Damien Doran's Baseball Blog

BASEBALL'S CRAZY GANG

12-09-2007

Safely back from the States, Birmingham baseball fan Damien Doran updates us on the fate of his favourite team, the Boston Red Sox

More than any other American sports club the Boston Red Sox players have cultivated a Wimbledon 'crazy gang' type image which is lapped up by their fans.

The self styled 'idiots' of the Boston clubhouse stand in stark contrast to the uber professional, clean cut, pinstripes of the Yankees.

The ramshackle look of the Boston players has been cultivated over the past few years with long hair, shaven heads, almost obligatory facial hair, deliberately scuffed up hats, helmets and uniforms becoming the teams trademark.

Last weekend, former first baseman Kevin Millar returned to Fenway with his new team Baltimore. During his time with the Red Sox Millar became a cult figure. He had a go with all the various looks and insisted his team mates join in.

His fame spread in 2003 when saying "I want somebody to cowboy up and stand behind this team and stop worrying about the negative stuff". Instead of being ridiculed, 'Cowboy Up' became the rallying cry for the team and the fans, launching a thousand t-shirts and chants.

Unlike superstar traitors like Damon or Clemens, Millar is given warm applause each time he steps up to bat.

Millar's place is now occupied by current cult hero Kevin Youkilis. Shaven headed, goatee bearded Youkilis has been awarded this status by the fans who cry out "Yoooooooouuukk!" every time he bats, makes a play or goes to catch the ball.

Unfortunately for 'Youk' this follows him everywhere and you could see the embarrassed look as he drove away from Fenway in his SUV to the baying sound of the fans echoing along the streets.

Like all fans they want people who care and are committed to the team but they haven't always had that in Boston. Recently two of their greatest players, the sulking shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and ace pitching prima donna Pedro Martinez have appeared to be bigger than the club.

No-one would want to lose players of this quality but its no surprise that the World Series was won in the year Nomar was traded and the club refused to enter contract extension negotiations with Pedro.

The mantle of the difficult star now rests with super slugger Manny Ramirez who is known for turning up late for training and regularly demanding a transfer.

Born in the Dominican Republic, dreadlocked and as scruffy as they come, Manny plays in leftfield, a phrase that was surely invented for him. Often criticised for hardly breaking sweat in base running (if you can call it that) or not concentrating in the outfield, it is all dismissed by team mates and fans as simply 'Manny being Manny'.

Legend has it that once during a break in play Manny nipped through the door in the Green Monster wall to find the toilet( there isn't one) and when play continued there was a huge gap in the Boston outfield where he should have been!

Manny is forgiven all his faults because he forms one half of the Red Sox dynamic batting duo with fellow countryman David 'Big Papi' Ortiz. There is a huge wave of anticipation in the stands whenever these two come up to bat.

Manny is currently out injured and without him the Red Sox will find it difficult in the play offs. Despite the poor results in New York they currently stand 5 games (wins) ahead of the Yankees with 18 of the 162 game season left to play. Having led the division since April it will take a slump of, well, Red Sox proportions to throw it away.

Next weekend the Yankees roll into Boston for a three game series that will go a long way to decide who finishes top. This time last year the Yankees won all the games in a five game series and in 2005, on the last weekend of the season with the teams level, also won at Fenway to take the Division.

Even if this time the Red Sox prevail, the Yankees are top of the 'best of the rest' wild card places and will in all probability qualify for the play offs. If all goes according to plan they could face each other again in a best of seven American League Championship Series to decide who goes to the World Series.

(To see Damien's previous blog, click here)