The Boy Wonders

Note by Ev: The all-two sweet comeback win last night has been too far and in-between … the glory of winning is starting to become a “new and cherished” feeling … which makes this season all too more despairing.
Two teams on divergent paths clash tonight. On one hand, a recent World Series winner tailspinning into oblivion under the pressure of the unsatiated mass and curious dealings of a (perhaps) superego front office. On the other hand, the never complacent, always aggressive and self-appointed Best Sports Franchise In All The Land.
How funny is it that the paths of the original Boy Wonder and the current Boy Wonder seem to be similar? True, it took several years for the original to experience delirious success in the year of 1995 (although the strike-shortened 1994 could have been it) under Davey Johnson, three years after being appointed and claiming the Cincinatti Reds’ first postseason appearance since the World Series delight of 1990 helmed by Lou Pinella.
Alas, the original Boy Wonder, Jim Bowden, spiraled into mockery shortly thereafter, and despite one last gasp in 1999 (anyone ever hear of a blind squirrel and a nut?), is still being mocked while at the helm of the despaired Washington Nationals.
The current Boy Wonder? Sure, it took him but two years, but he got that delirious success, and he topped Bowden’s division-winning team with an improbable, historic World Series win, but the team is falling down, just like Jimbo’s team fell down – and not only under the weight of expectations, but under the weight of their own ego.
How else can it be explained? It is on the record, dissected many times, that the young players are the way to go, so quoth our Boy Wonder. Undervalued bargains and young players are to Theo what toolsy outfielders and over-the-hill veterans are to Jim Bowden (that is, until this year, when the Nationals’ brand new ownership told Jimbo to either go young or go take a hike).
And yet, we spiral into oblivion.
Is this the best way to use waste the historical and awe-inspiring seasons of surefire Hall-of-Famer Manny Ramirez (how does he not have a universal nickname? Pedro is Petey, Alex is A-Rod, Randy is the Unit…) and possible Hall-of-Famer (he’s certainly at the possible stage now, that can’t be denied – five more years of this, and he’s one) in “Big Papi” David Ortiz.
It’s not the best way to use it.
And yet …
We’re waiting for the youngsters to arrive. You will not, nor ever, find me campaigning against the use of youngsters. But you will find me campaigning against the reliance of youngsters. Rely on them, and you’re burned. Ask Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen, Dustin Pedroia, Cla Meredith (who had to get out of Boston to escape reliance) and many others.
Did the Yankees rely on Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera and Chien-Ming Wang? They do now, but you cannot tell me they did right at the outset.
We relied on Cla Meredith, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen (the one player who maybe we can say has escaped unscathed so far) and Jon Lester. They’re young, they’re fallible, and counting on them is counting on 85 wins or worse. Did the Marlins count on the youngsters to get into the playoffs? Of course not.
See the common thread here? We’re counting on them to save the day, to plug the holes, this cannot be done. They have to come and plug the holes themselves, we cannot wait around for them. It’s how teams flounder. Get on the offensive, get players, and wait for the veterans to be forced out by young players.
Kevin Youkilis, young he is not, is still green in terms of major league service. Once upon a time he was hitting well above .300 and was the talk of baseball. Now, he’s sliding down into the .270 range, he’s struggling, and there’s whispers Eric Hinske will get some more playing time to rest Youuuuuuuuuuk.
Jim Bowden relies on toolsy outfielders and toasted veterans. That was and is his downfall, and Theo’s downfall is relying on youngsters and bargains. Rudy Seanez was a nice bargain.
To be sure, this season has piled upon itself reams and reams of bad luck. Even trading the wrong young and old players (Edgar Renteria, Cla Meredith, Josh Bard, David Riske, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez…) has exploded spectacularly in his face.
Unpredictable the successes of those that he traded? Not really. The quick and dominating success? Yes.
Nonetheless, the successes have happened, and now the teams are licking their chops for the offseason, to get their hands on ex-Red Sox players. The Cub Factor lists that no team with more than three Cubs on its postseason roster can win a World Series. Are we seeing the birth of The Red Sox Factor? Come to the Red Sox, fail under unimaginable burdens (and be relied upon at a green age) then get out and become an All-Star?
For Theo’s sanity, for the Red Sox’s sanity, for our sanity, and most certainly for my sanity, let’s hope this is not the case.
Let us hope this disaster of a season is merely karma rounding upon us for winning the World Series. For it’s been said many a time – God must be a Yankee fan.
If we hope this, then we don’t have to entertain the notion that this is the real Theo we’re seeing – the one who won’t go and get the job done (our July 31st acquisition – and only one – was BRYAN COREY for crying out loud) … that relies on those that should be worked in and cultivated … that attempts to find bargains only to see them explode spectacularly in his face (Mark Bellhorn looks more and more like 2004 was the exception, not the rule) … no, let’s just hope God really is a Yankee fan.
For if this is all by design, not by jilting Lady Luck and crying to a stone-faced God (if there is even one, I do not propose to impose the belief that there is one upon you) …
then God help us. And as we know, the Yankee-bred God certainly won’t be there for us.