What’s Wrong with the Sox?

7.7.04:  What is wrong with these Sox? Well, after tonight’s big win over their wild card rivals from Oakland, most people would say nothing. But don’t let that 11-0 score fool you, this is the same team that lost two of three in Atlanta to the dismal Braves and we all know what happened in Yankee Stadium last weekend. We have a problem. However, maybe the bigger problem is, no one seems to know what is going wrong.

"There's no alternative but to show up [tonight] and try a little harder and hustle a little more and work a little harder," Bob Hohler quoted Sox manager Terry Francona as saying in Tuesday’s Boston Globe. "That's all we can do right now. We can talk about how frustrated we are, but we've got to play better, we've got to pitch better, we've got to manage better, we've got to coach better. We've got to do everything better."

Some of people have simple solutions. My mother thought they just have to try a little bit harder. Other local members of Red Sox Nation underlined the power of positive thinking. Right.
Jerry Remy put his Wally the Beanbag Buddy on his head, literally, hoping this rally cap-esqe move would work. And though it certainly worked last night, I wouldn’t want Wally to be stuck upside down the rest of the season. So let’s try to figure out just what’s been wrong with the Sox lately.

Maybe it is all these contracts coming up. If a short lifetime of watching sports has taught me anything, it’s that an athletes mind is a very fragile thing. Usually, players respond very well in contract years, having career years in the interest of cashing in next off-season. Perhaps the pressure of proving their worth is proving too much for Trot, Nomar, Varitek, Lowe and Pedro? Then again, Nomar and Trot just got back, so we can’t really judge their play and ‘Tek is playing solid baseball. Pedro is Pedro is Pedro. So maybe the contract year pressure is getting to D-Lowe, but that really doesn’t explain this team’s play lately.

Maybe they just aren’t that good? Yeah, and maybe this team doesn’t have a payroll over $125 Million…

Maybe Bill James is not the second coming. Could Theo be wrong?

Just tonight, Eric Byrnes’ speed saved a whole run all by itself in the third inning. Sure, it wouldn’t really matter for the A’s, but the score was only 3-0 at that point: good thing it didn’t get any worse. Manny smashed a liner to left that Byrnes dashed after and snagged. A few pitches later, Nomar rifled a ball down the third baseline, a surefire double. Byrnes to the rescue again: the speedy fielder scooped up the ball and pegged it into the infield, holding Nomar at first. If that isn’t Byrnes patrolling beneath the Green Monster, Manny scores easily from second on Nomar’s hit. However, thanks to Byrnes’ speed, Nomar was stuck on first with one out and the inning fizzled. Now I do not want Byrnes on my team, we all remember the California Cry Baby and his antics in the ALDS last year, but maybe that traditional scout category, not favored by OPS-ites, speed, is important in this game. It sure looked mighty handy in the 3rd inning.

Maybe it is Manny’s defense… nope. This guy has been stupendous in left field this year, playing defense as though he enjoys it. At least now, he understands that it is very necessary.

Maybe the Sox cannot win because they do not bunt, because they do not play old-fashioned baseball. See, you think that might work, like it does in little league, and then you see Johnny Damon square around in the fourth inning with men on first and second, in the midst of a 2-for-2 day against Barry Zito and try it. Damon’s bunt went flying, luckily foul and out of catcher Damian Miller’s reach. Yeah, let’s stick to swinging the stick, boys.

You know, there is another explanation. What’s really bringing down this Sox team, a team that is in fine position to challenge for

the Wild Card and really isn’t dead in the division race either, are the dire, pessimistic, the sky-is-falling fans, who can’t even enjoy a nice big win over the A’s in early July. Yeah, I guess that’s a possibility. A remote one at best though.

-- JJ Feigenbaum (still only 17)  

Behind Enemy Lines

7.3.05: I love New York City more than Boston. My reasons for that are many, but they have nothing to do with baseball. When it comes to that, I will never ever forget that I hung up a poster of the Impossible Dream team on my wall IN THE 1980s (I'm 30 now). I will never forget that I chucked into the trash my tape of Game Six. I will never forget that I caught an 8-4 Clemens victory over the Angels with a Rich Gedman grand slam when I made my way out to Anaheim at age 13 in 1986. I will never forget The Most Incredible Pitching Performance In History (Pedro from the bullpen vs. the Indians) and I will never forget that Aaron Boone's home run felt so inevitable.

