Red Sox Nation Dreads a Yankee World Series

While the Boston Red Sox are playing golf this October, the New York Yankees are soaring through the playoffs. And guess what? The Fenway faithful aren’t exactly thrilled at this turn of events, especially given that the Yanks are beating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the very team that kicked the Sox to the curb this postseason.

So, much like I asked Mets bloggers how they felt about a Yankees-Phillies World Series, I interviewed some Red Sox bloggers about how they were holding up over the possibility of the New York Yankees winning it all.

I interviewed Allan Wood of The Joy of Sox, Evan Brunell of Fire Brand of the American League, John Quinn of the Mighty Quinn Media Machine, Dan Lamothe of Red Sox Monster, Red of Surviving Grady, Paul Francis Sullivan of Sully Baseball, Christine E. of Boston Red Thoughts, Dave Paye of Sox vs. Stripes, Jere Smith of A Red Sox Fan in Pinstripe Territory, and Matt O’Donnell of Fenway West.

* Are you watching Yankees-Angels and/or Dodgers/Phillies?

This question elicited a big variety of reactions.

Jere Smith of A Red Sox Fan in Pinstripe Territory is only watching the ALCS games. “The National League is a different sport to me. If I’m around and it’s on, I’ll watch – but if I see Family Ties reruns are on another channel, I’ll probably switch over. Unless it’s from the ‘Andy’ era–that kid was clearly put on for ratings. As if Elise would want to have a fourth kid like ten years after Jennifer. Oh, but I did watch Pedro pitch because I love Pedro.

“As for the Yanks series, whenever they’re in it and the Sox are out, I always tell myself I’ll avert my eyes…but I always end up watching, because it’s too important to me – I need to do everything I can to will their opponent to victory. (And besides, in the playoffs, I don’t have to hear Michael Kay.)”

“I’m watching the Phillies-Dodgers series and pulling for the Phils,” says John Quinn of the Mighty Quinn Media Machine. “I haven’t seen one pitch of the ALCS, and am doing my best not to at any point.”

Paul Francis Sullivan of Sully Baseball says, “Yes, I am watching both of them, but then again I am mentally ill. I live in Los Angeles County so I am interested in seeing the Dodgers do well, but then again I have a soft spot in my heart for the Phillies. I know many Phillies fans. I also have a morbid need to see the Yankees lose and have Jeter do his 1,000 yard stare when he sees another team celebrate in front of him. But if the series going 3-0 or 3-1 in the Yankees favor, I would recommend Red Sox fans look away.”

“I am paying attention and watching the Dodgers/Phillies game actively,” said Evan Brunell of Fire Brand of the American League. “I have the Yankees/Angels on in the background and only tangentially check into it.”

“Really, neither,” says Christine E. of Boston Red Thoughts. “I am not a Phillies/Dodgers Fan, and while I grab a moment or two of the Angels/Yankees–I just cannot watch that for more than a few minutes at a time. Besides, baseball ended for me last Sunday.”

* Do you think the Red Sox would have put up a better fight than the Angels against the Yankees, based on what you’ve seen so far?

This question also elicited a wide variety of reaction, with no real consensus, other than that many of the reactions cited the 2004 Red Sox World Championship as showing how anything can happen.

Dave Paye of Sox vs. Stripes says, “The Sox had the parts to beat either of these squads. But it couldn’t quite gel together this year. Any title run includes not only the talent and drive of a particular team, but lucky breaks. Boston couldn’t get any of those against the Angels. Meanwhile, the Yankees are getting every call to break their way. That’s not a complaint, just the reality.”

“I think even the Kansas City Royals could have put up a better fight than the Angels have so far against the Yankees, says Matt O’Donnell of Fenway West. “The defense and lack of clutch hitting by the Angels makes them look over-matched.”

“Yes,” says Allan Wood of The Joy of Sox. “It pains me to see the Angels playing so crappy after doing everything right against the Red Sox. But what can you do? Being swept out in three games annoyed me for a day or two. Now I’m ready for 2010.”

“Not quite sure,” says Red of Surviving Grady. “The Sox bats let us down for a good chunk of the season and certainly in the ALDS. That said, I would have enjoyed the chance to see what they could have done. If 2004 taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen.”

