J.D. Has A Posse, Good Riddance Yankee Stadium, AL Wins All-Star Game Again

J.D. Drew watches his 2 run HR leave sail into RF. (Reuters)

Yankee Stadium's send off for the 2008 All-Star Game certainly was an interesting affair, and I think it's one that left most of Red Sox Nation feeling proud of their boys, and shocked at the fans of NY. First and foremost, when looking just at the game, it has to be one of the best All-Star Game's ever played. Both sides used basically every player at their disposal and it was just a good, clean, hard played baseball game. Each and every player (Uggla aside) looked like they deserved to be there, and these most certainly were the best baseball players on the planet. So from a baseball standpoint I as a fan couldn't have asked for more. Well...having the game end before 2:00am would have made my morning a little more enjoyable, but the All-Star Game only happens once a year right?

Obviously the Yankee organization couldn't have been too thrilled with the plethora of Red Sox in attendance at the game, I mean look at all the Sox that were in attendance on the right. To start the night off I thought the first chicken sh!t move was made by Wade Boggs. When doing the player introductions they accompanied each position with HOF's who played that position which honestly was a real nice touch. However the fact that Wade Boggs wore a Yankee hat and not a Red Sox hat is total bush.

Wade Boggs played in MLB for 15 seasons and for 10 of those years he played brilliant ball right here in Boston. Yeah it felt like a dagger when went to NY, but whatever. He played only four season there and his hat has a firm 'B' on it in the Hall of Fame (You can see this from the shot I took last year on the left). So the fact that when he was standing there as a HOF wearing a Yankee hat disgusted me. He could have at the very least carried two hats with him in a (here's a Yankee fan favorite phrase) classy move much like Gary Carter or Dave Winfield. Margo really happened Wade, and you really spent a decade in Boston. Just plain weak there Wade, just weak.

So yeah, that riled me up a bit but whatever, there was baseball to be played. As I stated earlier the Game was amazing, and it got even more amazing when J.D. tied up the game with his two run blast, catapulting the AL to a tie when they were looking pretty dead. Remember, it was a Red Sox player who got the AL back in this game inthe first place...then the Papelbon incident occurred.

Apparenly the NY fans are a bunch of lapdogs (pre-facing that my NYY friends aren't like this, but last night....man...it was sad) who will only read the back of the tabloids and don't try to find out what the substance of the articles entail. The exception they took was thinking Papelbon said that he thought he should close the game, which he did say in competitive jest, but then immediately went on to heap all the praise in the world on Mariano Rivera. But no, the NY fans read the back of the tabloid (apparently they can read) seeing "Papelbum" and BOOED him in a tie game with homefield on the line and the pride of the American League at stake. This obviously rattled the catcher as his past ball gave Paps and UNEARNED run and the NL the lead. Paps went 1.0 innings giving up 1 hit, 0 ER, and 2K's. Tell me Yankee fans, how proud were you at the time? I'm not saying you have to get on your feet and cheer your ass off, shit, in All-Star Games I root for Jeter to get hit, but I still want him to get on base.

It was disgraceful, and goes to show you how much the tables have truly turned in the Red Sox vs. Yankee rivalry. It used to be that the Red Sox and their fans couldn't do anything without making the Yankees part of the equation (something I hated) starting "Yankees Suck" chants at ridiculous times and the media in Boston wasn't too much better (ahem, looking at a certain Afro donned Boston Globe columnist). It was sad, and made Boston fans look stupid, but guess who's obsessed with who now? Guess who looks stupid now? On the day of what was supposed to be the great send off of Yankee Stadium the sports pages donned a Boston Red Sox on the cover, not the stadium?!? Really?!? You really care that much about the Red Sox?!? You'd really rather see your team lose (AL) then a Red Sox player contribute to the win? Really?!? How's that work out? Oh yeah, J.D. Drew MVP.

I mean this all came on a night when Francona did everything he could to try and not only win a game, but honor all the Yankee All-Stars in a proper and respectful way, not an enviable task. This will most certainly throw gasoline on the fire of an already out of control rivalry, and it's just too bad the "class" of the Yankee fans come through in an ugly way, again. Remember Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS when they threw trash on the field and the police had to surround it because of A-Fraud's slap play? Classy. The Yankees and their fans seem unhealthy bitter now but whatever, like I said, it's amusing, and they're just hating because we have the better organization.

