Let me try to be eloquent: If a college career were a bookshelf, the freshman and senior year would be the bookends, right? So, in the bookend years of my college career, the Red Sox have won the American League pennant.
(Eloquence is clearly not my forte.)
Prior to coming to Boston, I hadn't really ever thought about the Red Sox or their Nation. Coming from a legitimately small-market area, I'd always naturally hated the Yankees, especially during the years when the threat of contraction loomed over my beloved team. I still hate how the Empire buys victories through gargantuan contracts - although not as much these days - while my Twins have always had to develop success through their minor league system.
Coming to an anti-Yankees city seemed to be a perfect fit. I remember the first few months of my freshman year as if they were yesterday. I'll admit it ... I took a sip of the proverbial Red Sox Kool-Aid during that time. I eagerly watched the games on NESN; I argued with the roomie about how the Yankees were ruining the national pastime, and I even proudly wore a Red Sox cap around campus.
After the Sox came back to beat the hated Yankees, I happily celebrated the historic victory.
Now, we're back again. It wasn't quite as dramatic and it didn't have quite the flair that the 2004 ALCS had, but this series with the Cleveland Indians kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire seven games. I found myself cheering for the Indians for most of the series, as I am loyal to the AL Central and to smaller market teams. For some periods of the series, though, I oddly found myself enjoying the success of your beloved Sox.
While my disdain for Red Sox fans has risen, I legitimately like the players on the Red Sox this year and how the team has operated throughout the season.
One of the most important aspects of a team, in my opinion, is its ability to develop its own players and to foster a culture of togetherness. This leads me to Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis. I love these guys. They are the heart and soul of this team, and it is an absolute pleasure to watch them.
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen once called three players on the Twins - Jason Tyner, Nick Punto and Jason Bartlett - "little piranhas" for their propensity to get infield hits, steal bases and do the little things. Let me be the first to say this: Pedroia, Ellsbury and Youkilis are the piranhas of the Red Sox, except they are much better. While the Minnesota piranhas might be faster, they hit for power about as well as a six-year-old playing tee ball.
What makes Pedroia so special is the fact that not only is he extremely adept at getting on base - a vital skill for a leadoff hitter - but he's also got the ability to hit for power. Add on the fact that he's supposedly the goofball of the clubhouse, and you've got an extremely valuable player on the field and one who greatly contributes to the chemistry of the team off the field. Ellsbury's speed and defense make him one of the most exciting players on the club. Youkilis is probably my favorite player on the team. He's not the strongest, he's not the fittest, and he's definitely not the most athletic, but he plays with the passion of Charlie Hustle and is the identity of the American League champs.
The NLCS champion Colorado Rockies have their own piranhas, and are one of the hottest teams ever coming into a Fall Classic. It's going to be one hell of a series.
Ross Marrinson is a senior majoring in international relations. He can be reached at ross.marrinson@tufts.edu.