“God, yes,” says Jere Smith of A Red Sox Fan in Pinstripe Territory. “And that’s based mainly on the Angels’ complete lack of effort in game one and inability to capitalize on anything and everything in game two. The Red Sox did almost seem like they were waiting to face off against the Yanks, and in the process, management allowed them to sleepwalk thorough the second half, and then (whatever’s worse than sleepwalking) through the ALDS. I just hope the Angels didn’t put everything they had into beating us, costing them a chance to beat the Yanks. What a crappy irony that would be for me… But, yes, I like to think the Sox would’ve at this point been out of our slumber and in a dogfight (not the Michael Vick kind) with the Yankees.”

* If the Yankees do make it to the World Series, who is a stronger matchup for them – the Dodgers or the Phillies?

Dan Lamothe of Red Sox Monster thinks the Phillies are the team to beat. “However, Philadelphia’s bullpen is thinner than Paris Hilton on Atkins, and that plays right to a major Yankee strength (taking pitches and wearing out pitchers). I’ll come right out and say it: The Yankees are the favorite in 2009. Ugh.”

“I think the Phillies are better equipped to actually beat the Yankees but for the sheer drama of it, I’d prefer to see a Yankees-Dodgers series,” says Red of Surviving Grady. “Because I’d love to see Torre come back to NY and whip his former team, and see Manny knock a few out of the new Stadium. If Girardi pulled a Zim and tackled Broxton, that would be even cooler.”

Paul Francis Sullivan of Sully Baseball says “Neither. Maybe if this Yankee team played the 1998 Yankees they’d lose. I guess the Phillies would have a better shot if both Lee AND Hamels were dealing… but I would pick the Yankees in 5 over both teams.”

” If the Yankees have to make it to the World Series, I would much rather see them play the Dodgers,” says Christine E. of Boston Red Thoughts. “Not only am I not a Phillies fan–I would LOVE to see Joe Torre’s Dodgers beat the ever-living crap out of them – -payback from the shabby way he was treated by the Yankee organization (Yes, I read ‘The Yankee Years.’)”

* What would bother you more – the Yankees winning the World Series or Manny Ramirez winning a World Series with the Dodgers?

To nobody’s surprise, including my own, nearly every single blogger agreed on this question – the Yankees winning would be much worse to them than Manny getting another World Championship title. In fact, contrary to media perceptions, most of the bloggers still harbored good feelings for Ramirez, even though each of them seemed to think they were in the minority in feeling that way!

“Oh, the Yankees winning would bother me far more than Manny Ramirez getting another ring. He and the Dodgers win, they go back to LA and I don’t hear about it until next spring, says Quinn of Mighty Quinn Media Machine. The Yankees win and I have to hear about this until the end of eternity. But the Red Sox winning two titles this decade cushions the blow, no matter what ultimately does happen in the end.”

“Red Sox fans vary wildly on how they feel about Manny Ramirez,” says Lamothe of Red Sox Monster. “I fall in the middle — and that’s not nearly enough to wish ill will on the Dodgers, a franchise that hasn’t won a championship in 21 years. Not when the alternative is the Yankees.” While Lamothe does respect Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter, he also felt that “from Alex Rodriguez to Joba Chamberlain, there are also far too many smarmy villains to ever embrace the team, even on a temporary basis.”

“This is a strange question. Would any Red Sox fan chose the former?,” says Wood of The Joy of Sox. “I would prefer just about anything over the Yankees winning the World Series. Plus I have always been pro-Manny. If he can get another ring, that’s great. And if Pedro can get one in Philly, that’s even better.”

“Manny winning the World Series would be annoying but nowhere near as bad as if the Yankees were to win, says O’Donnell of Fenway West. “I don’t want to hear anyone talking about 27 rings. Getting swept this October was bad enough for Red Sox fans. Having to deal with a Yankee championship might lead to some bridge jumping in New England.”

Brunell of Fire Brand of the American League says, “I’m a Red Sox fan. I simply cannot root for the Yankees. I certainly would prefer neither win, but if it comes down to Dodgers/Yankees, it’s not even a question. “

Paye of Sox vs. Stripes says, “The Yankees winning the World Series would bother me a million times more than Manny winning in LA. Hell, he helped us win two titles. It’s like comparing getting gutshot with a howitzer and a mosquito bite. The Yankees winning again…ugh. The fact that they look like they’ll win is bad enough. The reality of it…ugh. I think the best way to sum it up is that if I had a choice between the Yankees winning and the scenario from [Roland] Emmerich’s new “2012″ film actually happening…it’d take a coin flip to make up my mind.”

Photo by Permanently Scatterbrained

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