2004 Boston Red Sox Team Season Highlights "Faith Rewarded"

[Applause] [Music] Red Sox America's heartland to win their first World Championship since you know when all up on the railing for the top step of the dugout boys [Applause] [Music] two out in the ninth inning [Applause] [Music] the story of the 2004 Boston Red Sox actually began in October of 2003 [Music] [Applause] 15 pitches on the night Grady little is going to stick with his starter fills out basic [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we had an enormous ly successful year in 2003 make no mistake about it but the bitter disappointment of the ending stayed with us so we decided that day to begin talking about how we were going to come back we just tried to take the negative energy and turn it into a positive by trying to have the best offseason we could possibly have the first step in that quest was to find the right manager to handle this team CEO called me asked if I'd be interested in coming up and talking to him what the job which of course I was I knew that I wanted to be the person we're supposed to win here but in Boston nothing less than a World Series title would do and the postseason is all about one thing it's a point that we tried to improve upon and in the offseason was our pitching the day after Thanksgiving we had a press conference in Arizona and we announced the signing of her chili like the thought of pitching in the biggest rivalry in sports in front of some incredible fans when Faulk reached free agency we looked at as a great opportunity not just to sign a closed or per se but to sign what we thought is one of the great pitchers in baseball coming here I think the opportunity to win you know went big over the next few years is uh you know it's something I was really excited about to be on a team that can add those type of players there's like wow we really ever shot Boston also added pokey Reese and Mark Bellhorn to bolster its depth and other personnel rumors began to fly a lot of things happened this offseason that became high-profile against our well that they were leaked from other side's stories of trade talks involving Kenny Ramirez in nor Garciaparra helped make the Red Sox a hot stove hot topic New England Patriots were headed for a Super Bowl and yet the thing that was on the minds of all New England theirs was whether or not Alex Rodriguez was coming to Boston but in a blow to Red Sox Nation Iran instead landed in New York we knew where we were gonna draw the line and when the price got too high we did we walked away because we knew we were giving up a lot sometimes the best deals are the ones you never make 95% of us are back so we know that feeling of Game seven when going to that whole month you know was devastating but you got to go through those times as a team to basically get better and enjoy the times that are ahead of us and so the Red Sox entered the season with Sutton pitching power and the resolve to make Boston forget its past New England Sports Network presents faith rewarded the historic season of the 2004 Boston Red Sox [Music] the faith of Redsox nation is reborn every spring it is here the hopes and dreams of Boston fans first take root with the promise that maybe this really is the year these fans some of them been out here since 7 o'clock this morning even though the gate doesn't really open till 8:30 we seem to be lucky and have that support every year the fans have definitely always show up for us well series World Series look around it's a phenomenal scene I mean fans everywhere what's up Ennis [Applause] [Music] and they kept our group together good poor guys that we had such great chemistry last year and made some good additions I believe especially in baseball that it is essential or I have the right kind of chemistry and we look for that we built towards that they're fitting into a mold that was already put together and I'm excited to get on the field start competing with these guys so the only way I think that this team could be successful could be really successful is to be loose that's why you saw this cast of characters and this was their way individually each of them was being loose okay one thing stainless all the numbers are in English keeping each other loose and the Red Sox discovered in the spring no one let their hair down more than Johnny Damon I mean it's just here but it took on another life because of the fans of Boston here hugs and lots of heart it's a formula that came to symbolize this lovable band of red sighs we've got to stay healthy and become one and and I think that becoming one it's kind of happened from last year and now with a few additions this year it's just gonna be that much easier get it monster I look around at this roster and I see a team that we stay healthy it could be world champions it's just going to be up to us [Music] the Red Sox confidently began their season at Camden Yards Red Sox baseball 2004 promises to be a special season April Martinez one of the all-time greats is pitching for Boston [Applause] the Boston Red Sox will Bob Pedro Martinez Pedro's past performance in Boston is legendary but the president posed a few questions the right way they're all concerned about Pedro doesn't throw that well in the spring everybody anxious to see how hard caterer is throwing big 1990-91 and nobody left that's a good and if anybody wants but against Baltimore control going off to the nearest possible start [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and Pedro is having a nightmare here in the second day he had a tough second inning but he kept it to three you know looks like good a chance to put four or five up and when he did that I think we felt pretty good Pedro did settle down as the game went on and kept his team in striking distance but the Red Sox offense came up willfully short this point way to start would have preferred to start the season on a win but it's a long season and can't get caught up in one game we got beat opening day Peavy pitched we had an off day and it seemed like it was a week and all the anticipation and everything these Boston Red Sox one day they give you Pedro Martinez the next day they give you a Curt Schilling and they want the regular season that figures to be a deadly combination with Schilling being signed if you looked at that you know having Pedro and Schilling one to having a another ace you know and your your five card deck at the Fratus it's just it's a bonus Boston's biggest offseason acquisition lived up to his billing dominating the birds for six innings [Music] strike outs for Schilling seven in the ninth the Red Sox unveiled their other new pitching weapon a truly reliable closer I both had ended up very strong at the end of last year where we still didn't have that