"I knew it was going to be a close play at first because the guy (Wilson) runs so well. The ball went skip, skip, skip and didn't come up. The ball missed my glove. I can't remember the last time I missed a ball like that, but I'll remember that one." -- Buckner on Wilson's ground ball.

• Red Sox Official Site
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• Beth's Cursed and First
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• The Girl Who Hated
  Calvin Schiraldi

The Victim:
Bill Buckner




Suspect #1:
Calvin Schiraldi


Calvin Schiraldi not only allowed the Mets to tie the game 3-3 in the eigth inning, but he gave up THREE two-out singles in the 10th inning. Let's also not forget that in Game 7 Ray Knight homered in the seventh off Calvin Schiraldi to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.


Suspect #2:
Bob Stanley


Bob Stanley relieved Schiraldi. Stanley worked Mookie Wilson down to his last strike of the last out of the game. Seven pitches in, Stanley lost control. and threw a wild pitch that tied the game. Think about this... 16 Different Pitches would have clinched the World Series for the Red Sox. Schiraldi and Stanley blew it!

Suspect #3:
Rich Gedman


Let's not forget Catcher Rich Gedman who failed to block the wild pitch and could have prevented the tying run. See how there's PLENTY of blame to spread around before Bill's name comes up? I'm telling you, this was all one big set-up!

Suspect #4:
John McNamara


Manager John McNamara was obviously a Masochist to throw Bill Buckner out to defend first-base in the 10th inning.

Suspect #5:
Roger Clemens


Clemens claims he wanted to pitch the 8th inning but Manager McNamara "chose" to give the game to the chokers in the bull-pen. McNamara claims Rog-ah refused to go out because had "torn a blister and a fingernail on his pitching hand." Biting your nails Roger? Heck let's just blame them both. Disasters this big have many villains.

Suspect #6:
Jesse Orosco


As long as we're looking for villains we'll just lump in Jesse Orosco. He seems like a nice enough guy and has probably played for everyone by now but we all could have clubbed him in 86. In Game 7 The Sox added two runs in the eighth to pull within a run but Jesse Orosco retired the final five Red Sox in order to clinch their second World Series title (((CRY...SOB...))).

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"I don't believe in them Curses! Someone wake up the damn Bambino. Maybe I'll drill him..." - Pedro the Great
There are no words! The GREAT PUMPKIN HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! Charlie Brown has kicked the football! Wile E. Coyote is chowing down on a roadrunner dinner at long last!!!

This is for all the generations of Red Sox fans past, families that shared hope in the Sox and all the fans that asked on their deathbeds how Ted Williams or Yaz played that day...

WE DID IT!!!!

We F-ing did it!!!!!!

I love you Red Sox!!! I love you BambinosCurse.com!

I love you Curt, and Theo and Foulke and Manny and Ortiz and Veritek and Johnny and Trot and Pedro and Arroyo and Millar and Mueller and Bellhorn and Cabrera!!!!

SHOUT IT FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP!!! The curse is dead! There is no curse! We made history, everyone else IS history!

GOOOOOOOOO RED SOX!!!!

High Fives and hugs Edw, Beth, Paul, Linda, Brian, Annette and everyone else!!!

I LOVE THIS TEAM!!! HOW SWEET THE FRUITS OF VICTORY!!!!!!!!!

I am so blessed that I got to see this team in person twice this year in Anaheim. Wake and Schilling!

GOOOOOOOOO 2004 RED SOX!!!!!

WE KEPT THE FAITH!!!

Deane
Deane @ 10:48 PM
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And in the end....
...there can only be one.

Manny! Way to shut your critics up. People wanna laugh at you... you leave em in your dust!

Ortiz! I've been hearing about how many runs you'd give up on defense in St. Louis. I'm still waiting.... Wow! What head's-up play at first and what a throw to third! You ROCK! You COMPLETELY took the wind out of the Cards' sails and allowed Pedro to ride his groove the through the seventh inning!

