Boston pops . . . champagne!

[OneBlueSky]

By Jim Caple
ESPN.com
Wednesday, October 20, 2004

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2004/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=1906307

NEW YORK -- In hindsight, perhaps it was a mistake for the Yankees to raise a "Mission Accomplished" banner above their dugout after Game 3.

After more than 80 years of being stuffed into their lockers by the Yankees, after eight decades of receiving atomic wedgies, after generations of having sand-kicked in their faces and their girlfriends stolen away -- and most importantly -- after completing the most extraordinary comeback in baseball history, the Boston Red Sox have finally overcome their hated nemesis to reach the World Series.

(snip)

For the hitters, it was more of the same. A Yankees lineup that scored 19 runs in Game 3 managed just 13 the final four games while stranding runner after runner. And as for Alex Rodriguez, the $252 million superstar acquired in the winter's biggest trade and the focal point of much of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry this year? He went hitless in four at-bats and didn't get the ball out of the infield.

Apparently, Steinbrenner didn't spend enough money on this team.

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http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2004/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=1906307