Don't Worry (Sox Fans), Be Happy

Right off the bat (pun intended), I'd like to send a special thanks to Eric Brill and the rest of The Clock staff for a great semester. This is the last piece I'll get a chance to write for The Clock so I decided I'd make it about one of the professional sports teams I'm most passionate about: the Boston Red Sox. As I type this, the Sox are down 3-2 in the bottom of the third against the Kansas City Royals (not exactly the Yankees). Ninety percent of New England is holding their breath, waiting for Boston's version of the Titanic to sink for the season.

I'm not worried. Don't get me wrong; I'm not thrilled about the lackluster start for the BoSox, but I'm not writing off the season just yet. I have as much faith in Bobby Valentine as a fan can have in a New England Professional coach not named Bill Belichick. He's been around the bases more than people give him credit for. Valentine doesn't have the patience for a transition year in the big leagues. He's heading into his golden years,ma and he'd love to have a gold ring accompanying him.

As far as pitching goes, last season's beer and fried chicken antics will have lit a fire under Josh Beckett and Jon Lester by the time the meaningful games roll along. Josh Bard will return for the bullpen for another year and for the better of the team (Sorry, Josh). Daisuke Matsuzaka (Dice-K) will make as triumphant a return to the mound as he can muster. Hopefully, Andrew Bailey will do the same as he dons a Sox uniform for the first time of his career.

The name that's been stuck in my mind ever since I've started writing this piece is Theo Epstein's final gift to the Boston ball club: Carl Crawford. The 142-million dollar man has been less than wonderful since becoming a member of the Red Sox. If Crawford plays well this season, the cards will fall into place for a playoff-contending Sox squad. Crawford's below-average play doesn't change the fact that he is a good baseball player with a huge opportunity to become great. Left field has been reserved for the legendary players in Sox history (Ted Williams, Manny Ramirez, Carl Yastrzemski). If Carl Crawford returns healthy and returns soon, he could make that list even greater.

Two World Series titles in the last decade is a treat for the previously championship-deprived Boston baseball following, yet the sharks that are New England athletics fans are still circling in the water, waiting for more. I'm no different. I crave another championship as bad as the next fan. That's why I can't throw away all of my hopes just yet. I've seen the Red Sox trapped in a lot worse positions than being six games behind in a young season. I have faith that the boys in red stockings will find a path to victory sooner rather than later. So don't worry, be happy, Sox fans. I know I am.