one guy to turn to to really close out a game that shortcoming in the pen will be answered by Keith Olbermann the Red Sox the victory it's a win just getting that first one all the way and is huge not just for me but for us and feels good the opening series split with Baltimore ended with a late night 13 inning loss but Boston's troubles were just beginning they still had to get home to get the airport 1230 year bout takeoff problem with the plane the left BWI wheels up at 5:46 a.m. touched out of Logan at 6:37 they got the Fenway at 7:30 for I think our game was like a day game so we literally had to go sleep for two hours and show up back in the field it was a wild night but we bowed through it [Applause] opening day too the home opener had a special feel to it for the fans couldn't wait to see there include Red Sox but the team wasn't at full strength for injuries at derail both trot Nixon and Nomar Garciaparra filling in for Nomar pokey Reese quickly won over both teammates and fans he's - probably the most athletic player I have ever played with he brought spunk a smile grace out in the field that I've never seen out in the fielder pokey Reese performs magic again here at Fenway Park but in the home opener it was pokies bat that had the fans singing his praises [Music] [Applause] I still pokey wasn't the only one providing punch on opening day [Applause] for Jason Varitek and the rent [Applause] unfortunately the bullpen couldn't preserve the lead look J spoil the home opener in the Fenway debut of Terry Francona is Red Sox manager but even defeat Francona could see a team chemistry developing as hair-raising as it was I was dying for our guys to have a team personality and the hair thing kind of came into play they were all doing it to come together may giant names come when comes in right away looking like the movie passions he looks like Jesus people instantly thought Jesus was here to play centerfield Pedro Martinez got the solo where Pedro goes you're gonna stay be on his head Manny I don't know I always tell them can you please put a hat or a helmet I'm getting ready losing my lunch with that hair David Ortiz we call the big cat he's got to smile that's premiere to here and it's just a great group of guys and we're very lucky to have that hugs and happiness we're a big part of big puppies makeup but then again so long runs [Applause] that kid got the Red Sox in the perfect frame of mind for their first series with the Yankees [Music] one of the fiercest rivalries in all of sports Boston and New York this rivalry now has hit every level from ownership on down the buzz that the ballpark is different than any other game of the year oh you know crazy city go playing against the Yankees or anybody proof on top I guess anybody can can wait until the games start today with the rivalry the way it is and what happened last year was a lot of fun to play in front of that kind of crowd that kind of atmosphere this spirity season four game series took on the aura of a prizefight and it was the Red Sox who opened with a flurry of punches [Music] [Applause] [Music] three home runs for the Red Sox tonight Boston Red Sox [Applause] is this season Kurt Schilling had success against the Yankees in the past game to prove no different [Applause] after shilling did his job on came full to close it down where [Applause] we went out there we just played good ball when this team gets on a roll you know we get some momentum it's hard to stop this [Applause] well that's a lot of fun to have this type of intensity this early but again it is early and you have to keep that in perspective and you get a continue to go out there and grind it out and stay consistent and trying to the best you can four days later the series resumed in the Bronx and the Red Sox were up for the challenge no one has locked Roma says taking anything for granted and we know that's a good ball team over there Yankees starter Jose Contreras had been battered by the Red Sox bats in the past in Game one he struggled again [Music] back-to-back homers three that I think [Music] depressive when start to finish to the Red Sox's they've now won four out of the first five measuring the exit each guy kind of went out there and did their thing and as the momentum built I think the Yankees were very nervous ballclub Boston was thinking sweet with Pedro on the mound the game stayed scoreless through three but one swing changed all that [Applause] more than enough for Pedro who rendered the Yankees helpless [Music] [Applause] all's we had to do is concentrate and try and outplay that team that we were playing and we've maintained that focus ever since [Applause] it was great specially early on not have a half-hour team well you miss a try it makes me miss Nomar Garciaparra we going in Sweden in New York it was a good feeling I think we're just making a statement about how good were playing the baseball we are ready to play anybody many ground any time right now avoid aha the victories continue to mount in a major reason for the Sox success was the man they called Big Papi Ortiz wreaked havoc on pitchers in April but his work to Boston went far beyond that if there is a guy that I'm gonna start my team with this guy's it Dave was just a tremendous ballplayer that has a knack for the right situation [Music] he came up with every big hit we needed we needed a home line he got it we just needed a single he got it [Applause] [Music] forty's wields a big bag but he also has a big heart and a childlike passion for the game he comes every day with a smile and a great mood he cares about his teammates and we have fun he is a great presence off the field he's got a smile that stretches from here the Dominican Republic fellow Dominican Manny Ramirez is one of Papi's best friends and when Manny became a US citizen in May his teammates did a little something to honor his newfound pride when he got his US citizenship and he took the field that day we gave him a flag and he took the field left field and ran throw to the United States of American flag in his hand it was pretty cool I even have an eight-by-ten up in my locker that has many carry that but he signed it for me standing ovation for the newest American citizen then suddenly as May turned into June Boston began to slide it we love spring training and I think we really believed we were very good we came out of the gates playing well and we stumbled for about three months disagrees [Music] there were struggles we played 500 for two or three months and we were getting rain there was articles that we could be the biggest group of frauds that that baseball has ever seen with this payroll complicating the situation was nomar's nagging Achilles heel injury how longer than expected it became an unwelcome distraction