They're soaking it all in

October 08, 2007|Jackie MacMullan, Globe Columnist

ANAHEIM, Calif. - It was a frat party run amok, a band of delirious baseball brothers who raucously celebrated as if they had won the World Series.

The Boston Red Sox haven't done that - yet. But they unabashedly partied like it was 2004 yesterday afternoon after thrashing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 9-1, to complete a thoroughly humiliating sweep of the best the West had to offer.

As the smell of sweat and champagne wafted throughout Boston's clubhouse, the Red Sox let loose, hugging and shouting and dancing to the heavy beat of their victory tunes. Kevin Youkilis, clad in royal blue swim goggles, screamed with delight as he doused Mike Lowell with a champagne and Budweiser cocktail. Jonathan Papelbon screeched like a little kid with a liquor license, tormenting anyone and everyone in his path with a bath of liquid refreshments.

David Ortiz, who knocked yet another ball out of the park yesterday, traded some elbow high-fives, then quickly donned a rain poncho and retreated to the back of the room. Manny Delcarmen, the pride of Hyde Park, grabbed his own bottle of bubbly and promptly poured it down Papelbon's pants.

General manager Theo Epstein, who on this day did not have to answer questions about J.D. Drew's production or Eric Gagné's price tag, smiled broadly and proclaimed, "This is fun. The guys have worked so hard . . . "

Slugger Manny Ramírez interrupted Epstein's victory speech by drenching the young GM with a bucket full of ice water. With no Gatorade readily available, it was the next-best thing to the well-known postgame tradition.

With the Angels safely eliminated, the Red Sox happily put the playoff button on pause for a moment to enjoy their accomplishments. The beauty of these celebrations is it doesn't matter whether you were a playoff hero or a playoff scrub. Kyle Snyder and Curt Schilling were indistinguishable in the madness that unfolded late yesterday. Both were soaked in alcohol, and mobbed by teammates.

The question was raised whether such a spirited celebration was premature - and, perhaps, a bit overdone. After all, winning a Division Series was hardly the established goal when this team trucked its gear down to Fort Myers, Fla., in February. No one in the clubhouse is supposed to be truly satisfied until the Red Sox win another championship.

"We understand that," said manager Terry Francona. "We haven't accomplished all that we've wanted to yet. But I don't mind this. The emotion you see in here is real."