Tim Wakefield, a 15-year veteran with the Sox, was on those teams and remembered, “It wasn’t fun. I remember in 2001 Jimy got fired and we were still in the hunt and then it went downhill.’’
What about this season?
“I think if we win, we’ll be OK,’’ said Wake.
About seven hours later, the Sox were 7-6 winners in a nine-inning war of attrition with the hated Yankees. It lasted four hours and nine minutes (take that, Joe West!) and ended early this morning when Jonathan Papelbon gained some revenge with a heart-attack save in the ninth.
Before the game, manager Terry Francona pledged the Sox would not quit, and they made him look good, winning after trailing CC Sabathia, 5-0, in the sixth inning.
“There’s nothing else to do but keep playing and we did that,’’ said Francona.
Unfortunately, one hard-fought win against the Yankees cannot undo the damage done as the season passes the quarter mark. The Sox clubhouse in 2010 is not a happy place. Too many guys have gripes.
Start with the old bones. Wakefield wants to be a starting pitcher but isn’t allowed to start. Monday he warmed up in the first inning because the increasingly annoying Daisuke Matsuzaka couldn’t get anybody out. Wakefield got into the game a couple of hours after Dice-K’s ridiculous first and pitched well. Then his first victory since last July was erased when Papelbon surrendered a pair of two-run homers in the ninth.
Mike Lowell is clearly miffed. The Sox traded him last winter, but reluctantly took him back when the deal was voided. Now he’s sharing the DH spot with David Ortiz, but Ortiz was given the start last night even though the Sox were facing the lefty Sabathia. Lowell spoke at some length in front of his locker after the lineup was posted, said he has no role on the team, and suggested all parties might benefit if the Sox release him.
Francona was not happy with Lowell and when asked about the aging third baseman would only say, “He hasn’t said anything to me.’’
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