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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE October 3, 2004 ... The Red Sox yesterday happily ended the 2004 regular season where they began it in the visiting clubhouse at Camden Yards. Six months after they dressed for the 43-degree chill of their season opener against the Orioles amid all the promise of spring, the Sox dropped their final game of the regular schedule to the O's, 3-2, then waited 70 minutes in the same clubhouse to learn where they would start their second season - the one that matters most. Nearly a dozen players sat together on couches watching broadcasts of the decisive game between the Twins and Indians. A few sat on chairs by their lockers watching football. Others, like Manny Ramirez, milled about, anxious to move on in the quest for the franchise's first championship in 86 years. Then the Indians ended the suspense by breaking open a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning for a 5-2 victory at the Metrodome that finally settled the American League playoff situation. The Sox would travel to Anaheim to begin the best-of-five Division Series, while the Twins hiked to the Bronx. The Sox also squeezed all they could out of Derek Lowe, who began the season comfortably ensconced as the No. 3 starter and ended it losing his spot in the rotation. Lowe, who will pitch out of the bullpen in the playoffs, as he went two innings against the Orioles to tune up for his relief role. He surrendered a run on three hits and a walk. Actually, the finale unfolded for the Sox as if it were a spring training game. With Francona trying to protect his starters from injury but give the 42,104 paying customers at least a glimpse of the Sox regulars, he fielded an unusual lineup in which Jason Varitek batted leadoff for the first time in his career and Johnny Damon filled the seventh slot for the first time since 1997 with the Royals. Orlando Cabrera made one trip to the plate before he tossed his batting gloves to the crowd and called it a day. And the rest of the regulars were close behind Cabrera as Francona emptied his bench faster than some of the ballpark vendors emptied their trays. Preserving his regular pitchers, Francona even received two innings of scoreless relief from first baseman David McCarty, who fanned Rafael Palmeiro, Larry Bigbie, and David Newhan in the process. The Sox finished with the third-best record in baseball behind the Cardinals and Yankees, and with plenty of confidence. |
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