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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 10
October 16, 1986 ...
On the back of each chair at each Red Sox locker were spanking
new blue T-shirts, babies born the night previous, all fit and fresh,
the shirts reading, "Boston Red Sox -- 1986 American League
Champions." Also leaning against the chairs at several of the lockers
were strange and weird implements. There were bats for the pitchers,
bats to be used against the Mets in the games at New York during the
World Series.
Bill Buckner was one of three players in the locker room at
mid-afternoon. Buckner undressed, hobbled over to a corner where he spotted an
old white plastic canister, filled it with water and then carried it to the
middle of the locker room. Next, Buckner hobbled over to an ice machine, scooped
up two handfuls of ice, limped back and dumped the ice into the white bucket.
Buckner sat down and plunked both his feet into the ice water. Manager John McNamara said Don Baylor will play first base
in the two games in New York against the Mets. Buckner's condition will be
reevaluated tomorrow, and the Sox hope he'll be ready for Game 3 at Fenway Park
Tuesday night. McNamara said he is encouraged enough by Buckner's progress to
leave him on the 24-man roster. At 3:11 p.m., McNamara called pitching coach, Bill Fischer
into his office and the manager sat with his pitching coach to discuss the
pitching plans for New York. Five minutes later, the conference was over. Bruce
Hurst will pitch on Saturday. The condition of Roger Clemens is the key consideration. If
he is ready to work again on three days' rest, the Sox will have him available
for Game 2 and either Game 5 or 6. If he is held out until Tuesday, Clemens will
work Game 3 and either Game 6 or 7. Oil Can Boyd's workload depends on Clemens'
situation. Third base coach Rene Lachemann, none the worse for his
Worldwide Wrasslin' match on the Fenway mound with a fan attempting to steal his
hat in the happy postgame scrum Wednesday night, showed up wearing one of the
suddenly popular "Rene Lachemann Fan Club" caps. Many of the Red Sox were
wearing the caps during Wednesday's champagne shower. No pressure, no drama, no intensity. Merely men savoring
what they had accomplished. |
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But Buckner is also a player who has suffered many ailments, and played in spite of them. And he certainly knows his body. He noticed that the problem in his right heel didn't feel much different than the one he has experienced in his left heel, and came up with a possible solution. What is happening is that a man who had been ruled out of the first two games at Shea Stadium probably will play. Baylor worked at first base, but if Buckner can play, Baylor will be on the bench. Wade Boggs isn't concerned about his weak playoff average (.233). Reliever Wes Gardner, a former Met, won't be able to suit up against his old teammates. But the right-handed pitcher, who is on the disabled list because of shoulder surgery, will be charting pitches. Dave Henderson will start in center field, and Tony Armas is available as a pinch hitter. Red Sox pitchers spent most of their batting practice time bunting yesterday. Hitting was a popular subject concerning the pitchers. Baylor's role in the Series may be limited by the restriction of the designated hitter to games at Fenway. But he left no doubt how he feels about the National League and coming back to New York. Eastern Airlines will be adding two additional flights, at midnight and 1 a.m., to its Boston to New York/New York-Boston shuttle service, and has reduced the fare on its flights between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to $39 for passengers displaying a game ticket. The shuttle is $65 weekdays and $50 Saturday and Sunday. |
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