October 06, 2005
The Buck(ner) stops here
All right everyone, it's time to let up on Tony Graffanino. In the New York Times, "should the Red Sox lose the American League division series with the White Sox, their fans will have another name to curse".
MSNBC.com calls Graffanino's error "Buckner-like". The NY Post's Kevin Kernan says that Graffanino now "knows what it is like to live in Bill Buckner's shoes."
Graffanino has been a fine addition to this ballclub - giving it much needed stability at second base. He has been far superior over Mark Bellhorn, yes, even defensively (only three errors since joining the club). He has shown knowledge of the game, better than average range - and has hit extremely well during his time with the Sox (.319).
Why then are fans throwing him under the bus? Was the blunder that terrible? Yes, it may have cost three runs, but the game? I think not. Heck, there were many chances for the Sox to regain the lead, including a lead-off double by Graffanino himself.
The Boston Herald says Error puts the Red Sox in familiar hole. If so familiar than Boston should know how to get out of it.
Foxsports' Ken Rosenthal says its difficult to see Sox rallying this time. Why's that? They've done it two years in a row and have enough ammo to do it again.
I say, we should embrace Graffanino and hope that we can again sign him for cheap money in the offseason. That way we can spend the rest to either get Johnny Damon back and/or a big first baseman with a bat, say, Paul Konerko.
The Hartford Courant says that Graffanino is handling the fallout.
As he should - hopefully with his head high and a smile on his face.
Why blame the loss on one play? I'm sick of the Buckner comparisons. Sox fans should be ashamed if they are bringing back old curses.
Besides we all know it was Bob Stanley who messed it up in 1986.
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Two essential comments:
1. Like Buckner's error, the game was lost over the course of all the pitches made, all the at-bats taken.
2. Unlike Buckner's error, the degree of difficulty was higher for Graffanino (slow grounder to second to turn two v. slow grounder to first to simply field and step on the bag), and the result more disasterous, needless to say, for Buckner.
Sure, we all want Graffanino to make that play. But it did not in itself tie or lose the game. That would be the pitch two batters later that left the yard, and the inability to score the remaining four innings.
Posted by
HatBackOctober 6, 2005 01:59 PM
Typical Boston Fans..They love a loser and the media exploits the mindset. You gotta know how to handle winning and losing. Now the sox fans got losing down pat, we just need to work on the winning part...Hello WS Champs, 3 Super Bowls, Celtics 16, even the Bruins won a couple of cups way back when...
Sports media is made up of a collective bunch of boobs that have to sell sizzle or another story about Brett Favre's drinking, divorce, gator attack or whatever before they tell you the real story about the game.....
Buckner This!
Gaffe-anino This!
Posted by Billy
October 6, 2005 02:22 PM
Right after Graffanino's error ESPN went to commercial and then the studio break. Carl Ravitch(worst toupee in broadcasting, looks like a young Cosell) says "we'll see you at the break, after that Buckner moment."
Posted by Dickey
October 6, 2005 02:37 PM
Bob Stanley?!?! Puh-leeze! It was John "enemy of the people" McNamara who messed up in '86; in so many ways they can't all be counted. Let's all lighten up on Buckner -- and Graffanino.
Posted by
steveOctober 6, 2005 02:44 PM
As a matter of fact, it's not the fans that are "throwing him under the bus," but rather, it's the media constant harping about "Buckner this" and "Buckner that" which is perpetuating the whole thing. Red Sox fans gave Graffanino a warm welcome at the Park on Friday. There were no fans with Buckner signs in the stands. It's the media who keep bringing it up. We fans don't want to hear that "B" name again. Please all of you in media land, give it a rest.
Posted by
AngieOctober 8, 2005 04:50 PM
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