DR. BILL MORGAN

THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE

October 21, 2004 ... No game scheduled ... An Emerson College junior, Victoria Snelgrove, a 21-year-old journalism student from East Bridgewater, was struck and killed by a pepper-spray-filled plastic ball at about 1:30 a.m., some 90 minutes after the Red Sox celebrated on the infield at Yankee Stadium, provoking an estimated 80,000 jubilant and mostly young fans to converge on Kenmore Square. They were fired on by police seeking to disperse revelers who authorities said threatened to spin out of control. The Sox expressed sorrow.  "Her death was a tragic accident," Mike Timlin said. "Hopefully, everyone will learn from it." Manager Terry Francona urged fans to party peacefully. "I hope we give them a lot of reason to celebrate over the next week," he said, "but I also hope they use some common sense." Trot Nixon added, "I'd give Game 7 back to have her back. It's up to the public to enjoy the moment but not get stupid."

The Cardinals marched into the franchise's 16th World Series, its first since 1987, with a 5-2 triumph over the upstart Houston Astros in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.  The win sets up a rematch of the 1946 and 1967 World Series, both won by St. Louis in seven games. Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and earned Most Valuable Player honors in a series in which he hit .500 with 10 runs, 4 home runs, and 9 RBIs.

The procedure on Curt Schilling did not heal him. Dr. Bill Morgan explaining that even with the quick fix that enabled Schilling to pitch, he will require surgery.  Morgan said the suture fix would not jeopardize Schilling's prospects for full recovery or make the injury worse; other orthopedic experts interviewed agreed.

The Sox opted against taking batting practice today.  Tim Wakefield showed up at Fenway Park with catcher Doug Mirabelli for his final bullpen session before he starts Game 1 of the World Series tomorrow against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Wakefield, Curt Schilling, and Pedro Martinez will pitch the first three games of the World Series, the Sox announced.  Five of the players on the Sox' 25-man roster last night were not with the team on Opening Day: Orlando Cabrera, Curtis Leskanic, Doug Mientkiewicz, Mike Myers, and Dave Roberts.

October 22, 2004 ... No game scheduled ... Less than 48 hours after their champagne showers and beer baths in the Bronx in celebrating the greatest comeback in a postseason series in baseball history, the Sox stepped into the October chill in the Fens for their final workout before Game 1 with their eyes on a bigger prize.  Red Sox owner John W. Henry stood behind the batting cage.  Some of Henry's players were standing in the outfield getting loose in. The St. Louis Cardinals were still in their clubhouse, staying warm until the last minute before it was time to go to work. Baseball's Fall Classic returns to Boston for the first time in 18 years with the Red Sox playing host to the Cardinals.