Guest Article - "Deja Vu All Over Again"

The success of the 2013 Red Sox brings back great memories of the 1967 Impossible Dream team. The Sox had a cast of characters that often came through with a well pitched game, a big hit or a great catch when it was least expected. How about the play of Dalton Jones, Jose Tartabull, Jerry Adair & Billy Rohr to name a few. They made the plays when it counted. That is not to say that the Sox did not have players who had the greatest year of their career: Rico Petrocelli, Jim Lonborg & Triple Crown Winner Yaz. The Sox also benefitted by getting Elston Howard to help the catching corps & Hawk Harrelson to play the outfield in place of an injured Tony C. The 1966 Sox finished in the bottom of their division just like the 2012 Sox. The manager of the 1966 Sox was Billy Herman/Pete Runnels. Ironically, both the 1966 & the 2012 teams finished 26 games out of first place. I guess I do not have to tell you who the manager of 2012 was. Both Dick Williams & John Farrell's approach seem to move the team in the right direction. Dick turned the Sox country club into the Sox boot camp. This was no surprise as Williams played for some of the great Brooklyn Dodger teams. But what about John Farrell? His claim to fame was as a pitching coach. As a manager for the Toronto Blue Jays his team was at best mediocre. So what happened this year? Was it Farrell's approach? His knowledge of pitching? Players signed in the off season? Or was it the magic of Ben Cherington? As Dick Williams did in 67 with the boot camp approach it was "No Nonsense." Boys, let's leave the chicken & beer for after the game. No calls to KFC for takeout during the 7th inning stretch! Is discipline the key to success??? Who knows what the Sox will do in the second half of the season? If the last 81 games are remotely comparable to 1967 - get ready for one hell of a ride on the emotional roller coaster called a pennant race!!! Thank you Mr. Williams for making a losing franchise into a winning one. (Author Mike G.)