And, though it was a regular mid-season matchup ... that the Sox couldn't hold on following Manny's shot the other night.

But I do know this ... Yankee fans love the Red Sox. How could they have this much fun without them ... and I think, how could we?

Despite all this, and despite the another-heartbreaking-loss against the Bravos, I honestly believe this and I don't care if they shatter my dreams (that's almost all the fun): The Boston Red Sox will win the World Series in 2004.

In a world such as we have, we Red Sox fans are a lucky breed. I was talking with a Yankee fan outside a party on 24th Street tonight ... he actually admitted that he hates the Red Sox more than he loves the Yankees. What kind of disturbed, negative attitude is this? Yes, I've been tempted and heard plenty from those (usually Mets) fans who hate the Yanks more than their own team, but what the hell is the point of an attitude like that?

All I'm saying is, it's a game. Let's not make the players so freaked out they can't play. Oh, and, adieu Nomar, you prodigal son.  -- Jay Campbell  

On Being a Sox fan in New York City

To: Gene Orza

12.18.03: Subject: Ever Hear of Opportunity Cost? Marginal Utility? Basic MicroEconomics? Let the player make the call.

Who are you to say what value is to a particular player? It is up to the individual player to determine what is of value, i.e. utility/satisfaction to him. If you are going to argue value you should brush up on basic Economic Principles. Not everything can be translated into a universal dollar value, marginal utility is a major factor. This factor is unique to each individual. Have you ever heard of opportunity cost or marginal utility? Probably not, I'll give you a quick review:

Opportunity Cost is the amount of other products that must be forgone or sacrificed to produce a unit of a product. Let's say a certain player would like to restructure a contract and forgo monetary or non-monetary benefits/compensation to play for a competitive ball club... this player obviously values the opportunity to win more than the maintaining the structure of the current contract. Therefore, this player's opportunity cost is whatever he is willing to forgo to play on a competitive team (which is equal or greater value).

Marginal Utility is the extra utility a consumer obtains from the
consumption of one additional unit of a resource; equal to the change in total utility divided by the change in the quantity consumed. Let's say, a certain player's current contract has great monetary benefit but very little marginal utility. If the marginal utility of the contract is low, then the value would also be low. This contract is not good for the player, and most likely not good for the organization that holds that contract.

PLEASE NOTE*** "In any specific time period, each buyer of a product will derive less satisfaction (or benefit, or utility) from each successive unit of the product consumed. That is, consumption is subject to diminishing marginal utility. And because successive units of a particular product yield less and less marginal utility, consumers will buy additional units only if the price of those units is progressively reduced." - Economics, McConnell & Brue 15th edition 2002
Money shouldn't be the end all when restructuring the contract, marginal utility holds more value than the dollar. If the player doesn't have satisfaction with the current contract, then it should be restructured until he is satisfied... then there is value.
- mcpilgrim

Will ANYONE Defend Nomar

I've lived in Massachusetts for my entire life. I actually grew up directly across the street from the pond into which Ruth supposedly tossed that piano, a 5 minute walk from his Sudbury farmhouse. I'm not one of these B.U. students from Iowa or Oregon who pretend to be rabid about the Sox for a couple years of college, then forget about it. I get insanely angry over a player's 6 game slump even when it comes after a 15 game hot streak, will instantly forget consistent performance after 1 costly at-bat or misplaced pitch, just let every other member of this deranged lot. And yet, sometimes even I can't figure Sox fans out.

Nomar deserves better than this, and everyone can feel free to smirk at the earnestness of that statement, made on behalf of someone I've never met. This isn't Manny Ramirez we're talking about here. This isn't Manny's far more presentable, far more lucid, far more advertizer friendly, but otherwise spiritual twin Alex Rodriguez we're talking about here. This is Nomar Garciaparra, a guy who's been in Sox uniform for his entire career, a guy who always played like he actually gave a damn about the city and the team when surrounded by guys who were the polar opposite of that--the Lansing's, the Bichette's, the Everett's, and about half a million other guys in that category--guys who after every season was over gave the fans the proverbial finger with their disinterest and disdain while Nomar literally thanked the fans.

