We're going to predict it now: regardless of how the coming weeks treat our local baseball team, the 2007 Red Sox season - sorry, 2007 Pennant-Winning Red Sox season - is going to go down as one for the history books. Years from now, there are going to be many people out there who exclaim that they never doubted that the Sox would win the division. They're going to talk about how they knew that there was something special with this group of guys and how they had complete and utter faith in the players, Tito, and Theo.
But not Bostonist. We will instead turn our electronic scooter around to stare those people in the eyes and tell 'em that that is just a bunch of malarky. Anyone who watched the '07 season had to have doubted at some point along the way, particularly as the Sox tried to hand over the freakin' pennant in September.
But know what? It doesn't matter today. Why? 'Cause we're division winners, baby! Break out the bubbly!
The Sox, of course, did that with gusto. No dignified toasts this time around - Friday night was all about the commemorative t-shirts and goggles. Goofy grins, champagne showers and a brief respite from the stress and agitation of a September that seemed up until recently predestined to end with the Sox once again winding up in second place.
What got the Sox the division? We're as surprised as anyone to report that it was Daisuke Matsuzaka, the pitcher who delivered the goods as the Sox beat the Twins, 5-2. Eight solid innings, no problems in the stretch, no disastrous innings. What else? How about David Ortiz's 35th home run of the season? A perfect inning from Jonathan Papelbon to close it out? A captive audience cheering on the Orioles from hundreds of miles away?
It all came together and it feels glorious. Now we have to get through two more games with the Twins and then we're in the postseason: Rally Monday, then a showdown with the Angels (shades of '04, anyone?).
But we can't talk about Friday night without sending a roar of approval to Fenway South: the mighty, mighty Baltimore Orioles made it happen, and we here at Bostonist want to send out a big thank you to someone who will remain forever in our hearts clad in a Red Sox uniform. Someone who, we like to think, still thinks that he's going to pull on thick red knee-high socks 162 times a year.
Kevin Millar, ladies and gentlemen.
Millar took one for both his present and former teams in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Orioles rallied to tie the score against the Yanks, being hit by a Mariano Rivera pitch. Many of the 36,000-odd fans at Fenway watched on the big screen last night as Millar and the guys beat New York in extra innings - and Millar sent word Theo Epstein's way that he was thinking of his old team. We love that guy. We miss that guy. We hope he has a lovely off-season.
Whoo hoo!
-- Related quick news hits: Clay Buchholz won't be pitching for the Sox in the post-season, as he has shoulder fatigue ... Jonathan Papelbon set young female hearts aflutter by stripping down Friday night (we now totally want that guy at our next party) ... the official post-game word from Millar, according to Theo: "I told you I'd come through for you ... I'm still sitting on that changeup, by the way. Congratulations."
The gear's already on sale - image from shopmlb.com
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I'm glad Daisuke delivered. But, admit it, when he pitches don't you watch him with your hand over your face so you have to peer around your fingers? You never know when you have to cover your eyes.
Shouldn't we invite Millar here to throw out the first pitch to a playoff game? After Tom Brady's love child and his new BFF Randy Moss, of course.
I believe ''pennant'' technically refers to being the league champions and in the World Series. Well, it used to back when Jerry Remy was a player of baseball and not a commentator on it.
S! O! X! Sox! Sox! Sox!