Back from three days in a cabin in the mountains with almost no contact anywhere, hiking with deer and porcupines and nameless large poop that made us think “bear,” I return to learn, indirectly, that “Papelbum” is gone. For some reason – perhaps because he is a moron? – I am neither surprised nor unhappy yet, if you compare his career to many other “closers” who had no staying power, he has been net super for us and will I agree likely continue. In any event we will not do better.
The team may not believe in the concept of dedicated “closers,” but each game gets closed by someone so all we can really say is, either the team gets 9-inning starters (we cannot even get enough 5-inning starters!) or they will employ closers, and if management wants to call them something else I guess owning a billion dollar business gives you a lock on lots of things including nomenclature.
The team has announced flat ticket prices. It is hard to envision the team’s composition at this point, but I think spectacular moves will be forthcoming. They did it each of the last few years when things did not look depressing, as they do now. We have outfield holes, starter holes, righty holes, and mojo holes. Holy moly, ain’t we got holes. They will do something before they want our money, and it is likely to be flashy even if unwise because they really do not want to drop down into their waiting list for season seats and ruin the attendance karma which, for management, is much better than winning ballgames because it generates cash; the last time I rang up a bill at Whole Foods and told the cashier we were even because the Sox won last night they called the cops on me….
My 8 year old gasped, when I told him, “You mean he left the team???!????” So really truly sad, I could cry. He LEFT the team, he abandoned us when we put so much trust in him. Loyalty to the team is the myth we give the kids and still cannot rid ourselves of, after all these years and all these lessons. “ Yes,” I replied, trying brutal frankness and watching an 8 year old both age and acquire cursed wisdom at the same time, “he left for money. Remember they only do this for the money.” Matthew looked glum; he should look glum. Loss of innocence always sucks.