Requiem for a Game 1
It’s no longer enough for the focus of these fans’ passion to excel; now they must do it all the time. They must never err, especially should in erring they cost their team/club/franchise a run/goal/basket/point and ultimately, a win or loss.
But it’s always okay. Because if your team has somebody who isn’t living up to his/her expectations, s/he can just warm the bench until they get it all together.
At least, that’s what we’ve always believed.
Tuesday morning, the Boston Globe published a marvelous piece written by Tony Massarotti, who – as members of the over-burdened and over-criticized media in this sport-obsessed hamlet go – is one of the most straightforward writers this town has ever seen. He wrote about a subject that’s been beaten fairly to death in these parts lately – the plight of the never-ending, but soon-to-end Boston Red Sox season.
He, like anybody else with a pen, paper or Red Sox license plate frame, re-enters the overdone conversation about how ratings have dropped, and points a finger at anyone still blaming injuries for the team’s demise. But unlike those who wear the pink hats, belt out their best inebriated rendition of Sweet Caroline even though it’s Monday night and the Sox aren’t coming back from 8 runs down to the Indians, and whine ad nauseum when they sober up, Mazz doesn’t stop there.
He does what fans are either overly excited about or completely afraid to do. He looks forward. And if the Red Sox are bad this year, just wait until next year, he says.
The outfield, of course, will feature another-year-older Mike Cameron and a Jacoby Ellsbury who might be afraid to dive for balls – but really, that’s no matter, because Ryan Kalish and/or Darnell McDonald can step in in their stead.
The infield will feature Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis on the right. Marco Scutaro will likely still be at short, but if it’s a bit overbearing to just assume that Adrian Beltre will re-sign with the Sox for four or five years at around $15 million a year, then it’s downright silly to assume he’ll take the $5 million option he has pending for 2011.
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