Francona Kisses Heads of Players to Make It All Feel Better; Papelbon Rides Bike Back to Boston
Stare Tactics. Jonathan Papelbon's glaring glance to home plate didn't intimidate the Orioles.
BALTIMORE (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) Another epic collapse in baseball. The Phillies of 1964. The Mets of 2007. And now the Boston Red Sox of 2011. The team many predicted to win it all this season, had the Wild Card all but sewn up earlier this month, but a charging Tampa Bay Rays team had other ideas. Coupled with Boston’s freefall, the season culminated at 12:05 AM on Thursday, as Evan Longoria’s left field laser beam ended it all.
“I’d kick myself,” said Red Sox outfielder, Carl Crawford. “But I think I’d miss.”
Crawford, the high priced off season acquisition, was unable to complete a sliding catch in Baltimore last night, allowing the Orioles stunning comeback and setting the stage for the Rays heroics moments later.
Red Sox Manager Terry Francona attempted to sooth his players’ pain.
“Terry kissed us all on the heads to make all the ouches go away.” said slugger Adrian Gonzalez. “Then he took us out for hamburgers. Unfortunately the late night window at Wendy’s® was closed by the time we got there.”
Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon chose not to join his teammates and rode his bike back to Boston.
“I peddled real hard.” said Papelbon, who refused to come out of his room. “The tears and snot were leaking from my face, the dramatic music swelled around me accentuating a horrific moment frozen in time, but I only snuck an over the shoulder peek twice. I was determined to forget it all and move on.”
The Rays will move on to the post-season. Wendy’s® has sent fifty Singles with Cheese® to the Red Sox.
Tags: Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria, Jonathan Papelbon, Mets, Phillies, Rays, red sox, Terry Francona