Pedro! Can't say enough about you showing the world what you can do on the grandest stage. You were a hero tonight! And if it was your last start in a Red Sox uniform, what a way to go out!? Thank you for everything Pedro!

Anybody notice the shot of Pedro spanking Walker at home with his glove after he was tagged out? What was that all about????

I couldn't believe how quiet Busch stadium went after the game. I'm pretty sure I heard a pin drop!

LaRussa looked like he was going to have an anyurism (sp?) during the post-game press conference. I had to admire him giving props to Francona for what he said when the Sox were down 0-3 about each day's game being the most important game to win.

Let's see a confident D-Lowe come out tomorrow and pitch for the BIG money. Let's go for the sweep. My wife wants to see the Red Sox win the World Series at Fenway but I din't think any long suffering Sox fan in New England would wish for anything but winning the World Series wit' a quick'ness!

Let's take care of business Red Sox! We can't back off now! Let's get Arroyo loose in the 'Pen. Let's have Embree, Myers, Leskanik, Mendoza, Timlin and Foulke ready to go if we have to go inning to inning. We have to pull out all the stops tomorrow to put this series to bed.

Someone call Bill Buckner and tell him he's needed for a parade in Boston this week!

Let's make more history!

We've wandered in the desert for twice as long as Moses! We thought Nomar would lead us into the promised land but like Moses, it wasn't meant to be for him to cross over the Jordan River. Tomorrow the unlikely Derek Lowe will take us where we can't even dream about.

Like Steven Wright said "The Red Sox winning the World Series... is like trying to imagine what's at the end of the universe... the mind just can't get around that concept." Well my friends... get ready for an education. We're almsot there. Get ready to see the first recorded celebration of a Red Sox World Series Championship! There were no radio, TV or film reporters in the club-house in 1918. Nobody knows what it looks like for the Red Sox to win it all. Let's find out tomorrow!

Go Red Sox!!!!

Deane @ 10:29 PM
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"I wanna shot at redemption..."
On this night, 18 years ago in 1986 the Red Sox were playing in Shea Stadium and were 1 STRIKE away from winning the World Series. A series of errors by manager John McNamara, Calvin Schiraldi, Bob Stanley and Rich Gedman setup a good guy to carry the cross of suffering for Red Sox fans for the next two decades.

Now after legions of Red Sox fans have come and gone only to return again and again in the hopes of the ultimate dream, the 2004 Red Sox are on the verge of taking the cross off Bill Buckner's shoulders forever.

In tribute to good old Bill I offer the Red Sox version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band:

It was 18 years ago today.
Billy Buckner learned he could not play.
That grounder's goin' up and down with style.
It was a guaranteed out by a mile. (NOT!)
So may I introduce to you:
The one and only exhibit A...

For Dan Shaughnessy's obsolete paperback.
We hope that he enjoys the show.

Dan Shaughnessy's obsolete paperback.
We're sorry but it's time to go.

Dan Shaughnessy's obsolete...
Dan Shaughnessy's obsolete...
Dan Shaughnessy's obsolete paperback.

It's wonderful to be here!
It's certainly a thrill!

He's such a jackass columnist
We'd love to send him off to Nome.
We'd love to send him home!

We don't really want to end this year!
But I guess its neither there nor here.
That our pitchers are gonna pitch so hard!
And our slugger's gonna go so yard!

So may I introduce to you:
The one and only Mark Bellhorn!

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark Bellllll-horn!

What would I do if ran out of room
taking grounders by David Ortiz?
Lend me your tears and I'll make you a play.
And I'll try not to put up an E.

Oh I go deep with a little help from my friends.
I hit high with a little help from my friends.
I'm gonna fly with a little help from my friends.

Do we need any DH?
We want somebody to hit.
Could there be any DH?
Ortiz is playing first base!

Would you believe we'd win 6 playoff games in a row?
Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time.
How 'bout when we're in a hole oh-and-three?
I'm not certain but I think it's time!

Oh I go deep with a little help from my friends.
I hit high with a little help from my friends.
I'm gonna fly with a little help from my friends.

