No Mother's Day Miracle This Year

We came up a run short this year on Mother's Day losing to the Twins 9-8. I remember last year, playing the Orioles, I had given up on them and went outside to mow the yard. 30 minutes later, my wife came out and told me they had come back and won it. I rushed inside and rewound the game and watched the final half inning. I couldn't believe it.

I really truly believed this year we were going to do the same thing. I watched Manny coming off the bench, knowing he was going to pinch hit somewhere in the ninth if we could get at least the tying runs to the plate. Sure enough, we scored 2 runs and Manny strolled to the plate as the go ahead run. I could just see it, him swinging his bat, belting a home run and him just standing there with his arms in the air like he did last year against the Angels in the playoffs. But it was not to be, instead he grounded out to short to end the game. I think I am getting used to these "movie" endings to these games and sometimes forget they are real life.

Anyway, we are still in first place in spite of the fact Papelbon has blown 2 consecutive saves. I think he is struck by the "Curse of Heidi". Ever since Heidi has been walking around the bullpen and dugouts making her comments for NESN, Paps hasn't been the same. They need to take Heidi out of there and keep her in the pressbox with Orsillo and Rem Dawg - I think then, Paps will get back on track.

Nice to see the Yanks still hovering around the .500 mark and in 4th place. What is this about David Wells wanting to come back to New York to help them out. Sounds alot like what Clemens did last year and see how far that got them? I say go ahead Wells, go back to New York. It won't help. The Yanks will be battling with Tampa Bay for the wild card. Serious though, Tampa Bay continues to amaze me. I wonder if this is the year they will finish above .500 and really start to shake things up in the East. The real surprise team is Toronto. Weren't they supposed to be giving us and the Yanks fits this year? They are in last place and I don't see them making many waves this year in the division.

One more game against the twins then a short 2 game set with the Orioles.

Since it is Mother's Day, I would like to say Happy Mothers Day to my wife for raising 2 wonderful kids (and me) and for putting up with all this Red Sox stuff 24 hours a day. I think she realizes that our son is almost passing me up on his own personal Red Sox addiction. There is no escape for her now...

Also to my own mom whose birthday is also on Mother's Day. Although we can't be together this year, it is fun to know that you are watching the Sox and over the miles, this baseball team brings us closer together. Remember the fun we had throughout that 1986 season and how you rooted for Boggs and Rice and Evans. Not sure I ever said it, but thanks for recording those ALCS games against the Angels on the nights I had to work. Even though you knew the outcome, you wouldn't tell me what happened and you would watch the games with me again. We both cheered for Clemens and just knew that he was going to take us to the championship. I am sorry you had to watch game 6 and watch that wild pitch by Stanley and then that "little roller up along first". I am sorry you got to see Boggs crying in the dugout after game 7. I knew he was your favorite player. Sorry again you had to type an email to me after the Aaron Boone game where you just typed two words - "Never Again". I am glad though that we got to share that 2004 playoff run even if it was only by emails after each game. I still have that last email sent 10/27/04 around midnight. It simply said, "Finally!" Anyway, thanks for sharing this Red Sox Ride with me for my entire life. You have been a part of this Red Sox Addiction since the beginning and always encouraged me to hang there with them. Thanks for hanging in there with me too.

Happy Mothers Day!