for Red Sox Nation to make matters worse the Red Sox had to play a late June series with the Yankees who were pulling away in the AL East New York won the first two games and the finale no doubt gave them an overwhelming sense of dominance in what many felt was the game of the year Pedro took the ball looking to change the Boston fortunes and right from the outset he tried to send a message [Music] [Applause] but the Nikki's were not intimidated [Applause] pokey Reese on the rudder the bow city gate the catch [Music] bhana drains into the 12th where Derek Jeter turned in the play of the game [Applause] for Boston fans the script was far too familiar for just halfway through the year the Yankees seemed as seems to win the American League East [Music] [Applause] [Music] with in loose anything or played a great game and we take more from this game that would lose this difficult of the losses it was when it goes do it and it's gonna go good will be that much better because of this [Music] having underachieved for the past few months Boston trailed the Yankees by seven games at the all-star break off to Houston when a trio of Red Sox to represent their team unaware the impact they would have [Music] for it from the Boston Red Sox leftfielder Manny you see the all-star game now decided home-field advantage in the World Series so the Red Sox unknowingly would help their own cause starting when Manny faced a familiar foe [Music] [Applause] [Applause] that was a very feeling to me as my first boss targeting I'm very happy that I hate it all wrong and that's what people would like to come to US Commerce so the Red Sox loggers have accounted for to the all-star game was a blast but now the Red Sox resumed play with a plan to go the players and the players anything to happen soon after the break Boston faced an imposing challenge when the Yankees came to Fenway for a crucial three-game series the Red Sox now trailed New York by eight and a half games but a struggling Kevin Millar tried to pick his team up when he opened his stance and delivered fly ball to left field Kevin Millar taught that's the major adjustment you know in July to go ahead and say hey I'm a hit open in the big leagues for the Boston Red Sox Millar turns the flow is in the chairs I open my stance up things start clicking next you only get three home run game but in the end Valera's gallant effort was all for not [Music] [Applause] Red Sox Red Sox are now tied and a half games behind the first place game [Music] close to being out of the race in July a sense of urgency seemed to take over the team so much so they felt the need to play the next game despite heavy rains the night before players marched until their ship and say we want to play we feel like we can be them I walk past Jason Varitek in the clubhouse so they said are they calling this game and I said looks like it to me it's awfully wet out there the pieces I don't care what they are let's play and so the game went on with the forecast now for more Red Sox Yankees fireworks and they erupted in the third when Bronson Arroyo faced Alex Rodriguez [Applause] [Music] he said something to you the guy dives out of a plate in his balls 500 feet the right-center so I'm gonna try to get in on him I told me and choice words to get the first base and then they changed from him you'll know Bronson and yelling at each other and then things got out of hand [Music] [Applause] Varitek's our leader you know someone you don't want to mess with this only heightens the anger between these two teams it was just one of those long days at the ballpark which turned out great for us and kind of got us back on track after the fight the inspired Red Sox staged an incredible comeback culminating in the ninth when Bill Miller faced Mariano Rivera [Applause] it's a huge win for us and it'll be bigger if we make it bigger and we let this catapult us and we do something with it that's what it'll really make it big that walk-off home run took the Yankees by surprise it really energized us and it set the tone for things that might happen later in the season to me that was the first sort of inkling we had that things were completely different this year that was really the beginning what turned out to be a real activist season I think we want to know that day we wanted the fight we won the game that's to a no gate you can't go to you know using in one game we have a fight we come back from a big deficit and boom we got a win so you have to look back at one game that would be it for me in the rubber game of the series the only punch thrown was a knockout blow by Millar [Music] in the series seven to and both racked up his 16th save [Music] [Applause] [Music] still there was cause for concern in Red Sox Nation and a bold move one hour before the trade deadline added to the intrigue it's with mixed emotions that we see no Margo he's been a great red sock one of the greatest of all time the shockwaves from trading at Boston icon were felt throughout baseball especially by the man who pulled the trigger on the trade trading a player the caliber of normal Garciaparra is not something that should be done lightly if it didn't go well would would negatively impact the franchise for years to come not to mention my life not to mention my career that night and talking with him I knew he was the loneliest man in New England and quite probably the bravest man [Music] there was an awful lot of weight on our shoulders having haven't traded no more and gotten back players who weren't quite as well-known in return well see you guys my first reaction I walk in I see no more packing his bags I'm going you got to be kidding me ID please tell me how to get traded for Norma Garcia Park is well I think I'm a pretty good player but I don't know I'm not that good we thought our biggest issue was defense we're not a good enough defensive team to win the World Series we have this flaw in our club and if we don't act we're gonna allow it to become a fatal flaw so we're able to bring in three plus defensive players three gamers and three guys are pretty good offensive players - on the same day - try to address that flaw in our club [Music] we're told me the Chicago the day of the trade because he had read so much as it cuts needed his short stuff somebody else went to the cup he came here when I got traded I'm I was really excited because I know that I can show them that I can play now the Red Sox take you of Orlando Cabrera hit hard into the seats and left [Music] [Applause] that week or two after the deal was made we found our identity and we took off [Music] then things started to pick up you know Cabrera got more comfortable it stopped defensively there's no question this team is much much better now you've gained a lot defensively