I’m going to start doing something new. This could very well either be Anything But E’s iPod….. but also, probably, more likely will be Anything But E’s Zune.
I’ll be posting old moments in Red Sox history entirely for the reason that I can just watch or dig up old stories for my own enjoyment. So, hopefully my enjoyment can become your enjoyment.
Today’s moment in Red Sox lure is Jonathon Papelbon’s Red Sox debut on July, 31 2005.
First off the best part of this clip is the fact Don and Remy are in the booth together. I’d crawl across a desert of glass shards just to hear them together again.
Second, this is my first moment because like Paps, this was also my first game with the BoSox in America’s Most Beloved Ballpark. This was the moment that I went from saying “Them” to saying “We”. Yes, I am that obnoxious fan, only because I am a die hard Boston Sports fan. And you can pin that on Jesus I guess. If he doesn’t start Catholicism, then first communions don’t happen, then I don’t have my first communion, then my Uncle doesn’t gift me with ticket to my first game. So ya…. shouts out Jesus.
But back to the significance of this moment. This was the launching pad for sending this rookie into Red Sox lure. He started the game, and went 5.1 against the Minnesota Twins, striking out 7 and giving up 2 earned runs on 4 hits. Not a bad start, but he would not find himself in this role for the rest of his career as he would soon shirt to the bullpen and then assume the role as the Red Sox closer who would river dance his way to a World Series ending strike out in 2007.
All I have to say is I hate Papelbon. He left on terrible terms calling Red Sox fan hysterical, and saying we don’t understand the sport. I’ll give him that first statement but that second one may middle school Cooper feel heart ache for the first time. But on top of all this I had that ticket stub from my first game signed by the starter and eventual World Series closer himself. I still have it framed and everything. But after his scorched Earth departure from Boston the dude TANKED. And I mean hard. He went to sure-fire HOFer to no team wanting him. This in turn bottomed out the value of that signed ticket, which makes everything so much worse.
Anything But E 