And what does Bill Buckner have to say about all this fuss after all these years?

http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wilbur/sports_blog/blog/10_25_04

"The Idaho Statesman caught up with former Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner over the weekend, and Bucker said the [World Series} game didn't mean squat to him.

"I have no strong feelings one way or another, but if (a Boston win) would mean that no one would bother me or my kids, I guess I would like to see them win it,'' said Buckner.

Buckner's goat status is surely partly unwarranted in the mere fact that there's no way the guy should have been on the field in the first place with his gimpy ankles. But it does set a precedent. Let's hope Terry Francona does not make the same mistake John McNamara did 18 years ago by letting David Ortiz in St. Louis or Kevin Millar in Boston stay on the field to celebrate in lieu of what he does every game with the lead, replace them with Doug Mientkiewicz."

Bill Buckner, true Red Sox fans still love you. When we win this World Series Boston is going to open their hearts to you for the suffering you've had to bear.

Go Red Sox!

Deane
Deane @ 8:54 PM
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And then there were two....
Curt Schilling... you are going to spoil us with these performances. These works of art you weave from the mound are going to have us expecting miracles every night! Wow! 6 solid innings of 4-hit ball. No earned runs! You might think you could have done some things better tonight, but to us, you went above and beyond the call of duty yet again!

I LOVED the interview he gave where he said that he saw signs and posters of encouragement for him on bridges and telephone poles every mile of the long drive from his home to the park. No player and fan-base were ever more perfect for each other than Curt Schilling and red Sox Nation.

It blows my mind to think of the brief encounter I had with him before his game in Anaheim in July where he looked at me and waved hello as I peered into the dugout from the 1B camera-well. All I could think to say was "We Love you Curt!" It sounded so lame at the time, but really what else would I want him to know?

I was shocked to hear Schilling say after the game that he woke up early this morning before the game in bad pain, hobbling around barely able to walk, thinking that he wasn't going to be able to pitch tonight. I'm glad I didn't know that until after the game.

The team doctor truly deserves a full share of World Series bonus money for fixing the suture that was in the nerve in Curt's leg allowing him to pitch tonight.

The words to describe what Curt did tonight and in game 6 aren't there. Anything I can think of is too weak or feeble to do his performance justice. He was truly heroic. He was a total warrior pitching with single-minded dedication. He went out there not just for himself but for the other 24 guys on the team that he loves so dearly. There are no words to describe how inspiring that is to see!

It was beautiful seeing Tek hit a ball 415 feet into the triangle for a 2 RBI triple. My wife laughed and loved seeing the square he ripped in the butt of his pants.

Kudos indeed to former Cardinals catcher Tim McCarver for pointing out on the Fox broadvast that catchers are the one position player that can't get away with playing with a big hole in the butt of their pants. "Thank you Alex, I'll take the freaking obvious for $1000!"

I could SWEAR that Ortiz's towering hit went OVER Pesky's pole and I was so frustrated when it was ruled foul!!! At least A-Rod can sleep well knowing that not all umpire conferences go the Red Sox's way.

Way to go Bellhorn for putting up another big RBI hit tonight. Seems like Manny and Millar are about the only two players that are seriously overdue for some BIG hits at this point.

Everything I thought that would bode well for the Red Sox indeed did bode well for us. I think I'm still in shock that neither Torre nor LaRussa had his guys come out bunting against Schilling like they implied they would.

When Pujols was at third I was CERTAIN that LaRussa was going to use the suicide squeeze on Schilling. In the end it didn't matter since Pujols scored anyway but I can't fathom why they didn't put more pressure on Curt's ankle. With the slick, sloppy field conditions in both Game 6 of the ALCS and in tonight's game I don't know why they wouldn't use every advantage they could. I'm just glad it didn't work out that way.

Hopefully St. Louis will be warmer and drier for the defense and for Pedro. Pedro against Suppan will probably be the best match-up of the World Series, since Suppan has been tough-as-nails in his last few starts and Pedro has been less than god-like. I think if we can get a decent outing from Pedro we can get to their bullpen again and have a come-from-behind win. Pedro will probably give up 1-3 runs early before settling down and putting up 0's his last 3-4 innings.