you've gained a Gold Glove caliber shortstop I don't know if a lot of people saw him playing Montreal I know I didn't I just I knew it when he comes with a great defensive reputation the more we watch the brewer you can see why he's won a Gold Glove I mean you smooth clearly their defense is so much better than it was before [Applause] terrific play than cabbage gold Glover you know over there I mean that's that's all need to be said really okay this is you know playing good defense also our defense start becoming better our defense it's a little bit better it's a little bit more improved our team took on a completely different look and the guys that came in they just fit seamlessly we're a very easy Bunch to get along with so I think that's what made the transition for guys a lot easier when they came over it is a group like I've never seen Orlando's an outgoing guy a hell of a player but I'm just trying to have fun over hard time getting used to Derek Lowe in that gear that's what makes this team so great I mean everybody's got handshakes you know here you always keep it relaxed we always joking around having fun hey we keep everybody loose in the dugout papi Ortiz David has a passion for the game he's fun to be around he's funny Pedro he's very focused when he's playing but the other four days he's just goofing off having a good time kidding his is a teammate's kevin is a tremendously fun presence he likes to to talk I like to keep everybody loose and having fun and we're just a little different than everybody else in the league chemistry cannot be underestimated I've never seen a situation where there was such compatibility closeness and productivity I don't think it's ever hard to fit in somewhere if you're single most important goal is the same thing with their defense now more secure Boston starting pitchers seemed reenergized and once again the Red Sox began to win when you play better defense all of a sudden you're starting pitchers get more confident that they can attack the strike zone and are starting to hit to start throwing strikes and going deeper in the game the starting pitcher starts throwing 7 plus teens a start 1 to 5 when your starters eat up in ease the game is easier and on August 12th against Tampa Bay Pedro went deeper in a game that he had in almost a year they draw Martinez in search of his 13th victory of the season the vintage Pedro as the ball was moving he was he was on top of his game it was just you know that's what I've seen him do the last couple years that I've been here and uh you know that's why he's phaedra Martine from pitching to power Boston now appeared invincible all the right components were now in place and after going eight and six the first half of August the Red Sox went on a sixteen in one tear we were playing so well at that time we were pitching we were hitting on all cylinders you couldn't get us out [Applause] having recently swept the Yankees the red-hot Anaheim Angels rolled into Fenway on August 31st just a game and a half behind Boston for the wild-card [Music] this series in my mind score early score off that against the starters be ahead late in the game the advantage now the Red Sox happened here at men way Prague where they played great baseball year everything was cooking at that point [Applause] [Music] that I think was a very important confidence booster for our team but the angels weren't the only team in August that incurred the Red Sox rapid Finland [Applause] we had a great home fan here and I think it's gonna give us some momentum going into this road trip having won 25 of their last 33 the sizzling Sox went to Oakland in early September and all but ended the wild-card race for the three-game sweep of the A's that was the best ball we played all year the Red Sox have swept the Oakland Athletics in a three-game series in Oakland those teams were some of the better teams in the league for us to go in there and just steamroll over them I mean that was pretty awesome we swept the table for a while there and it was certainly something that catapulted us up by five and a half games for the wild card the Red Sox set their sights on the division and the Yankees for game need to the mound they sent their ace third shilling tonight looking for victory number 20 of the season shillings been awesome knowing that we depend on them and that we need them came up big for us they're cheering that's the word course it's something to really respect he brings that kind of that bulldog mentality to the field but you know he's gonna go out there and he'll give you everything he's got was on his game tonight [Music] [Applause] it was nice 20 is a nice number that to a lot of people means different things it was awesome then that it was in September we were in a pennant race the Red Sox pick up a half a game they're three and a half behind New York heading into the showdown the weekend series at my video all said people start believing again and now the ten athletes shrinks to three and a half lead the wildcard the Angels and Oakland and us if the Red Sox just kind of kept going and plugging along [Music] for Red Sox the wild card was now all but insured but they still have their eyes on the Eastern Division prize Game one of the three-game series the Yankees and Red Sox where we're ready to rumble [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] and that's when the real magic in the Bronx got underway [Applause] I thought about catch I mean in time when he happened I just jump and cut the part and I said let me hold it for a couple of minutes so he just running and pointing to the to sky he couldn't believe it [Music] we go to the top of the ninth inning it's Mariano but against the Red Sox Rivera is anything but automatic [Applause] Mariano's the busting me game period when we're fortunate we had the right circumstances right situations things spell our way [Applause] the last hit by Damon was remarkably like personís hit in Game seven last year but this was a different season and this a different outcome [Applause] Boston in each that much closer to the division lead but that's awesome when the Yankees pitchers laid down the hammer and all but ended Boston's quest to capture the American League East title to make matters worse Pedro had another rough outing [Applause] and the Yankees now hold a four and a half game lead in the games behind column this isn't a game season 9150 2016 when you play 162 let's see where you left them Boston had one more series against its arch nemesis and once again Pedro could only watch as the Yankees gave him a whoopin because I can't find a way to beat him at this point you just have to give them credit and say hey okay Vic me not my team I mean what can I say just dipped my heart and called the Yankees