The first century of Boston Red Sox baseball has officially come to a close. It closed on a very positive note. Hideo Nomo and Derek Lowe combined for a two hit shutout of the “Best Team in Baseball” Minnesota Twins. Nomo’s splitter was at times absolutely devastating. His pitching was sufficient to pitch seven no-hit innings and flirt with throwing two no-hitters in the same season. Derek Lowe came in and pitched a very quick eighth inning. Two good defensive plays by the guest Shortstop Grebek seemed to restore Lowe’s confidence. The ninth inning got just a bit hairy, but he pulled through for a very big save.

Now we begin the second century. Let us try to leave a few things behind and start out with a little cleaner slate. I am resolving to reserve phrases like “This is the year” until at least the month of August, and phrases like “Wait ‘til next year” until November. No more talk of payrolls and arbitration. No more worrying about an over-the-hill nemesis whose merry go round seems to have turned into a roller coaster. Sure, we still have to play well against them, but with 19 head-to-head match-ups this season, I like our chances.

I am also going to make a serious attempt to let go of all of the baggage that I have been carrying since 1961, my first full season without Ted Williams. No looking back for me. There’s way too much to look forward to. The memories are at the same time both wonderful and excruciating. They will always hold a place in my heart. I can recite them with all the reverence of a litany. Now is the time to concentrate on the future.

The second century seems to have a lot of potential. We are off to a great start. Focus on the beginning and not the ending. This is a team with a tremendous amount of history. Here’s hoping that the present and future teams will make some history of their own.

A team formerly known for leading the league in such things as team batting average, now has the best pitching statistics in baseball. Foxx, Doerr, Williams, Yastrzemski, and Rice, now make some room for the likes of Martinez, Nomo, Castillo, Ohka, and Crawford.

As if to compliment the pitching, the team also has the twin terrors of Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez. The former being a two time AL Batting Champion and the latter a Homerun and RBI man the likes of which no one has seen since Jimmie Foxx.

Most of all, I want to thank the Boston Red Sox for a lifetime of emotional highs and lows that served to make me not only a true baseball fan, but a stronger and better person. Happy birthday, and here’s looking forward to the next hundred years.

© Copyright 2001 Red Sox Planet

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