Bring. It. On.

Yankees - Red Sox.

Points to ponder - the big guns have a history of misfiring in this "rivalry" (given the Red Sox performance, it is not a rivalry, it is an oppression). Pedro Martinez, the Red Sox stallion, is very ordinary against the Yankees. That said, Mariano Rivera is not "Mr. Automatic" against the Sox - in a recent broadcast, the announcers noted that, since the glaciers receded, Mariano has blow 21 saves. Fourteen were against the rest of baseball; seven were against the Sox.

However, Mariano's three scoreless innings in Game 7 last year make up for a lot of regular season miscues.

And the political implications of this series can not be underestimated. First, no candidate will be able to break through with a message until this is settled. Upcoming television coverage will follow the lines of, "Kerry said some darn thing or other, Bush may have responded - now we are going to Boston for a live report on the status of Curt Schilling's cuticles."

Secondly, it is impossible to understand this Presidential election without grasping the nature of the Yankees - Red Sox relationship. By hosting their convention in Boston, the Dems have clearly sided with Red Sox Nation. Bad choice - like a typical Red Sox fan, the Dems have become manic-depressive. To listen to Dems two weeks ago, Kerry couldn't organize a beer bash for thirsty sailors, and was headed to humiliating defeat; after a good debate performance, he was all set to walk across the Potomac for his inauguration. The Dems want to win, they believe they ought to win, they think they have what it takes to win - but in their secret hearts, they know what is going to happen.

Meanwhile, the Reps went with New York, Giuliani, and Yankee Pride. Are there questions about our starting pitching, and the WMDs? No worries - we have tradition (money), confidence (money), and pride. And Derek Jeter.

Let's go.

Comments

[azlibertarian]

I understand the pride you have in your team, and the connections you're making to the conventions, but oh, how I wish you were talking about the Diamondbacks. I must admit that I'm a D'Back fan, as hard as it is to do this year. That said, I was genuinely torn in 2001. The Series that year was more than great, it was perfect. Bush throwing that strike from the rubber while wearing a Secret Service-provided vest. The late-game lead changes. Taking the Series to Game 7. Long ball vs. small ball. It was a great baseball year. Good luck to the teams this year.

[John]

Heh... bite me.

I'm Republican, conservative, and back the Sox. I was even blessed to have the Sox Single-A team based across the road until they sold out to move to the Carolinas.

The Sox have a decent chance of winning; Kerry doesn't. The world is in balance.

[Jim Thomason]

"And the political implications of this series can not be underestimated. First, no candidate will be able to break through with a message until this is settled. Upcoming television coverage will follow the lines of, "Kerry said some darn thing or other, Bush may have responded - now we are going to Boston for a live report on the status of Curt Schilling's cuticles.""

Sorry, this isn't the 1950's. Baseball isn't the national pasttime anymore - it's past it's time. While a decent percentage of Americans will still be paying close attention, most of us will only be able to muster a mild curiosity.

[Smaack]

I'm not for ANYTHING that comes from Massachusettes this year - GO YANKEES!

[Ben Noah]

Tom, you are a guy after my own heart. I have always seen the same comparison that you describe, but never been able to word it quite as nicely as you did.

I am going to have to forward this post to quite a few people.

LET'S GO YANKEEEEEES! LET'S GO YANKEEEEEES!!!!!!

[a reader]

I had been rooting for the Red Sox, but only today realized what this would mean: at least another week of candidate speeches including lines like "Go, Red Shoes!" and "Let me tell you something, Mariana Riviera has no plan" and so on.

[lyle]

As a conservative Republican Yankee fan, I applaud your insight. By psychology and demeanor, the Yanks seem more like Republicans.

They also have an incredible capacity for last minute victories, and Republican candidates appear to be gaining in close races all across the country.

However, if the Sox win, I'm sure I can think of reasons why they are just like Republicans, too.

[Timmy the Wonder Dog]

As a conservative Sox fan, simply put what happened to all the Yankee pitching?

[Kristian]

For a very long time, I was a Baltimore Orioles fan (grew up near Aberdeen, MD). Never rooted for them, until last year when I realized how much I disliked the Red Sox and Cubs. I am tired of hearing about their woes, about how they are oppressed by richer clubs. First, they have a lot of money, they just choke.

Similarly, the Dems have a lot of money, and some good folk. But all too often they hitch their hopes to broken down journeymen (Bill Buckner / Jimmy Carter), or expect their talented, but flawed men to somehow rise above their true selves (Pedro / Clinton).

Go Yanks!

[Brian J.]

Keep in mind that the possibility of a Houston-Boston matchup for the World Series remains.

[Benjamin]

"Keep in mind that the possibility of a Houston-Boston matchup for the World Series remains."

Yeah, I'll keep that in mind, right up there with the flying pig brigade and the outing of Bigfoot.

[Swede]

I've been a Sox fan for 40 years. Needless to say I would dearly love a World Series win for Boston - predicated of course with a trouncing of the Yankees. However, I would happily trade it in for a Bush win in November. Even a long-suffering Sox fan has his priorities.