my daddy but Pedro's teammates picked him up in the next two games and the 19 game regular season series with New York with Boston farm time [Applause] the season series of the day the sights continue to roll through the final week of the season and she's made some key contributions [Applause] but one man on the Red Sox had been coming up big all season long great hitter man he hits everybody even when he stole for for you know the opposing pitchers not feeling too good about facing he can sit on a pitch for an entire series and when he gets it he's going to do damage [Applause] [Music] he is in my opinion the best pure hitter I've ever seen he'd always been the team powerhouse but in 2003 from the other side of natty emerged this year we saw a complete transformation in Manny Ramirez he had so much fun and brought so much fun to continue Big Papi teamed up with Manny both for laughs and is one of the most dynamic duo's in the game the greatest one-two punch I've ever seen the fourth time Ramirez and Ortiz gone back-to-back they combined for an amazing 269 RBIs and eighty four home runs the best of Annie's al teammates forties was having his second straight great years but for millions as usual Manny's record speaks for itself only three home runs this year to lead the American League [Applause] [Music] on the same day that nanny hit his 43rd home run the Red Sox which clinched their second straight playoff Birds [Music] she was Jimmy but this was just the first step I think it's enough for me now I'm about to get a ring and I want to get one the division series began on the west coast and Boston set the tone right off the bat grounded to third off the glove Ramirez heads to say and there's a broken bat shot to the right side Ramirez they Boston [Music] [Applause] shilling breezed through six but then blue team play spell disaster as Curt aggravated of previous ankle injury I knew that there was a problem we were a little concerned and a lot of swelling after that shilling left the game which the Red Sox won the assault continued in Game two the Red Sox are putting it away it's basta the age order and not only did we get the lead but we tacked on a little bit and somewhere down the road that may help us Red Sox win puts them in the American League Championship Series against either the Yankees are the twins it looked like a sure thing when Boston took a 62 lead but the Angels kept battling [Applause] Grand Slam tie game so in the tenth inning on and relief came Derek Lowe having been assigned to the bullpen for the series funny he wasn't good enough to start this game but he's good enough to come on an extra inning charge by Cabrera gets it rose on the [Applause] there are some games where you need somebody to come up big I think to accomplish what we did you have to have players like David do what they do bottom of the 10th [Applause] championship series on the back of David Ortiz [Music] a whole team just a bunch of gunslingers it's just a group of guys that just don't care what they look like - now this bunch of self-proclaimed idiots who try to turn it up a notch in the ALCS [Music] you the two best teams I think going America leaguer are going in the championship series and that's the the Sox and Yankees and I think for fans and cities and media this is only what happened there's nothing bigger than Yankees Red Sox the rivalry has never been this close in the history of it and I really believe it the only thing separating them was one way the bathroom here we walked off that field here at Game seven about the same time last year that gut-wrenching feeling you felt the whole offseason but I think that makes you stronger and tougher time here we are you know a lot of people want to make a big deal about last year well this seems a little different last year the Boston Red Sox favored coming into the series we were five outs away last year and Schilling a fall short of having two aces have been stealing in Martinez that makes our team tough I liked our chances last year I really like we joke we say that they can actually be better than the team we're doing up this team is super loose I mean I think they almost go out of their way to be the anti Yankees the way they wear their hair the way they let their shirt tails hang out you know our organization that's been waiting with a piece no I believe that we reach our own person and but I don't think it looks that bad at all I think this group is kind of found their identity I think every year the identity is different and I think this group they just really like to play baseball the awesome thing about being a starting pitcher is you have the ability to make 50,000 people shut up when you're on the road I'm not sure I can think of any scenario more enjoyable than making 55,000 people from New York shut up but for Schilling to accomplish test that he'd have to overcome a torn tendon sheath in his ankle which he had suffered in Game one at the ALDS I went out to the bullpen and had probably the worst bullpen of my career but mentally I just shrugged it off and thought you know ok it's one of those nights he'll be fine once the game starts I was horrible like I didn't make adjustments they pounded every mistake I made [Applause] shillings opponent meanwhile could do no wrong [Applause] still Boston did fight back how many teams trailing by eight runs in the seventh inning having a perfect game thrown against them come back and make a game of it the Red Sox are tenacious they don't panic but the Red Sox valiant effort wasn't enough and Game one was lost their second ace in the hole was also out pitched in Game two [Applause] we have to score off they're starting pitching that's the key the series we don't want to let John Libre go seven plus innings and be there with Pedro Martinez Lieber was outstanding while Pedro fought through his past in the face of 55,000 [Applause] stop looking good for the Red Sox in the very sense of what Lieber was able to do it also Pedro pitched really well Pedro did pitch well but once again the Red Sox hitters were left swinging at air I'll take responsibility for this I mean I offer a with five strikeouts you know on the callus on the same so now the Red Sox were down two games to none and they had even graver concerns I think this is the time to talk more about the Schilling situation his status for not only the rest of this series but for the rest of the postseason right now doesn't look good what's the feeling on this team the more the team down okay and we know our backs to the wall but and we haven't played our best best game Jeff would you classify Game three as a must play no it definitely is because the Nikki's really don't lose four in a row and this is a nightmare for the Red Sox and their fans looking at