Chew on this:

• The Red Sox had more All-Stars then any other AL team.
• Francona was introduced as the Manager of the 2007 Worlds Series Champs. Awesome.
• The AL stil won the game, Game One, Fenway Park.
• J.D. Drew and his posse got the MVP.
• Maybe the Yankee fans booed because they know the World Series isn't going to happen in 2008 for them?
• The Red Sox are in first place  in the AL East with lots of games at Fenway, and Papi coming back.

That's the send off Yankee Stadium deserves, a Red Sox send off. God....I hate Yankee fans.

Comments

[Sean O]

Nicely put. My interest and/or antipathy towards Yankees fans and the rivalry has waned considerably since our second title. But between the death threats hurled at Papelbon's pregnant wife, to the shameful, ignorant display, to Yankee Stadium being more than half empty by the end of the game, they deserve no respect from anyone.

[Shea]

I'm a bit torn here...

What the Yankee fans did was truly horrible and pretty much disrespectful. It wasn't a Sox/Yankee game after all, it was an All-Star game. Pure stupidity.

But I do remember being in Fenway when we started chanting "Steroids" whenever Giambi stepped to the plate way before this whole steroids (Mitchell report) was ever published.

I know it's not exactly the same thing but my point here is that both sides taking things to the next ugly level is getting out of hand.

[Derek Hixon]

@ Shea: You have to remember the steroid chants came in 2004 and 2005 after Jason hit 2 HR's in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS when he was juicing (along with Andy P.).

But you're completely right, both sides take it to an extreme level. It's like an arms race where each sides just keeps pouring it on instead of just chilling out.

I'll be honest though, it's hard, pre-2004 Yankee fans were relentless in their heckling of the Sox and their fans. (1918, Curse, Who's Your Daddy, etc) I grew up in NY and it was REAL hard at times, not too forgiving. They were winning then though so it was gloating, now that they're losing it's just ugly.

The whole "rivalry" thing is getting tired though, do I really have another 40-60 years of dealing with this?

Do I really think I'll be alive for another 40-60 years?

lol

[TheOmnipotentQ]

Excellent post, my friend. I don't know who disgusts me more, Yankee fans or the New York media. They all deserve each other.

[Melissa]

Amen to your whole entire post!!!

[Pete]

I would agree that the obsession has gone both ways, but the Sox fans are definitely more versed in the art of bitterness. It helps to have an 86 year drought of championships, and it helps that the Yankees have been the ones to hammer the final coffin nail time & time again.

The ultimate point in all of this is that whomever's doing better in the standings is going to be the bigger target. The Yankees repeatedly handed the Sox their collective lunches time after time in the early 90's, and unfortunately for us, the tables turned about 5 years ago. It was bound to happen but don't think fortunes can't reverse once more — my only advice would be to enjoy the 'good times' while they last.

When *both* teams 'suck' at some point in the future, only then will things calm down a bit. I hope. However with the way that both the Jays and Orioles organizations are run, one of our two teams may always be leading the division by default.

>> Excellent post, my friend. I don't know who disgusts me more, Yankee fans or the New York media. They all deserve each other. >>

Likewise, my Boston-dwelling counterpart.

[Pete]

Multitude of Sox players & coaches on the ballot? Makes perfect sense seeing as they just won the Series last year. Victor, spoils, etc. Go look at the rosters in the late 90's — same deal.

Oh, and BTW — Drew getting the MVP doesn't bother me or any other Yankees fan I know.

Had it been Manny, on the other hand... ;-)

[dave]

"Oh, and BTW — Drew getting the MVP doesn't bother me or any other Yankees fan I know."

That's good. As a red sox fan, I loved it. Quite appropriate. Arod not coming through? Jeter double play? Beautiful.

[Erik]

Ahh Derek. You really disappoint me.

Your bias runs so deep that you don't even know what reality is man.

First of all. Papelbon... should have kept his mouth SHUT. As if Boston fans wouldn't have done the SAME thing.. if the roles were reversed and Papelbon was the greatest closer of all time, and Mo said what he(Papelbon) said.(There was no in between the lines broham. He simply back pedaled, but it was too late. he said he should close. DUMB MOVE) PLEASSSSSE dude.. STOP. You're an intelligent person and fan.. I know you are.. and this just makes you sound like a laymen and a fool. I know you are not those things. I get it. This is a Boston site... and I shouldnt even be reading, quite frankly.. because it makes me angry... and I'm a Yankee fan. I know you have told me to take a hike before. I get it.