Nomar's not a media guy. As far as I can tell, that's pretty much the only reason I can see why so many people are ready to see him shove off, or, perhaps more accurately, be shoved off. For a fanbase that claims to be baseball savvy, cerebral even, we must a pretty stupid in that case. On the one hand, we complain about the negativity and personal agenda of Dan-bleeping-Shaughnessy and countless other print, radio, and TV guys, and yet, the fact that many athletes don't like some or all of those guys either is taken as a personal insult by us. I'll say this much: in the parallel universe in which I were a Sox player, I wouldn't talk to Shaughnessy either.

And it's not even that Nomar doesn't speak to the media in the way that Pedro or Manny won't. He just speaks to the media poorly. He speaks in athlete-clichés. He repeats himself. Perhaps I'm the only guy left on the planet who didn't realize he was being paid to be a quote machine as well as a baseball player. I guess, in the end, it's not that crazy: How Boston loves a personable, 2 year contract, .270 role player, and hates the long contract, always over .300 stars. We hated Williams, we hated Rice, we hated Clemens. Sure, us young guys know better then whoever dared roll their eyes at Teddy Ballgame back in the 40s. I wonder how long it will take for the next crop of young guys to know better than us?

Nomar will never tell a beat journalist "I'm fed up with my f-ing slump" just like he will never tell him "I really kicked the shit out of Mussina today!". He'll go on automatic pilot during those tedious post-game interviews, and that's fine with me. Perhaps I'm a bit biased, and forgive me for maligning the fine art of baseball "journalism", but in my view there have only been two post-baseball game articles ever written: the one where they win, and the one where they lose. So no, I don't hate Nomar for the "cliché issue" (it's an issue?), even if everyone else does.

I believe Garciaparra when he says he wants to be in Boston, when he says he wants to retire here. I believe, with the exception of Varitek, there's no one on the team I'd rather see finish up a Sox. Maybe this part is where I'm the hopeless optimist, but here it is: Because I believe he cares more about how the team does than his own glory, because outside of the media clichés and an unquestionable lack of big-star persona he really wants to be here, and because for all the years that he's been on the team when none of the inflated-Duquette contracts gave a damn, he did. And none of these worthwhile qualities are true of Alex Rodriguez.

Sure, I know how it goes. We're desperate, DESPERATE for a World Series. We've got an A-list star, but on the horizon we see an "A" that's a little bigger, a little shinier (and a hell of a lot more expensive). And we want it. We'd throw our "A" off the back of a moving bus, because every year we don't win it all we go crazier. And I mean bad crazy, by the way.

Nomar's done nothing but fairly modestly play like hell for this team. Rodriguez has done nothing than leave a market that loved him to sign to the most obscene contract in the history of baseball for a team that somebody, SOMEBODY must have told him would be able to afford nothign else because of it. He's a player who owns at least 50% of the responsibility for sinking a franchise, but now wants out so can get a World Series ring. Maybe he could pawn it for another couple hundred million. Oh yeah, and his TV endorsements sure are awesome!

Unfortunately for us, Rodriguez isn't silently, almost amusingly crazy like Ramirez. He's a self-obsessed primadonna. He's also probably the best player in baseball. What we've got right now is one of the best players in baseball, and yes, I know that's not the same thing. But he's also a guy who on top of his incredible ability doesn't act like a superstar, doesn't ruin a clubhouse with his ego, and doesn't raise his nose at the utility guys like a certain famous shortstop in Arlington, TX is known to do.

We've got Nomar, a guy who's been the bright spot in some not so bright seasons in this town, a guy with a great work ethic, a guy who hates himself even more than we do when he's slumping, and a guy who other than being awkward in front of the cameras and when the notepads are out and the recorders are on, has done absolutely nothing worth being angry over, EVER. We want an upgrade that happens to be a self-obsessed, "how-are-my-stats-looking?", nouveau-Manny...more disgusting than the original because he knows what the fuck he did to baseball. Why? I guess because we're the Yankees now. Funny, I thought we hated them for reasons more than the fact they happened to have pinstripes on their jerseys. I'll say it--for reasons even more than the fact they've won so often. But because they've won so cheaply--in such an expensive way, ironically. Because they buy championships with a collection of scumbags! with high price tags who couldn't care less about anything other than their own personal glory (and endorsement deals). Maybe most players are like that. But Nomar isn't, if you you let yourself think about it for a second. So what now? Let's piss on him, not even tell him about it, then send him packing, because there's a new Evil Empire in town. Oh, how proud we should be.