Lowe against Marquis in Game 4 should be a pretty even match too. It just depends on which Derek Lowe shows up on the mound. Hopefully it will be the one that was lights-out in Game 7 of the ALCS.

I love this team! I love their heart! I don't know how I'll get through this off-day tomorrow. I can't wait for the next games in St. Louis and I would feel so vindicated in my faith in this team the last few years if they pulled off a 4-game sweep. even though it would be utterly awesome to see the Sox win the World Series at Fenway, at this point I'd rather not dodge any bullets and just go for the 4 game sweep.

Just two more wins needed! Go Red Sox!


Deane @ 10:35 PM
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DING! HONK!
Wow.... So what are the odds of; a low-key, on-base-percentage guy from the #2 spot in the order most of the year with a penchant for striking out hitting game winning or end of the night home-runs in three straight games????

What are the odds this same guy would ding two straight post-season home-runs off the foul pole in two different games?

What are the odds he would do it in Fenway Park in the World Series with Carlton Fisk looking on?

What are the odds he would hit Pesky's Pole with Johnny Pesky watching?

The great thing about bseball is there's a never-ending parade of events that leave you scratching your head wondering how the heck things this improbable can happen.

Game 1 sure was ugly. When Wake walked three straight batter I almost cried out in a Lucy Van Pelt voice saying "Oh no! We're doomed!"

When Millar's cut-off throw to third went into the Cards dugout I almost turned off the TV thinking that we were playing too sloppy to pull off a win.

When both teams kept scoring runs late into the game I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

On the drive home I heard a joke saying "So we wanted to watch Game 1 of the World Series but instead a softball game broke out. All that was missing was a keg at second base!"

So far the fact that the Cards have been far luckier tat home than on the road bodes well for the Red Sox. The fact that Matt Morris is in a funk and is starting on short rest bodes well for the Red Sox. The fact that Curt Schilling knows how to pitch big games with sutures in his ankle bodes well for the Red Sox.

We just have to hope that Francona puts Veritek behind Ortiz in the batting order so the Cards don't decide to give Ortiz the Bonds treatment.

At this point I fully expect great outings from Schilling, Pedro and Lowe and I don't see any reason why the Red Sox won't sweep the Cards in 4 games.

Go Schilling! Go Ortizzle! Go Bellhorn! Go Damon! Go Manny! Go Veritek! Go Red Sox!
Deane @ 2:41 PM
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Bring on the Cardinals
"So now it is down to you and it is down to me." - Vizzini - The Princess Bride

I still can't believe that tomorrow night I will be watching World Series festivities taking place in Fenway Park for the first time in my adult life. Now that we know who our opponent will be it will be intersting to see how the two teams deal with each other and adjust.

I wonder how much experience these National Leaguers have with a good knuckleball.

I wonder how up-to-date Curt Schilling's notes are on the Cardinals line-up.

I wonder if Jeff Suppan will give away the Red Sox secret recipe to the Cardinals.

I hope Pedro and Lowe will be able to handle Rolen, Edmonds, Walker and Pujols.

I hope Tito won't be hopelessly outmatched by LaRussa.

In othr news... Letterman had Schilling do the Top 10 list last night and it was pretty damn funny:

Top Ten Secrets To The Boston Red Sox Comeback presented by Curt Schilling

10. Unlike the first three games, we didn't leave early to beat the traffic.

9. We put flu virus in Jeter's gatorade.

8. Let's just say Pete Rose made some phone calls for us.

7. We asked Pokey Reese to be a little less pokey.

6. It's not like we haven't won a big game before--it's just been 86 years.

5. Honestly, I think we were tired of hearing about the Patriots.

4. The messages of encouragement Martha sent on prison napkins.

3. We pretended the baseball was Letterman's head.

2. What'd you expect--we have a guy who looks like Jesus!

1. We got Babe Ruth's ghost a hooker and now everything's cool.

Go Red Sox! Red Sox World Series Tickets.... priceless....