Secondly... dude... GET OVER YOURSELF(Sox)... Yesterday was a celebration of Yankee Stadium. To everyone OUTSIDE of Boston and maybe Chicago... it is uniformally agreed upon that Yankee Stadium is the greatest cathedral in sports. While it was annoying to see the bandwagoning "Sox Nation" there(they certainly werent to be found in the late 90's through 2002) and to see more Sox players on the all star team was slightly annoying, but I'll be honest with you... I coudn't care less. It really didn't get under my skin that much. Again... yesterday was a tribute to the stadium of the greatest franchise in sports history. Arguing that would only dig you in a deeper hole filled with bias and stupidity.

Some things are just fact. You have to accept them. For example. The Sox are the defending world champs. FACT. The sox also won in '04. FACT again. I accept that. I like to make excuses as to why it happened and why it's bush... and why Sox fans are the biggest hypocritical whining Pu**ies of all time, but the facts are the facts. You guys love to discredit anything that happened pre-90's(which even typing... reads SO ridiculous. Seriously) and now I hear you want to discredit the 90's as well because of the Mitchell report. The report that was headed by a stockholder and someone who is paid b the Sox. I'm not even crying conspiricy... but I'd love to see the results if the only trainer nailed was the Sox trainer. We wont even go there.

Derek... my man... I appreciate your fandom... I think you are uber informative.. I dig your evaluations and opinions... and you are my friend, but lose the hate man. I mean.. c'mon it takes a real man to admit when he's wrong.. you can't possibly read what I typing here and think I am completely full of it. I mean at least admit it to me in a private email! haha

I hate Fenway... I hate the Sox.. I hate Sox fans the most(disclaimer: barring my friends).... but for me to argue that Fenway is not special(with me being serious when I say it) would make me a complete idiot. Thats why I would never do that, unless I was trying to be annoying and funny.

You lump yourself in with the rest of the dullards when you sound Bostondirtdoggish. You guys are on top now, and you(Sox fans.. not just you) still act as if you're the losers. Its incredible.

So revel in your "victories" and hate.... but I for one am loving baseball right now... Sox on top or not. NY is the greatest city in the world - Not Boston.(And certainly not Los Angeles.. haha) Yankee Stadium is the greatest, most historical stadium in the modern world... and you trash it like it's nothing. baseball... this sport you hold close to your heart would be NOTHING without the Yankees or the Stadium. The history would be alot thinner... that's for sure.

And to answer the fool above... Jeter double play? Yeah.. you're right man.. Jeter sucks. He only has the 3rd most hits in Yankees history. He's so terrible. Oh... But Papplebonner... you know...the guy who SHOULD have closed the game... you know because he's better than Mo, and he has such an extensive history in the game.. IN Yankee stadium... yeah he didn't almost cost the Al the game either right? Please. Do you guys even think before you type things out? It's incredible.

Regarding the "disgraceful bahavior"...Bottom Line... Sox fans are just as, if not MORE brutal. That's because of the generations of losing & Failure. Fact. At least understand that you guys are =lly ridiculous in terms of booing.

Seriously dudes.

Sports talk over.

On the flip... Josh Hamilton. WOW. Love the guy.

[Dylan Griffin]

Could you add my blog to your blog list?

http://yourtubesox.blogspot.com/

I am trying to get a fan base for my blog. Many thanks.

[Pete Mrsich]

>> Quite appropriate. >>

Yeah, considering he hit the HR to tie the game. Really no other significance or meaning, if that's what you're implying. Yanks fans are just happy the AL streak stayed alive.

[RationalSoxFan]

Derek,

You must be happy to have Erik's post pretty much prove everything you were trying to say. Not sure Erik was watching the same game or not, but the media tried to be respectful to the Yankee Stadium farewll, which is very apporpriate, but the fans and Yankee players did not seem to hold much respect on their parts. Fans of the game? No, not at all - only fans of winning. Lasting memories of the farewell AS game will be lack of class.

