Clinched: This Is 2008
Some celebrated with many.
Some celebrated alone.
But they all celebrated… together. As a team.
This is 2008. This is not 2007 or 2004. This team is not the goofy collection of misfits and cowboys from 4 years ago. And despite the many familiar faces, this team is not a carbon copy of the team a year ago.
It seemed natural enough last year to try and compare the (basically incomparable) teams from those championship years… but it’s time to stop the comparisons. To stop judging the team’s success in 2008 based on the sentimentally insurmountable yardsticks used in 2007 and 2004. To stop agonizing over former long-haired and/or dreadlocked players who have departed for coasts near and far. To stop bemoaning “just making it in the playoffs”, and acting lethargic over anything short of total domination. Because this 2008 team is never going to be the 2007 or 2004 team.
We wrapped ourselves in a cocoon during the offseason, when everything seemed to be falling into place for an easy path with a near-identical cast of characters. Like we’d be able to slip right back into another year like an old comfy pair of slippers. But injuries, rookies, more injuries and Scott Boras have shaped the Sox into an entirely different group of men. This year’s team has its own identity- strangely familiar but yet oddly exotic. And if the hand they are dealt means they have to scrap to bring home the hardware (instead of coasting to the top)… by golly, that’s what they’re gonna do.
This is 2008. And it’s a whole new ballgame.
One word, Texy: Brilliant.
How have they not hired you yet? Really, how?
That was good. I am so jealous of all the fans who got to touch Tek.
Well said. Perfect. Just what we needed to hear.
Well said, Texy. Completely well said.
To make the playoffs, 98% of the time there’s an element of luck sprinkled in there whether it be in health, bounces going in your way, or just plain old destiny. The luck is there. But then there’s that 2% who make it on talent and depth alone. They didn’t have much going for them and their journey was made twice as hard getting there for whatever reason.
The 2008 Red Sox are in that 2% I dunno if there’s any bigger compliment I can give.
Pedroia is looking ridiculously adorable in the team picture.
I love how Jake and Julio are the only ones taking the picture seriously; smiling and looking directly at the camera.
…and everyone else is goofing off.
I’m also quite surprised by Pap’s little flabby belly!
And Pedey definately does look rediculously adorable in this picture!
ok what I wanna know is who is Jed like grinding on in that group shot?
Okay, now that I’ve recovered from seeing Paul Byrd’s armpit up close last night on the telly……
…..and seeing a gold necklace the size of a truck towing-cable on Big Papi’s neck…..
….and Dustin Pedroia seeming to borrow Mike Timlin’s camo underarmour…..
…and Jason Varitek shaking hands like he’s the mayor, not Sean Casey….
….and Jacoby Ellsbury’s pecs in the above picture looking like one of those foam rubber Batman suits…..
….I can finally ask:
WHY WAS JULIO LUGO THERE?! Unclean, unclean! Bad juju! Get back! Get back!
Anyway, PLAYOFFS!! Woo.
my god. jonathan. the love. it hurts.
also, that beckett / lowell exchange is an instant classic.