Deane @ 9:20 AM
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WE DID IT!!!!
We did it! We did it! Oh yeah yeah yeah... No eating here tonight! You're on a diet!

Our 2004 Red Sox are going to the World Series! The faith and belief of Red Sox nation was rewarded tonight as we SPANKED the Yankees and answered their taunt of "Who's your Daddy!?" Now New York knows the answer!

Just the first thoughts off the top of my head....

1. My wife called this comeback on Saturday right after the 19-8 massacre. She said "Can you imagine how great it would be for the Red Sox to come back and win the next 4 on the Yankees!? It would be the greatest upset since the 1980 USA Hockey Team!" My reply to her was that it certainly didn't look good for us to make that happen with no Schilling and everything else going wrong. I tip my cap to my wife and say thank you for calling this comeback! Sharing this unbelievable 4-game comeback with my wife and daughter in each game has been one of the greatest joys of my life!

2. Curt Schilling... you have been my personal hero all season! You have been my personal hero since 2001. What Curt Schilling did in game 6 was the most inspiring and amazing display of guts, courage, belief, faith and character I have ever seen. after seeing the blood on his socks I'll never look at the team name Red Sox or the Sox logo the same way again!

3. Ortiz! Wow! You are the 21st Century Babe Ruth!

4. John-ny Damon! Unfrozen Caveman outfielder! You are a freaking stud! We love you! We never gave up on you! We'll always wonder WWJDD?

5. Derek Lowe, you showed unbelievable heart in game 7 tonight and went far beyond what anybody dreamed to ask of you. You completely rock! Thank you for making the dream come true!

6. I am still stunned that they brought in Pedro in the 7th inning. I know what Francona was trying to do but that was still a bonehead move. Thankfully it ended before we got major ulcers seeing doubles pounded off of him.

7. The entie bullpen and pitching staff. What guts! What heart! What a refuse to lose spirit! The most inspiring thing I saw before Curt in game 6 was seeing Curt running around the dugout in game 5 with his glove on his hand dying to get into that game, then walking out to the bullpen with Lowe and Wakefield like three warriors getting ready for a do-or-die last stand. Abso-freaking-lutely amazing!

8. Seeing the Yankees get a taste of what the Red Sox have been living through for decades. Calls going against them. Balls landing short of the wall, just going foul, check-swings being called strikes, calls getting reversed against them, blind-stinking-zippidy-doo-dah-luck giving them the finger, seeing the Yankees snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Get in the back of the line Yanks... welcome to our world.

9. A-Rod.... aka Get-Out-Of-The-Way-Rod... your reputation took a big dent from that cheap swipe at Arroyo. Curt Schilling calld you on it. You'll never live it down.

10. Our beloved Red Sox are going to the World Series with HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE! They are painting the World Series logo behind homeplate at Fenway this year with no jinx coming in to play. As my wife says, right now he Astros and Cardinals are telling each other "After you, no you go ahead and play the Red Sox, no by all means be my guest, it's your turn!"

I'll post more but I wanted to share my immediate thoughts on this joyful night. I wish that I could share this moment with the gang at Bambinoscurse.com right now. Beth, Edw, Linda, Brian, Annette, Paul, congratulations! How sweet the fruits of victory! What a team! What a team!

Now who's going to pitch Game 1? Wakefield would be my vote.

Go Red Sox!
Deane @ 10:54 PM
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Are we superstitious???
Since my last post the Red Sox have gone on a tear of 25 wins and 6 losses. Going back from August 4 to July 1 they had a record of 16 wins and 14 losses.

Hell yes I'm superstitious. I'm going to keep my big trap shut as long as the Red Sox keep this juggernaut rolling.

I'll be posting on a daily basis over at Bambino's Curse in the meantime.

These guys are on fire. These guys can do nothing wrong. They don't know how to lose. They're on 100% afterburner and nobody's looking back!

Go Red Sox!!!! Next Year is Here! THIS IS NEXT YEAR! 8791! 8791! 8791!

Deane
Deane @ 11:03 AM
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