED TO COLORADO SPRINGS IN 1978, I DO
MISS SPORTS WRITERS LIKE YOURSELF. IT IS BAD ENOUGH WITHOUT A
TEAM TO CHEER FOR - DIEHARD RED SOX FAN. I DID MEET SOME RED
SOX FANS IN THE SPRINGS. YOU CAN TELL WHEN THEY WEAR RED SOX
HATS. TONY, IF YOU COME TO DENVER TO COVER A RED SOX/ROCKIES
SERIES PLEASE CALL ME 1-800-779-6337.
IN CLOSING: TONY, MISS YOUR COVERAGE OF SPORTS - STAY HEALTHY
AND GOD BLESS YOU/YOURS.
BEST REGARDS - BUDDY.
great column Mazz. Hey Jackson "I thought sportswriters NEW their beer"? Either learn how to spell or use spell check, it's KNEW. You are right though. 'Scuse me while I grab a busch light from my 30 rack.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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