Love That Dirty Water

What would this blog be without another baseball update? I thoroughly love the sport, and despite my better half's protestations, I cannot quit my passion for the game. To me it represents America. While other, more simple, more violent games have overtaken baseball in popularity (yes, I'm referring to the NFL), baseball remains -- to me -- a much better, more interesting sport.

It is a game for the intelligent, the strategist, someone who enjoys thinking more than watching another human being smash into other human beings. It is the cat and mouse game of a pitcher and catcher deciding how best to trick a batter. It is the managerial battle of wits in the late innings as wise men determine how best to situate their teams defensively, or to pinch-hit just the right batter, or bring in a different reliever to deal with a specific batter. It is pinch-running a fleet-footed runner to steal a base and gain an advantage to push across a late-inning run to win a close game. It is an entire stadium of tens of thousands of fans rising to their feet when a pitcher has 2 strikes against a batter and the chance to get out of a jam and preserve a lead. It is the way those same fans explode when a batter comes through with a timely hit to give his team the lead, or -- in the most dramatic fashion in all of sports -- a walkoff win. Not even a buzzer-beater shot in basketball can compete with the drama and euphoria of a walkoff home run.

So it is with these thoughts that I prepare to attend what is unfortunately only my second game at Fenway Park this year, tomorrow night. The Red Sox are yet again in the thick of a pennant race, poised to get to the playoffs and defend their world championship. They can still chase down the upstart Rays for the division title, but even if they don't, they have a strong hold on the wild card lead. However, this weekend, they have a 4-game set with the suddenly surging Blue Jays, winners of 10 of their last 11 games.

I have been to Fenway Park nine times in my life, dating back to 1989 or 1990. All nine times, the Red Sox have won the game I attended. Can you hear me knocking on wood? I fully intend to do all in my power to get my mark at Fenway Park to 10-0 Saturday night.

For the rest of the weekend, I will enjoy all that Boston in the waning warmth of summer has to offer. Several out-of-town friends will be there with me, and I am excited for their company. On Sunday, my girlfriend will celebrate her birthday, and I hope I have done enough to make it memorable for her. I can give you the details of my gifts to her on Monday.

For now, go Sox!