a prio deficit in this series and the hits just him sailing on to this batter's box one guy after another swing it from his heels for the egg the Yankees have a stranglehold on this series they have a three-game lead how do you come back from this being embarrassed on your home diamond by your most hated rival interesting to me but just exactly what said that Boston Clubhouse after the game tonight we didn't have a meeting but to a man in our Clubhouse we all said this is not how we want to go out I know you're from masa and I know you grew up a Red Sox fan but don't count the Sox allottee you know we were down Oh three so quick all odds are against you it hasn't happened in the history of baseball but don't let us win today that's all I'm trying to say don't less one today and give them paid or tomorrow and showing game six and then anything happen in Game seven there's an attention why bring I mean I'm not a very good player but you know in the clubhouse I like to keep everybody loose this is the way we like it battle now and then bomb Sox Nathan bagel we were so loose I was proud to see that we knew we could come back they like to talk about this renegade Bunch and the idiots and last year was cowboy up they're gonna need all that swagger they're gonna need all that confidence we're gonna fight you tooth-and-nail you know if you knock us out that's fine but we're gonna give you all we have but all they had didn't appear to be enough for in game for the Yankees held a one-run lead in the ninth with their prime time playoff closer on the mound Red Sox with three outs away all we kept them stealing shudders take one pitch that time one at-bat at time [Applause] right frozen I take the field you know Terry looked at me and just gave me a wink and I knew what that meant right there the world knows he was trying to steal second we weren't gonna beat those guys conventionally I had to push the envelope and be aggressive in my opinion that was the number one biggest play when he stole second base if he doesn't steal that we're going home [Music] [Applause] the Red Sox have fun like Rivera Boston's bullpen didn't allow Lund for the next three innings still tied in the 12 up came Big Papi Ortiz so many times the hero for the Red Sox talking to David last year after the game seven loss in New York you could see it in his eyes how sad he was not for himself but for everybody around Boston the day I came over here he said we have a chance to turn those tears into smiles and that's something that never stopped driving it we moved to the bottom of the 12th before game [Applause] [Music] [Applause] please attend I never give up we dream one right now you never know things can change never know what can happen from now on I just kind of maybe stole over the venom I guess a little word away from what it did was dignify the series the sweep would have been intolerable here booties also provided this spark in game 5 when he came up in the 8th with the Sox trailing 4 to 2 you know I don't go out there and play deep enough to make a play for my team better worried about what I do with my bad and whenever they get the chance they better get it done once again the bullpen was magnificent led by Wakefield in his three scoreless innings still tied in the 14 and at the plate Big Papi fouled off pitch after pitch tried desperately to get that meaning run across the plate really productive with a game [Applause] your favorite Jesus died his miraculous she's carried us the Yankees I think you really have to think about loser B it's never over in this series or in these games until you get that laughs steps you know it almost seems like the last team that hit wins and it's something special I just want to be a part of it the headache for New York and Curt Schilling the injured Curt Schilling will try and get them into a seventh game we had to find something that was gonna allow my ankle the flexibility to at least push off the rubber a little bit dr. Morgan came up with the suggestion to suture down the skin between the dislocated tendon the tendon that was still in place to the tissue above the bone and basically create a wall where my tendon can't pop back in and out it was a very unique situation either we did this or he didn't pitch and he was determined that he was going to pitch no matter what it took we did it and it worked and I felt like I was going to be able to do it he gets the opportunity to walk on the mound at Yankee Stadium and fulfill that goal of shutting up to 55,000 everybody who's got a soul for baseball wants to see this I can't ever remember this place being more my scared to death I didn't want to fail again I looked at it as a chance to redeem myself and keep my team alive [Music] chillin races to the bag Yankees don't score then out of the nine hole came a resurgent bad drive one down the left-field line Matsui on the move it is [Applause] crowd has [Music] fetching shilly shilly left after seven heroic innings meanwhile the Yankees frustration was growing as they flailed wildly looking for an edge the once confident Yankees were on the verge of losing three straight and we've been saying since we're down three oh that what pressures on them let Scott make history the Red Sox did make history by becoming the first team to force a game seven after trailing three games to none but still it was unfinished business we have a chance to shot the United States of America the world all right the world there you go watch in Japan well shock them - it's deja vu all over again here we go Game seven New York the beauty of Game seven for me as I pitched because watching is so nerve-racking especially what happened last year we're so close Derek Lowe he was he was supposed to picture this series as a stronger damage to the bullpen what he did in New York was fantastic on short rest he went through six innings and gave everything money keep warden it was like all the fury was was built and it slowly came out by the time we got to Game seven it all just pour it out [Applause] Danny Davis [Applause] we had a convincing lead but I wasn't going to smile until after that game I do remember the one thing we were saying in the dugout for the entire length of Game seven five six seven run lead was they're not going to quit so we can and the Red Cross continued to tack on that's good the key to this the greatest victory in team history and they do [Applause] move over babe the Red Sox are American beat champions greatest comeback in the history of the game number one baby we're to get to another level we might never have another chance to come into Yankee Stadium and just put some things behind us like 49 78 a year later we're back here we get a chance to do it we do it after being down three nothing so that's