Rain Delay thoughts
Waiting for the last game of the 2006 Red Sox season to start. There's a rain delay right now - and the weather radar doesn't look promising. In some ways, a washout would be the poetic end to the season. It would leave the final record at 85-76. Not the ending we'd envisioned during those heady early days in July. Or at the end of that 12-game winning streak.
And talk about downers. How about the realization that we're going to have another few weeks of the Yankees to contend with. Man, I really hate them...
But enough of that! Let's look at some of the better parts of the 2006 season. I'm going to start off with the top 5 Red Sox moments that I witnessed in person:
1. Undoubtably, the top moment for me was July 31st. I had great field box seats right behind home plate, so close to the action. And it ended in an incredibly dramatic fashion: with two outs in the 9th, David Ortiz hit a 3-run homerun to win it. What a thing to be a part of - it was, quite simply, awesome. Awesome!
2. Just two night later, August 2nd, I was sitting out in the bleachers in dead center. The game came down to 2 outs in the 9th inning, Sox losing 5-4. People were starting to file out - and this one guy in the front row told every one that walked by, "they're coming. Back they're going to win. You're going to be in your car on the drive home, listening on the radio and kicking yourself for leaving early." And he was right! Indians closer Fausto Carmona hit two batters, walked Youk to load the bases. Everyone in the Park is saying, come on Loretta, just let us get to Big Papi. Instead, Loretta hit a ball off the Monster to win it. Incredible!!
3. I was in Atlanta for the series in June, and saw Mike Lowell (be still my heart) make an incredible catch on the 16th. Caught a laser shot by catcher Brian McCann to end the game. Wow!
4. The other highlight of that game on the 16th was seeing Jon Lester get his first victory in the majors. It's a shame the way the season ended for him - and we're all praying that he comes through his cancer treatments and has his health restored. But those games we saw him pitch showed us why he was one of the top prospects. He has such potential! And the greatest moment was at the end - closer Jonathan Papelbon (himself a rookie phenom) handing the game winning ball to Lester. Cool!
5. Just being a part of the Red Sox crowds at all the games I went to is the other great memory from the year. The crowds in Atlanta were so overwhelmingly pro-Sox, some of the Braves players were even complaining about the invaders in the local papers. As much as I love going to Fenway, it is really fun to go to away games, too, especially if you're a Sox fan. They always draw a huge crowd. And the players are incredibly accessible in away parks. The players were all over the Ted signing autographs - even Manny Ramirez. I know that they could never do that at Fenway because it would be bedlam - but it was a real treat. And, having the chance to sit in the Monster Seats was also way cool. Just wish we could have a) caught a HR ball and b) won the game!
More later on my favorite moments from the season....
And talk about downers. How about the realization that we're going to have another few weeks of the Yankees to contend with. Man, I really hate them...
But enough of that! Let's look at some of the better parts of the 2006 season. I'm going to start off with the top 5 Red Sox moments that I witnessed in person:
1. Undoubtably, the top moment for me was July 31st. I had great field box seats right behind home plate, so close to the action. And it ended in an incredibly dramatic fashion: with two outs in the 9th, David Ortiz hit a 3-run homerun to win it. What a thing to be a part of - it was, quite simply, awesome. Awesome!
2. Just two night later, August 2nd, I was sitting out in the bleachers in dead center. The game came down to 2 outs in the 9th inning, Sox losing 5-4. People were starting to file out - and this one guy in the front row told every one that walked by, "they're coming. Back they're going to win. You're going to be in your car on the drive home, listening on the radio and kicking yourself for leaving early." And he was right! Indians closer Fausto Carmona hit two batters, walked Youk to load the bases. Everyone in the Park is saying, come on Loretta, just let us get to Big Papi. Instead, Loretta hit a ball off the Monster to win it. Incredible!!
3. I was in Atlanta for the series in June, and saw Mike Lowell (be still my heart) make an incredible catch on the 16th. Caught a laser shot by catcher Brian McCann to end the game. Wow!
4. The other highlight of that game on the 16th was seeing Jon Lester get his first victory in the majors. It's a shame the way the season ended for him - and we're all praying that he comes through his cancer treatments and has his health restored. But those games we saw him pitch showed us why he was one of the top prospects. He has such potential! And the greatest moment was at the end - closer Jonathan Papelbon (himself a rookie phenom) handing the game winning ball to Lester. Cool!
5. Just being a part of the Red Sox crowds at all the games I went to is the other great memory from the year. The crowds in Atlanta were so overwhelmingly pro-Sox, some of the Braves players were even complaining about the invaders in the local papers. As much as I love going to Fenway, it is really fun to go to away games, too, especially if you're a Sox fan. They always draw a huge crowd. And the players are incredibly accessible in away parks. The players were all over the Ted signing autographs - even Manny Ramirez. I know that they could never do that at Fenway because it would be bedlam - but it was a real treat. And, having the chance to sit in the Monster Seats was also way cool. Just wish we could have a) caught a HR ball and b) won the game!
More later on my favorite moments from the season....
posted by Beth at 12:53 PM
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