- Andrew Golden, Brookline, MA

Do It Now

10.23.03:  the time has come. i am 45 years old. ive followed the same major league baseball team, the boston red sox, since i was a nine year old little leaguer... i love baseball so much more than football and basketball. i live in ohio. before the internet, i would listen to 1080am hartford for bits and pieces of a baseball game in between long minutes of just static. when the team goes west i lose hours of sleep waiting for final scores to come back to the east. now i dont do that, i watch mlb gamecast for hours every single night. i drive from ohio to fenway not for vacation, but just to see the red sox play. i've named my son after the best red sox player (when he was born) we had (his name is wade). i stayed up to watch to 3am in the morning to watch the red sox lose to the a's in the divisional series knowing full well that i had to get up at 5am the next morning to coach our high school golf team in the district golf tournament... i never even thought about going to bed before it ended... i deserve better than this! i deserve to see the red sox win it all... and i deserve to see that NOW! i dont want to hear, but the curse!... it's not the curse... it's because we're worse! i dont want to hear, be patient, the new owners will bring a winner. just give them time. mr. henry knew what product he was buying!... i deserve a winner and i deserve it now! would i take 4 losing seasons to bring in talent short term for a winner??? YOU BET YOUR SWEET BIPPY I WOULD!... why? i've suffered long and hard. because ive given the boston red sox EVERYTHING i have for 36 years... i deserve a winner now. if thats a better manager, get him in here. if thats a couple front line starters to compliment our awesome hitting attack.... get them here. im tired of watching steinbrenner beat us to the best players every year, there's no excuse for that. why, because i deserve a winner. this offseason the red sox ownership needs to take a long hard look at our needs and address them NOW... its time to beat the evil empire at its own game, because i deserve it. i deserve it, and i deserve it now, because i am one of the best fans in all of major league baseball. but that is NOT why i deserve it most and what REEEALLY makes me special. what make me special is that i am just an AVERAGE fan of the boston red sox, i know that when many read this, they could be writing the EXACT same things! they can add other things to 'why i deserve it'. what's special is that soooo many people in the red sox nation have as big as passion as i do. this isnt normal... this is a boston red sox fan. WE are a special nation and WE deserve as much back, or more, than what we put in to it... and we're not getting it. its time the red sox management and ownership do what ive done for 36 years and what WE'VE done as the red sox nation... GIVE IT EVERYTHING THEY'VE GOT! Cowboy up boys and do what it takes, but do it NOW.

Neal Graf
(just the average boston red sox fan)
Wauseon, OH

Tired of Latest Act

10.12.03:  I have been a Red Sox fan for 50 years now and I must view my opinion to you. While watching game 3, Bos/NY, with my children, grandchildren and friends, we were "all" totally disgusted with the totally lack of class on the part of Martinez when this "jerk" grabs a man in his 70's by the head and throws him to the ground. The group I watched the game with may have only consisted of 31 people but we all agreed, he may be a good pitcher but his actions don't warrant support from us. We all agree that we will no longer support the Red Sox until he is no longer on the team. He sets a terrible example for the young people of New England and there is "NO" excuse for his foul actions. If the Red Sox truly want to have a "high class organization then they "must" remove "bad" examples such as "Pedro Martinez" from the roster. I understand that he is under contract, but that contract is up in the near future and a trade for a better example to an honorable team such as the Red Sox we feel is a must.

Lets remove these types of people from professional sports and set a "good" example for the youngsters of New England. As said before, there is "no" excuse for what was seen on national television tonight. I sincerely hope you give me a reply to this e-mail, because as it stands, the Red Sox have lost 31 fans in my family alone. We have always loved and supported the Red Sox and hope in the future we will be able to again. I'm sure I speak for many other fans. Martinez has been a public relations problem in the past, and I'm sure, with his attitude, he will continue to be a problem in the future. He is a terrible example of a professional athlete. Please respond to this e-mail so we know where the organization stands.

Thank you,

Mullen Family & Friends
Merrimac, Mass.