incredible you know what I was so happy to do it and actually happy to get over the Yankees [Music] just more so relief relief said that our fans can breathe a little more it was pretty special formula look around I know you know the year before I had to walk off the mound losing pitcher I actually got to stand on that mound and hug a lot of my teammates [Music] they're ready to go in Fenway and they will be ready to go in Busch Stadium two of the most emotionally charged fan bases in all of sports it is definitely an old school type matchup with Boston and st. Louis old school like when Boston and st. Lewis first met in the 46 World Series the first of four games seven losses in the Fall Classic for the beleaguered Boston franchise after that last game in st. Louis everybody with her heads down and ice looked down the other end they'd be about 10 feet away and there's Chad Williams he's actually wept many tears have been shed in Red Sox Nation during the 86 years since the team last won a championship the 2004 squad was fully aware of the history and the burden they carried as the 100th World Series got underway I'm here to play not just for me but for you know the guys that have been here and lost to actually bring it over it's gonna be a big thing and I hope we make that dream come true the curse will they be poppy one - yo it's a cold night here in October for the fans in Boston could care less for the first time since 1986 they get a chance to see their beloved Red Sox in a World Series since I was drafted in 93 you hear so many fans talk about winning World Championship and you know every year has been that you know that year that we needed to win it [Music] with two teams that have set to do battle if we expect to see a lot of offense and here we go one two yo right now we're rolling with big names we haven't got time for playground games [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] I'm the set go taking control of what is yours is the aim don't let them tell you how four straight hitters have just clobbered the ball another run is in to make it seven to two the Red Sox picking up where they left off against the Yankees in a blur the Red Sox had forged a commanding lead but walks in an outbreak of errors allowed st. Louis to creep back and tie the game at 9:00 Red Sox fans had to wonder if 2004 would be just another frustrating year of almost not quite true errors in the inning you know what it was it was the curse but these Red Sox were not doomed to repeat the past and their hero in this contest would hit his third home run in as many games [Music] [Applause] it's those situations you and you're really not thinking about anything and that's kind of what I was doing I knew it was you know pretty big for once he got me with two strikes just kind of trying to put the ball in play and sometimes when you do that you just kind of let your natural talent take over the set by the Red Sox backs remained hot in Game two as they scored in the first inning for the second straight night here comes Manny our news right behind the camara Tector 30 slides in for the trip off offense never was a concern for this team but shillings ankles certainly was when I woke up at seven o'clock this morning I couldn't walk I couldn't move i honest to god did not think I was gonna take the ball today didn't excited until I could Schilling certainly has done it before he did it last week against the Yankees but this time it was more painful this is like the movie Braveheart I mean this guy is a warrior and that's why we brought Curt Schilling here to help us get to our dream [Music] struck him out swinging chillin with this Twitter the ceiling was indeed a warrior for the Boston Red Sox I did what I did last time I went to the Lord for for help because I knew again I wasn't gonna be able to do this myself I just wish everybody on this planet could experience the day that I just experienced it's just the most amazing day in my life Boston now led two games to none and as the series shifted to st. Louis the focus of Game three turned to Pedro [Applause] Martinez wouldn't need much run support this night but he got some early from Ramirez there they go again they've scored in the first inning and all three of these World Series and in this game many also did it on defense Larry Walker down at the plate in Pedro this vintage Pedro he's a Hall family he's a competitor he knows to be wants to do it he wants to dominate 14 Pedro on center stage in the biggest game of his career in the World Series has answered the challenge shameless Karl's were explosive all year people said all they were dead you didn't see that in real Carl's let me tell you something they were not dead they ran a shelling in Martinez that's what makes you look dead as game four commenced Derek Lowe looked to continue Boston's trend of deadening the Cardinals bats go to pitch here's a swing and a miss out on strike something the st. Louis pictures seem to solely laugh drive deep to right back in st. Louis Cardinals have never been ahead and this bases-loaded [Music] turns on at 8:00 that was all the runs support that lo would need as he sought to become the first pitcher in postseason history to win all three Series clinching games [Music] retired the last 12 swung on and missed he struck him out he has pitched shutout baseball through seven innings like Schilling and Pedro before him low did not surrender an earned run and fact of matter as we just pitched lights out would pitch that ball really well and I've taught allowed us to do what we did and he comes in to try and closer this wasn't simply a World Series save resting on Keith folks arm this was salvation for a nation after decade after decade after decade of tragic baseball lawsuits here on the Boston Red Sox on a precipice of a four-game sweep with every pitch the past the painful past the past that never ceased to be the present was washed away since 1918 [Music] Edgar rentería the last chance for st. Louis to extend this game you get that last out you think you're gonna win you're almost trying to hold back but it's hard to keep it inside because it is so emotional you start breathing harder they start shaking I mean you're about ready to erase a a six-year curse off to the set one old pinch here it is [Applause] Oh for the first time in [Applause] [Music] the chip [Music] it's just a tremendous accomplishment for this team in the city and 86 years of frustrations finally over [Music] it was a thing that you dream of as a child for such a long period of time to be able to watch it unfold in front of your eyes and be able to run the field and celebrate with your teammates after folky got that last out so does he hit it I'm like gotta catch this ball you gotta catch this ball and I