My New Favorite Movie

I spend more time working on my biblical postings, but rarely generate much in the way of comments. However, no matter what I write about baseball, I seem to pique everyone’s interest. So even though we’re in the stretch run for the NFL playoffs, and despite the hoops season being in full swing, let’s return to America’s pastime.

I now have a new favorite movie – the 2007 World Series film - as MLB so creatively named it. I’ve only watched it three times since it arrived on Thursday, but it has all the hallmarks of a classic. Good production values - great drama - wonderful cast – happy ending. 2004 was a completely magical year, but the Sox victory was almost overshadowed by the whole 86 years thing – the Bambino, the curse, 1918, all that baggage. In contrast, 2007 was pretty much all about baseball. We had some of the same drama in the ALCS. The Sox fell behind 3-1, and had to play in consecutive elimination games. And while nothing will ever match the magic of games 4 and 5 in 2004, two of this year’s games against the Indians were much closer than the final scores indicated. Games 5 and 7 were one run games into the late innings, even though looking back it might seem that the Sox dominated because of the lopsided final scores. And this year’s Series was also much more dramatic, mainly because the Rockies played tough, and came back in Games 3 and 4, unlike 2004, when the Cards never really challenged after Game 1. So even though this year’s movie suffers from having Matt Damon, and not Dennis Leary, as the narrator, it’s more of a pure sports documentary, and less a chronicle of history. Anyway, more detailed discussion of the post-season will have to await the release of the multi-disc set, so that I can relive and recount every moment of October, and not just the highlights.

In the meantime, let’s catch up on a few bits of baseball trivia. Eric Gag-me is gone; back to the National League where he had so much success. Of course, that success is now tarnished as Gag-me got listed among the substance abusers. During his brief tenure with the Sox, he single-handedly blew as many saves as the rest of the staff, and thereby managed to keep the AL East race close. Had the Yanks overtaken us at the season’s end, G-Man would have had to share the scotch with Gag-me.

I was looking over the season’s standings the other day, and realized for the first time that the Sox led all the majors in fewest runs allowed. That’s includes the National League, where by definition, fewer runs are scored. What an astonishing turnaround, and one that probably escaped the attention of most fans. The image of the RedSox remains Papi and Manny, and a dominating offensive lineup from top to bottom. Most pitches per at-bat; Youkilis battling at the plate , the sweat dripping into his eyes, and in the process setting a record for hits in the ALCS; even the runty Pedroia getting in on the act – knocking in five runs in Game Seven, and then leading off the series with a home run. But this year it really was all about the pitching. Beckett so dominant in the post-season; Dice-K and Schilling inconsistent, but overpowering at times; Papelbon and Okajima unhittable when it mattered most. And next year, always next year when we talk sports, it will be Dice-K’s sophomore year, with Lester and Buckholz back into the rotation. Are you kidding me? When does spring training start?