Through this haze of despair and disbelief, I still have hope, I still have faith

I told you that Mark Kotsay was a Hero in the Making. (AP Photo)

In the great words of the Immortal Kevin Garnett:

“ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!”

Wow.

As I rode the subway into work today there was an eerie calm about almost everything around me. It was as if the city of Boston had its volume turned down while laying in a familiar, yet equally strange haze of having too many spirits the night before, and expending too much energy and hope on the local nine. The T drivers were quiet & nice. Fellow riders were cordial & kind. And in this early morning state of shock & bliss it was as if the T was gliding on something other then tracks while pulling into Park Street Station. It’s almost as if you could tilt your head slightly, and while listening closely, hear Paul Revere scream.

“The Red Sox won! The Red Sox won! The Red Sox won.”

There’s no need for me to look at a box score to recount last nights game, it’s already emblazed upon my memory banks for a lifetime. This is one of those all-time great games that I will never forget. The only other Game that I can possibly compare this to is Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. And you know what else this was?

This was our Rocky moment. This was the point in the movie where Clubber Lang is drooling and screaming all over our beaten and bruised corpse. This is the part where Adrian has a hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes wanting our misery and pain to end in a swift and humane manner. This is when, despite odds and reality, the 2008 Rocky Sox lift up to one knee, raise their head -- look Clubber square in the eyes, and let the world know that we’re not dead yet, not by a long shot. It’s beyond fairly tale, it’s beyond epic, and it’s all still too much. This was baseball at its most ugly and beautiful. This is when you cue that Rocky music as those glorious horns rise to a crescendo lifting both spirit and heart. This may have been the best baseball game I have ever watched in my life.

The heroes were plenty last night for sure. But it all started with the lifeblood of this Boston Red Sox team in Mr. Dustin “Frodo” Pedroia. The Red Sox were down 7-0 in the seventh, with two outs and two strikes, when our scrappy MVP kept hope alive and passed the torch along to the Ghost of Big Papi. David’s blast was vintage, and is another in a long list for him; while suddenly all playoff woes of his are now distant and setting with the sun. Coco Crisp’s at-bat may have been the best at bat I’ve seen…..well………ever. Talk about an Odyssey, his journey during that 10 pitch epic would make Homer proud. Then there’s Johhny Paps whose heroic innings kept hope alive, and by the power vested in Mark Kotsay and J.D. Drew, puff, bam, boom. Fenway Park is once again turned into Oz, where reality is just a word.

Game 6. Saturday night, featuring Josh Beckett. Get your popcorn ready, because remember, anything is possible.

27 outs left, lets be smart with them.

Comments

[j9]

What a beautifully written post. Dare I say the best yet.

It is so funny how you really truly can't count the red sox out - EVER!

[Kris]

Hope springs eternal. What a glorious way to start a Friday. I awoke, giddy like a child on Christmas morning, ready to face the day and bask in the glow of a hard-fought victory. Ready to watch them defend that title one more time, bats at the ready, spirits rekindled in the hope of pulling off yet another miracle...

I think I grew six more white hairs in my beard last night...

[Andy]

Shivers. Adrenaline. Admiration. Pride. A definite Rocky moment! Great post. Go Sox!

[Marci]

heroes, not hero's.

My hater "friends" turned out in full force last night to explain to me that Tampa Bay WILL win. But I'm a Red Sox fan. I still believe.

[Derek Hixon]

Thanks Marci. That haters always creep out when they think it's safe...too bad, or is it too good.

[Melissa]

1 Of the best nights in my life.........was well last night. Amazing game, amazing heroes, amazing team that we call the BOSTON RED SOX!!!! I am so proud to be a part of the Nation!!!

Never give up, never lose faith, always believe.!!!

[RationalSoxFan]

Nicely written! I made the analogy of the game to the story of Cinderella on my site. When the clock struck midnight, the spell was broken!

What a game! Definitely similar to the 2004 ALCS game 4, but the comeback started sooner. It had to though with a 7 run defecit!

[Cherry]

All of those Red Sox "fans" who left Fenway after the Rays scored their seventh run deserved to wake up this morning and find out that they missed witnessing one of the greatest comebacks in Red Sox and baseball history! It's those golden moments that make the Red Sox such a magical team.

[Shea]

What a game!...What a night!

Hopefully the high wave of momentum will shift our way and crush the Rays at their own park.

Although I will admit (*sigh*), I personally miss Manny and Mikey in the lineup....Yes, I miss that dred-locked fool....

[Derek Hixon]

There'll always be a part of me that misses Manny, but to his fault, he screwed it up. He's like the partner that cheated on you, it's his fault, and if he wanted, he couldn've been part of all the fun. Iron Mike Lowell on the other hand, I MISS that guy for sure. He's the polar opposite of Manny when it comes to being a professional ballplayer with class.

[BK]

Even in a podunk bar in North Carolina, the entire joint had caught Red Sox fever. The place actually stayed open long after last call to witness the end of the game. Just superb!

BTW, love the Rockie comparison. Let's go Sox!

[Ray]

Kotsay went to the same high school as me. I remember him coming back to talk to us about the game. It was fun to see him win this game. It was also fun remembering my tattoo artist who kicked his ass back in the day over some girl.