was actually a little a little early on catching and almost missed it but once I had it and you know I kind of started to run towards first and when I got rid of it it's like oh my god that laughs I was made it's a feeling you can't like your world champions it is the Red Sox no other champions of the world when I was running you know he was unbelievable feeling that I was I can't describe him and I was shaking and I couldn't believe it you know because everything went so fast when you rush that mound and when you rushed your teammates and you're hugging and the tears and it's what you work so hard for it I can say without any reservation so this is the happiest moment of my life just because of the collective goal had been reached [Music] they had fun this team there's a testimony to the playing baseball winning baseball when there's a looseness and relaxation about it was a team of players to like each other that respected each other and wanting win for each other the team we have it doesn't come around too often a lot of teams they have a clique so they shy away from each other but our team once one person speaks everybody listens [Applause] [Music] and although these players have innovated 86 years they are aware of the burden that a lot of Boston players have played under with the constant reminders of how long it's been if you wore a Red Sox uniform that you've had you've had to bear so much of this burden for 86 years you can go back to these great Red Sox teams and there are a lot of great players who never have the joy of winning the World Series Johnny Pesky he's a red sock at heart he's full uni every day is 80 something years old that's the man that I was proud to give him a hug and you know that was for him [Music] when that last out was made if I was fifty years younger I'd have probably been jumping up and down like a crazy minute but that was probably one of the best cities if the Red Sox president could ever have it's just as much for them I mean you could wear that uniform you know you appreciate how much this championship means the tumor Isis Ted Williams Bobby Doerr Johnny Pesky all of them Buckner Billy Buckner no more baggage [Music] this goes well beyond the Boston Red Sox 2004 you know this is for all the people that and all the teams that have come up short I think that this is a story that actually transcended baseball to be sure this was one of the greatest stories in all of sports this team not only made history they divided and in the course of this improbable journey that captured the hearts of a Red Sox Nation that knew no boundaries I believe in my heart that this was America's team whoever your team was once they got knocked out it was kind of like man you got like these guys they're down earth they're normal they're crazy and they're good [Applause] [Music] we won in st. Louis we got to celebrate with each other but then we got to go back to Boston no one could have imagined what was waiting for the Red Sox when they did return home Derr all this was a celebration 86 years in the making the Red Sox right Fenway about 7:30 this morning a hero's welcome [Applause] coming from the airport to the ballpark you saw guys on bridges waving honking horns to me that was pretty neat pretty exciting day after 86 years the curse is gone and the Red Sox have proven they got the heart of the nation I think the entire country now is marveling of what the Red Sox have done even the folks at MIT took some time out today to turn their famous dome into a baseball it was the best welcome back we could have and instantly we got to see that we were gonna be able to share this with the whole city of Boston the whole New England region and all Red Sox Nation around the world [Music] [Applause] [Music] the confetti started to fly in Boston as the parade is unwrapped who's a gathering of Red Sox me people letting out five years of frustration 15 50 60 70 years of frustration together this crowd is now twenty deep on both sides hanging out of windows on top of buildings being a part of this week for a lifetime celebration raid was like being at a rock concert for three straight hours but you're moving I can't tell you how bad my ears hurt but how happy these people were so happy that could be with my dad finally see them win it after I know many years of him wishing they could do it the pain and suffering but now it finally didn't they really just released something that has been passed down generation to generation when I woke him up for the ninth inning when tonight I was wondering what if they don't win and I'm scarred of the life that they won and I was very happy that they shared over 3.7 million people in hotels in streets and trees in the water this is Red Sox Nation that you hear about that you dream about being a part of this is Sox Nation that parade was oh my goodness I mean just both sides of street you know 50 I hire people deep and seeing the looks on their faces and having everybody thank you and it's like what do you think of me for it's like this is kind of this one's for you guys every place that I go a lot of people tell me oh man you make me so happy you make the city so happy what I want to tell my fans you know they don't want to make me happy this team had such an affection for their fans they were so excited about getting out there and saying thank you to the fans and it was basically both sides saying thank you to each other in that parade as our players held up this trophy as we held up this trophy we saw human reactions we saw tears we saw jubilation we saw people just almost paralyzed so there was a civic pride a sense of community everybody knows that's been 86 years but for people who were just hoping to see one World Series in their lifetime for them it was one of the most joyous moments of their lives as players we felt them all year long and here we were back in our home acknowledging that they were such an incredibly significant part of what we did I wouldn't trade one World Series ring in Boston for three anywhere else the people must really deserve it they have been so supportive of us for such a long time we have been close before that to actually bring it over we make that that dream come true [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] this program was produced by major league baseball productions William Joseph within [Music] the brilliant debut album from this young piano sensation produced by Grammy winner David Foster now own this breathtaking CD William Joseph on tour with Josh Groban within the new CD available everywhere here the entire album at Wigan - Joseph calm [Music]

Channel: Sports Odyssey

Views: 60,395

Rating: 4.9287672 out of 5

Keywords:

Id: TBinusfEirA

Length: 86min 56sec (5216 seconds)

Published: Tue Jul 09 2019