Even Bill knows Sox are having fun
No one will mistake Eduardo Rodriguez for Tom Brady.
Nearly four hours before the first pitch of the Red Sox’ Division Series opener against the Yankees yesterday, the starter-turnedreliever casually tossed a football back and forth with teammates. The ball wobbled worse than a Weeble out of the lefty’s hand, and the group of players had a laugh over it.
The night before, Bill Belichick — rough, tough, gruff Bill Belichick — broke from his stoic postgame football routine after the Patriots’ 38-24 win over Indianapolis to wish the Red Sox well this weekend.
“With that, I’d just like to wish the Red Sox well in their playoff series,” Belichick said, cracking a seldom-seen smile to cap his postgame presser. “We’re pulling for them.”
E-Rod probably could use a few pointers from Belichick and Brady on how to grip and throw a football, but he and the Sox were certainly appreciative of his interest.
“Was he intense? That’s awesome. That’s cool,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before Game 1. “To play sports and follow sports in this city at this time is unreal. The Patriots and the Bruins and Celtics and us. What we’ve been doing the last few years, it’s fun.”
Fun. Like players warming up by throwing a football. Or playing hot potato.
Just down the line from Rodriguez and company, near first base, three Red Sox infielders led by a jovial Steve Pearce slapped a ball around with their hands. They weren’t allowed to catch the ball, and they couldn’t let it hit the ground. They laughed while trying to force each other to mess up.
That they were about to play in just the fourth postseason series ever between the Red Sox and Yankees didn’t seem to cross their minds.
Loose. That was the mood du jour at Fenway Park in the afternoon. It’s something the players appear to have gleaned from their manager, who reinforced that notion before the game.
“I’ve been saying all along, it’s just a game,” Cora said. “It’s just a game.”
He was referring to being with his family after breaking down film, but all season he’s been of the same mindset, and he has imparted that attitude on the clubhouse.
It’s infectious, in the best possible way.
That’s one reason why, win or lose, the Red Sox will still believe they can come right back to the park today and do it all over again with a positive result. It’s a big reason why the team muddled through a losing streak of three games just four times this season.
And a four-game losing streak? Didn’t happen, not once.
Minimizing losing streaks is something the Sox have in common with the Patriots, who have lost back-to-back games just 12 times in the BelichickBrady era.
No one has ever accused the Patriots of being a “fun” organization, but they clearly enjoy winning. Brady smiles more often than not, even in tough situations.
And Belichick? Well, at least he smiled when he talked about the Red Sox.
And as long as that mood permeates this team, they’ll have a chance to keep playing.
Now, about those football-throwing lessons for Rodriguez.