Praying for Fenway

Two things. First, the Yankees are playing some awesome baseball: their starting pitching has been, for the first six and some odd innings at least, almost perfect; their first four batters in their line-up are just plain scary; and Rivera is only the best closer in playoff history. Second, the ankle injury to Schilling is worse than most suspected and is a real blow to Red Sox chances. Some will of course attribute it to the Curse. And in fact, it is; but the curse is not The Babe but ourselves.

Red Sox fans put so much pressure on the entire team to win a Championship. Schilling was a player who recognized that pressure, and not only welcomed it, but walked 2000 miles to greet it. His entire season was dedicated to shouldering that weight. His ultimate breakdown is not a mental one, or even one of performance, but a physical one. His body broke, not his spirit or his mind.

But all that said, I can’t wait for Game Three at Fenway Park. Go Bronson!

New England Fans Pray after ALCS Game Two

No fall is worse than ours—that soul
of frost and pumpkins ripe with greed;
even summer squash is bruised
by demons high on time and speed.
But Fenway Park on Friday night,
our church enshrined in candlelight,

should hear the prayers of Red Sox fans
begging forgiveness for their sins
and trespasses. No Buckner this
or Grady Little shouldabeens:
let’s hear Arroyos sung on high
and dig these dirt dogs do or die.

Of course, old Will said it best: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

Update: see my complete Red Sox ALCS/World Series chapblog here.