A Vote for Grady

10.18.03:  I’m going to take the other side here. I was crushed when the Sox lost Game 7 the other night. I was screaming at the TV for Grady to give Pedro the hook. I was devastated when the game was tied and felt as if the chance of a lifetime had passed by. After reluctantly getting out of bed Friday morning, I decided to try and figure out why? Just why did Grady not make a move to the bullpen?

You know what I came up with when I removed my emotions? The blame for this loss falls three ways. First it goes to the offense whose inability to push across a run or two in the 4th inning kept the Yankees and their fans in the ball game. A 4th inning where the manager put on a flawless hit-and-run to knock the Fat Shit out of the game for good. Second, it falls on Pedro Martinez. It is hard to make the case that a pitcher of his ability is out of gas when:

He gets the first out of the inning.

Is up 0-2, yup one strike away from putting Jeter away (gives up the unforgivable
0-2 hit, Nixon misplayed the ball).

Is 2-2 on Bernie Williams, again one pitch away from putting him away (base hit).

Is up 0-2 on Matsui, again an inexcusable hit.

Is 2-2 on Ears, makes a good pitch and gives up the single/double.

Pedro, is inches away from getting guys out with two strikes and can’t get it done. I would like to find out what the MLB avg. is for hitters hitting with two strikes, especially 0-2.

Lastly, we can all blame the Red Sox brass. Grady Little deserved a contract extension well before Game 7 of the ALCS. The failure by Theo and the boys forced Grady in a position to manage for his job. If you had the choice of Pedro Martinez or the Red Sox bullpen (who lets not forget, you got a ton of mileage out of this year and for 97% of the season was bad-at-best), who do you pick? I know who I’m going with.

If we are going to kill Grady for the loss, we must credit him for two 90+ win seasons, taking the Sox further than they have been in 17 years, creating a clubhouse that was a pleasure to read about this year, getting career years out of Nixon, Tek, Mueller, Ortiz, and Millar. I also have to give him credit for playing Trot, more than any other manager has against lefties. Remember Trot did ice game six with a bomb of a lefty

Big Dog, to be honest, I don’t want to go down roads we have been down before. In Grady’s two years he has made consistent forward progress. I hate that the players on 99% of the teams in baseball dictate what goes on day-to-day, but the Sox finally found a guy that 25 millionaires truly respect and want to play for. I want what’s best for the Sox too, and I truly believe that Grady Little is that guy. I say that for one reason, they will be inspired to win one for the skip next year. He goes, you might lose the clubhouse next year and you can’t fire the players.

If not Grady might I suggest something else that will make all of you guys happy? Theo can sit and the dugout and the Sox can use FOX’s virtual manager and all of you can “log on and vote” for what decisions the manager of the Red Sox should make next year.  - DJ Greco

Nine Eleven

9.11.03: As I sit here in my office and reflect on the past two years, I decided to move my thoughts to something else....so, as I do daily, went to BDD.COM to read on yesterdays game. Of course I hit your tribute page first. I have spent the last 1/2 hour reading every name, city, country, occupation and company. Listed were people from all walks of life, lands near and far, ballet dancers to school teachers.....as depressing as this is, I became angry. Angry in the fact, a fact that has been pointed out many times mind you, the fact of the innocence of the victims. Although the Pentagon is a military target, the majority of people were murdered........murdered, not killed in action, or even just killed, murdered, cold blooded, calculated murder. We still fight the Taliban, hunt the terrorists every day and every night. We are relentless. We do not have an option. The problem is that most people in America do not care. I can tell you that THEY care, their entire life revolves around inflicting pain and suffering on the U.S. and its allies. They will continue until they are dead or their objectives have been completed. Two years removed from 9-11 and in my opinion the U.S. populace is same as it ever was, blind to the threat that still exists. I hope today everyone reads those names closely and reenergizes their resolve that we can only win this war on terrorism with a unified nation, for without that we will not succeed. We will win this, but with a price. Good men and women will sacrifice their life to stop it. And those people who do, who I support, say they would have it no other way. Specops, airborne, seals, CIA black ops......those are the UNITED STATES DIRT DOGS. Crazy, dedicated MF, those guys don't take a day off with a sore throat.

You guys have a great site, keep it up. Go Sox. See you in Octobah.