We did have an AS game in Fenway, fans treated Yankee players and managers with respect. Now, when the two teams play each other head to head, that's different, that's a battle and you can certainly take strong sides. But, that is nto what the AS game is about, fools. It is not about rivalries, it is about honoring the game, its best players, and a historic stadium.

I think Joe Torre must have truly taken all the class with him when he was ushered out of town.

[Derek Hixon]

@ Erik: Wow, thanks for calling me a fool. That's what I don't like, you take things to a personal level which instantly makes things take an ugly turn.

And using most of your comment on talking about how apparently I bashed Yankee Stadium...didn't happen. I have the utmost respect for the history of the game, and that includes Yankee Stadium. I'm actually planning on going to NYC to visit Gunz and take a game in so I can go there once. If it's best ever, that's an open debate, that I'll leave for another post.

Bottom line of the original post is the Yankee fans greatly over reacted to a tabloid that presented a story in a very unprofessional manner. Question, how can you back peddle in one quote? I don't mind Yankee fans booing Sox players, I expect it full heartily, but the uninformed way they attacked Papelbon in spite of the ramifications to the actual game was disgusting. Apparently NYY fans were trashing his pregnant wife pretty bad too. Classy.

Read this article on why you're wrong on the Papelbon comments and that the NY Press (who SERIOUSLY should have put Yankee Stadium on the cover and not a Red Sox player) misrepresented Paps bad.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=philbrick/080716&sportCat=mlb

And if you or other don't want to read the whole thing here's highlights:

"It all began Monday during a 50-minute session Papelbon had with the media. During that session Papelbon said, "If I was managing the [All-Star] team, I would close." A blasphemous statement! Hasn't he heard of Yankee legend Mariano Rivera? Of course he has because at the end of his interview Papelbon said, "Mariano Rivera will be closing the 2008 All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium. I'm making a statement right now, saying I don't want it, I want him to have it."

Both of those statements appeared in the New York Daily News on Tuesday, but only the first one was played up on the tabloid's notorious back page. This gave the million people lined up on Sixth Avenue on Tuesday all the reason they needed ("Hey, Papelbum!") to elevate Papelbon from semi-hated status to Public Enemy No. 1."

"At one point Papelbon switched from riding on the wooden bench in the back of the truck to sitting on the edge of the tailgate. He played it off as if he was doing a favor for the fans, so his back wouldn't be turned to one side of the street, but it sure seemed like more of a defensive maneuver, hoping to calm his pregnant wife's fraying nerves."

So yeah, keep lapping those back pages up, they're about as accurate as the Weekly World News.

Your Fool,

Derek

PS: Greatest Franchise?
New York Yankees - 1901-2008, 26 Championships in 107 years. (Only 6 in Steinbrenner era. 1973-2008)
Boston Celtics - 1946-2008, 17 Championships in 62 years.

[Yankee fan]

You're forgetting this "highlight" from the interview, and it was only after he said this that he started backpedaling and crediting Mo:

"We've both earned that right; us, by winning the World Series and having the opportunity of having our manager there and our team being represented, and Mariano by what he's done for this role, we're in Yankee Stadium and blah, blah, blah," Papelbon said. "It's not that easy. Everybody thinks it's a cut and dry answer, but it's not."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/07/14/2008-07-14_jonathan_papelbon_says_he_should_close_a.html

My favorite part was his reducing a Hall of Fame career and the history of Yankee Stadium to "blah, blah, blah." And all of this was before he was "classy" (there's that word again) enough to stomp around the locker room like a petulant child, cursing and shouting and wearing a shirt showing a figure giving the finger. If you think that anything that the fans did at the game and before was even close to some of the venom and garbage thrown at the Yankees (and their fans) in Boston over the years, then you're not really being honest. And regardless of what we all think of Clemens now, let's not forget that there were threats, insults, and actual food thrown at his family when they first came back to Fenway, including his kids. Now THAT is class. Really, just be honest and admit the rivarly gets ugly on both sides.

By the way, this Yankees fan has no problem admitting that Francona is a standup guy, and treated our guys well, as did the rest of the team.

[Derek Hixon]

@ Yankee Fan - I full heartily admit it's more then ugly on both sides, but that doesn't justify the way Papelbon and his wife were treated in NY, that's all I'm saying.