Today is one of my favorite days of the year. It's a day that, in my opinion, has gotten a bad rap. Yes, it's been over-commercialized, but at the same time, it's got a lot of redeeming qualities, too. Today is a day for us to let our true feelings out. It's a day for us to celebrate. It's a day for us to show our appreciation for the ones we love.
That's right - it's Truck Day.
For those of you who aren't quite as obsessed with the Red Sox as I am, Truck Day is the day of the annual voyage made by the Sox' equipment truck every February from Fenway Park to the team's spring training facilities in Fort Myers, Fla.
Technically, Truck Day was celebrated all over Boston on Monday, but I'm celebrating it today for two reasons: one, because the trip takes two days, so the truck doesn't actually get to the Fort until today, and two, my column doesn't run on Mondays, and I felt like writing about it. Sue me.
Despite being a Red Sox fan all my life, I didn't actually discover the joys of Truck Day until a year ago. My freshman year was my first time spending February in Boston since age two, and I was taken by surprise last year when a friend stopped me walking down the street one day to wish me a happy Truck Day.
A year later, I've come to truly appreciate what this day means, and believe me, it's much more than a publicity stunt for Atlas Van Lines. It's symbolic of the dedication of Red Sox Nation - I can't name another town in all the world that cares enough about a sports team that it would celebrate the transportation of a bunch of uniforms, baseballs, 10,000 pieces of gum and 36 boxes of sunflower seeds.
Unfortunately for the 2007 Sox, there isn't much else in that truck aside from things for the players to wear, throw and chew. Because personally, I have a long list of items, most of them non-existent, that I wish would arrive in Fort Myers. If only that truck had supernatural powers...
First and foremost, I wish the truck would bring some sort of magical aging potion. Far too often, I look over this year's Red Sox roster, and I think to myself, "this team looks great... two years down the line."
I see two future major league closers, who just aren't getting it done yet at 24 (Manny Delcarmen) and 23 (Craig Hansen). I see a premium starter, who at 26 (Jonathan Papelbon) has proven to be one of the game's best pure talents, but so far has just three games of experience in the rotation. And I see a second baseman who's supposed to be a stellar on-base guy, but at 23 (Dustin Pedroia), isn't yet ready to crack that .260 OBP barrier.
"Two years down the line" is fine in most baseball towns, but not in one fanatical enough to celebrate Truck Day. We in Boston don't rebuild - we contend every year, or else we face the wrath of journalists, talk show hosts, news anchors, and, well ... me. If only this team were just a year or two older.
I also wish the truck would bring a cure for leukemia. I'm not talking about chemotherapy or any other form of treatment - I'm talking about a cure.
Jon Lester, who was one of the AL's best rookie starters last year, save for the Holy Trinity of Verlander, Liriano and Weaver, is going to be needed right away. Yes, the Sox already have five capable arms in the rotation, but how long can we honestly expect all five to last? Just as the Red Sox couldn't afford to lose Bronson Arroyo last year, they can't afford to be without Lester now. Never underestimate the value of that sixth starter.
Assuming that a human being can live in this truck for two days without starving, suffocating or dying of boredom, I'd also like to see the best Japanese teacher money can buy show up in Fort Myers.
Imagine how difficult life is going to be this season for Terry Francona, Jason Varitek and pitching coach John Farrell, knowing that their future ace barely speaks a word of English. If the Red Sox can afford to pay $102 million for Daisuke Matsuzaka, maybe they can also shell out a hundred grand or so for a good teacher, so that they can learn to talk to the guy. It would be money well spent.
If there's any room left on the truck, the final thing I'm hoping to see is a new contract for Curt Schilling. Schilling has said that he's not retiring after 2007, and he'd like to be back in Boston for the 2008 season. But there's no bigger distraction than having a player like Schilling not signed. As long as his contract's not final, he's going to talk about it. And talk. And talk some more.
Get the deal done now, Theo. For the sake of us all.
Anyway, these are my wishes. I think that if the Red Sox can work all this out, they'll have a 100-win season in 2007. But if not, I'll still celebrate Truck Day anyway.
And how could I not? It's much better than caring about Valentine's Day.
