Monday, October 25, 2004
2-0
I think the overall feeling from Sox fans is about 70% joy and 30% disbelief, which actually may be the inverse of how we felt after the Yankees series. Could it be we are even feeling confident?
Sox fans are confident in March. And maybe even moreso in April, May, and June. That starts to wane in July, collapses in August, before rebounding slightly in September, but never to rise to its spring levels.
If it gets to October, we bite our nails, we do silly things like wear the same shirt every day during a win streak, and we never talk about the "when" the Sox win, and we don't even really talk about the "if." And that isn't just to avoid a jinx, we really don't believe there is an "if and when."
The feeling is completely different this time around, but I think down in each of us history gnaws at our confidence a bit. But that it isn't complete dread for what might happen next, is a step in the right direction.
To avoid that dread, the Sox need to win just one of the next three games.
Consider:
Sox fans are confident in March. And maybe even moreso in April, May, and June. That starts to wane in July, collapses in August, before rebounding slightly in September, but never to rise to its spring levels.
If it gets to October, we bite our nails, we do silly things like wear the same shirt every day during a win streak, and we never talk about the "when" the Sox win, and we don't even really talk about the "if." And that isn't just to avoid a jinx, we really don't believe there is an "if and when."
The feeling is completely different this time around, but I think down in each of us history gnaws at our confidence a bit. But that it isn't complete dread for what might happen next, is a step in the right direction.
To avoid that dread, the Sox need to win just one of the next three games.
Consider:
- the Cardinals have not lost on the road in this postseason. The Astros looked pretty hot, and had one of their aces going at St. Louis, when they only needed to win one. Now they are home eating chicken wings (Roger), riding dirtbikes (Kent), or drawing up plans for a dream house that would look cool on MTV Cribs (Beltran)
- The Sox have shut down Edmonds and Rolen for the most part, and were able to limit Pujols' damage in game 2 after shutting him down in game 1. They arent' necessarily "due," but I expect them to recharge in front of the home fans. And I am petrified of Larry Walker, who kind of looks like the skinnier love-child of David Wells and Roger Clemens.
- The Sox have given the Cards 3 extra outs per game in the form of 4 errors per game. Some might suggest that it can't get worse. Well with Ortiz at first, it can. Millar and Doogie have saved the Sox at least once each with a real nice scoop on a low throw. I pray for an Ortiz 3-run double that opens up an 8-2 lead in the 5th inning, with Doogie put in to run for Ortiz and take over the glove duties.
In all, I think the Cardinals are better than this. But at the same time, the Sox probably are too. And rolling out Jeff Suppan, who couldn't even get in to the ALCS last year, against Pedro doesn't lead me to think the Cards are automatic at home.
Yep, it's confidence. Weird! I guess we Sox fans could get used to that. After all, the Pats have taught us well.
# posted by Darlucky @ 11:44 AM 
