How many ways can men grow hair on their face? The Boston Red Sox answer: A lot. (From mlb.com)
I want the Boston Red Sox to win the World Series.
There. I said it.
That was a tough sentence to type for a lifelong fan of the New York Mets, a baseball guy who thinks the National League is what it’s all about. My second favorite team is the Washington Nationals, the parent club of my hometown Syracuse Chiefs and NL East rival to my Metsies. My third favorite team is the Los Angeles Dodgers because my father didn’t totally hate them after the National League squad began the exodus west by leaving the borough of my birth, Brooklyn.
And I want the Boston Red Sox to beat the St. Louis Cardinals.
My reasons are many.
I like their beards. Yeah, I’ve worn a beard since the fall I left for college and decided I liked the way my face looked after skipping the morning shave a week in a row. Also: This idea of everybody’s-in-it-together makes me smile.
I like their names and the way they come out of my mouth without even thinking of it. Biiiiiig Papi, wide on the first syllable, just like the clutch World Series hitter is built. Saltalamacchia, musical and lilting. It makes me imagine breaking into a little salsa step (if I knew a little salsa step). At 14 characters, it’s the longest last name in major-league history.
I like my yearly vacations to Cape Cod, and the people I meet there. In the friendly local bar we discovered, the folks gathered for a beer after work and talked about the Sox in that special way they talk. I listened and nodded my head.
I like the way these Red Sox players dig in, work hard, get dirty, play the game like my new friends in the Cape Cod bar live life.
And, most importantly, Boston deserves the big moment. The city suffered together after those creeps bombed the finish of the Boston Marathon, and the city stood together to mourn and heal and declare “Hell, no, you’re not taking our spirit away forever.”
Sorry, St. Louis Cardinals. Very nice comeback last night to even the series at 1-1. And last night’s formidable starting pitcher has a user friendly name, too. Wacha, Wacha, Wacha.
But I want the Boston Red Sox to win the World Series.
Mark Bialczak 
For me, it’s tough to cheer for the Red Sox even though I want to. I am a Blue Jays fan and wasn’t happy with how John Farrell basically gave the Jays’ organization I big middle finger on his way out when he said the Red Sox job was his dream job. He was honest, but it cut deep with Jays’ fans. Other than Farrell, I can’t hate this team. Like you said, they play the game the right way and they have incredible beards. I also love watching games on TV that are in Fenway Park. It just feels right. As a Jays fan, I’m obligated to hate Boston, but I don’t think I can at this moment. Their city deserves it.
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It must have hurt to lose your manager to the Sox like that, Paul. A team in the same division! Oy. I went to a Jays’ game in Toronto back when the stadium was called the Skydome. It was drizzly so they kept the roof closed. I wanted to see it open. Ah, well. In either case, no other ballpark carries the charm of Fenway, although I would imagine Wrigley Field is pretty darn fun. Thanks for your comment!
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The way he left the Jays left a sour taste in our mouth. He brought some other coaches with him – third base coach Brian Butterfield. Toronto loves the guy and wants to see him succeed, but not Farrell. And believe me, we all still call it SkyDome. Cannot stand it being called the Rogers Centre. I’m not sure how our ballpark compares to others around the league since I haven’t been to others. But it’s much nice with the Dome open and the CN Tower hovering beside it. I’m going to Detroit for the NHL Winter Classic and will be at Comerica Park for the AHL outdoor game, so I’ll have a chance to see what our stadiums are like.
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Have much fun at the two outdoor hockey games this winter, Paul. I like my hockey spectating to be done inside the big barns.
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Mark … as a semi-crazed Sox fan who sometimes sports a beard, I thank you. This Sox team is reminiscent of the ’04 “idiots,” albeit a little hairier. They’ve got character, grit and a sense of mutual respect that the Bobby Valentine crew certainly lacked in the disaster of 2012. (And thank you for not mentioning the word “Mookie” or 1986!)
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That ’86 series was a tense time here in Central New York, where Sox and Mets fans are more accustomed to banding together in dislike of the Yankees. That’s all I’ll say about that one, JIm.
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