LCDR Paul Rynne
United States Navy
Member of Red Sox Nation

No Ill Will

8.22.03: Part of me still thinks there is more to this story than has been originally reported. Initial report - he called in. Kevin Shea follow-up - stomach, throat really not feeling well and spent whole day at hospital but we don't have a report with specifics because doctor Morgan has been with other patients and hasn't had time to talk to us, we will call back. Call back - not sure if it happened or not I was out of the car. From point of origin unknown to me - he has pharyngitis, which is supposedly pretty rare and pretty severe (at least judging from what I can tell and I am no doctor). LL and other Red Sox guy on late night say its strep throat, but its ab pain to worry about. To me, there's a lot up in the air in all of this.

Shea dumping all that info out there after the initial reaction looks to me to be spinning and trying to get out ahead of the story. I used to work in politics and I can tell you that's how you attempt to gain control and shape a story. I am not saying that is what is happening here. I don't claim to be a doctor, have knowledge of Pedro as a person, etc etc etc. If you told me that this happened to Player X, the day after he skipped the team photo, after the president of the team reportedly took some shots at him, when he was facing discipline for missing said photo, when he was taking heat for coming and going as he pleases, when he has a history of being a pretty temperamental guy, and when I saw him from 30 feet away goofing off in the dugout not even 9 hours before he was supposedly calling Grady, there could be unanswered questions in anyone's story. I am sorry this bothers the Pedro-walks-on-water crowd and further if it does not appear venomous for the Pedroisana-hole crowd, but this is just how I feel on this one. It will probably be nothing, but my mind is certainly not made up yet.

- Sean G.

Rally 'Round the Pennant

We should love this team because they don’t quit. At times they may infuriate, but they fight. The bullpen had more holes than O.J.’s story, but our green first-timer seems to have found the Bondo. Our pitching coach was essentially AWOL (admittedly, for very good reason), and seemingly against all odds, Theo found a talented mid-season replacement, and the pitchers have responded. Born dirt-dog Millar is here not Japan. After a year when our boys managed to win but a single one-run game the last three months of the season, they’ve repeatedly shown the resilience to bounce back in their final at-bat. Can we love this team? Can we banish the bad memories and jump on-board, not like the Gotham wagon-jumpers for whom the pennants and the rings are perceived as their god-given right, but as the underdog we followed through the dark days until the end, when our faith was finally vindicated? I think some of us can smell it, a change like the crispness of Fall, when the woods are alive with color. Tek and Nomar seem back on their pre-injury trajectory, and Nixon – despite the occasional lapse – is beginning to look like the hitter we could all see in him. David Ortiz – can I repeat that – DAVID ORTIZ is pummeling pitchers like no DH I can remember going back to Mike Easler. We even have a real closer – not Larry Anderson, not even the enigmatic Jeff Reardon, or that Campbell guy who picked the wrong year for his best moment. I am not asking you to believe in a democracy for Iraq or in the sanity of Michael Jackson, I am offering something you know in your bones to be possible. I am asking you to give over to the feeling that this might be it. Leave the doubts and recriminations for when the Fat Lady sings, and give this team your hope, your trust, and your heart. Because if you don’t, you may have cheated yourself of the greatest summer in 85 years. Life goes forward, let’s stop looking back, and be as the boy and girls we once were, who didn’t know the misery of the world and only rejoiced in dreams that felt so close we refused to believe they wouldn’t come true.

So Grady, here they are. Seven options for now:
 

A Soldier's Story

We got to the front of the line at about 9:00 PM and chatted with the McCormick brothers who were there...equipped with Natty Light, Java, sleeping bags, lawn chairs, and dressed from head to toe like Eskimo Chowderheads. Not more than 5 minutes after we arrived, so did the Channel 4 Sports Crew. They interviewed the McCormick brothers as a chant of "Yankees Suck" arose from the 30-or-so diehards that comprised the line. We were directly behind the brothers and thought we would make the news. Looking at my watch and the paltry size of the line I knew it was time to head over to the Cask and Flag to catch the Celts game and procure some fine Boston Lager.

As we sat there downing some suds and watching the Celts scrape by the Raptors while playing a litte pitch, we reminisced about our favorite Fenway Moments. Mine was probably a Mo Vaughn Grand Slam to win the game vs. the A's that prompted me to shell out 30 Beans for a Mo Jersey/T-Shirt upon leaving the Fens. When we walked into the Cask the Whole Bar gave me the "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Everyone is just so in tune with the Sox...it is really a special feeling in this town.