By Evans Erilus
FORT MYERS, Fla. –
Arrivals can make for interesting situations. Sometimes, one waits with great anticipation for that subject to arrive. Other times, the latter eagerly anticipates reaching the former. Then there are those rare instances when the anticipation is reciprocated.
Baseball … no, check that … Boston Red Sox baseball, is none of the above, because Red Sox baseball never leaves. Walking around the city of Palms Park, that much is obvious. Be it because of the tanned, busty, blonde-haired groupies in their mid-40s fondling over some non-roster invitees; the fans, who are relentless in their never-ending pursuit of Kevin Millar’s signature and ignorant to the focus of the players (as evidenced when one fan screamed into his cell phone, “Dude, it’s spring training, and Shilling’s taking this thing way too seriously”); or the media types, who ranged from local special interest reporters to grizzled baseball scribes, it is blatantly obvious that it takes a little something extra to be a member of the Red Sox Nation. Look no further than Sox skipper Terry Francona, who was hired not only because he fit the statistic-minded and people-oriented mold that the brass wanted, but because he has been battle-tested in a baseball hotbed like Philadelphia.
“We’re two games into spring training, but I understand the passion,” he said. “They love their Red Sox and with that comes criticism and a certain amount of second-guessing. I’m OK with that.”
Funny thing is, he doesn’t have much of a choice. Second-guessing and playing in Boston come hand-in-hand, kind of like Steven Seagal and bad acting. Who can forget the terse “manager’s decision” responses from former Boston manager Jimy Williams? Or how the masses went into an uproar because Pedro Martinez had pharyngitis? Boston is a blue-collar, passionate region; if Manny Ramirez refused to pinch hit because of a sore throat for Detriot, chances are he wouldn’t have been benched for one. It is all baseball here, all the time. When the season actually does start, things go into overdrive; that is just the nature of the beast.
“I’m not really sure that once the season starts you do unwind,” Francona said. “We eat, sleep and live it. Even when we leave the ballpark, you never can get baseball out of your mind until the season is over. That’s the way the game is; it totally consumes you.”
That is why it takes more than a nasty splitter or lighting-quick wrists to thrive in the Bean. In most places, all ballplayers had to worry about was going out and playing the game. In Boston, thick skin is needed to survive. Francona is not so sure.
“I definitely think there are certain players that thrive in cities like that, and other players, maybe they don’t,” he said. “But every city, every team has their own set of trials and tribulations. If you’re a really good player then you can play anywhere.”
I’m not so sure about that one, Terry. Jack Clark was a pretty good player before he came to Boston, as was Tom Brunansky, and Andre Dawson and Frank Viola …
If you’re good, Boston forces you to increase your focus, and refine your preparation. Maybe that’s why newly acquired ace Curt Schilling responded with a “I didn’t think a whole lot about them” when asked about the Northeastern baseball team. Schilling was not being terse; he was being honest.
“It’s nothing personal, but I’m trying to get some stuff done,” he said. “Regardless of the team, I would have thrown probably that same assortment of pitches, especially my fastball, and make sure the command was there.”
And what of the Yankees?
“You guys make a lot more out of it than we do, and I’ve never been involved in it, but I’m sure it’s exciting,” he said. “I’m sure its different, but everyone’s overlooking the fact that this division is filled with good teams.”
Curt, you have no idea.
What does it mean to be a part of the Nation? After the Red Sox completed their contest with the Huskies, general manager Theo Epstein was outside of the ballpark signing autographs. He got into a discussion with a man, which went something like this:
Man: “Where’d you go to
school?”
Epstein: “Yale, but I come from Brookline.”
Man: “Yeah, I’m from around the same area. (Pause) Man, you and I are the same age, and I’m waiting tables in Atlanta while you’re running the Red Sox.”
Epstein: “Nah man, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
I thought Young Theo was lying and telling the truth … at the exact same time. Welcome to Red Sox Nation.
— Evans Erilus may be reached at sports@nu-news.com. He can be heard every Friday from 3-6 p.m. on WRBB 104.9 FM’s “Dog Pound Sports Sound.”
