Boston Red Sox: 2021 team a throwback to 2004 team

No matter what the final outcome of this series against Tampa Bay or the season is, it’s time to realize that the 2021 Boston Red Sox is a throwback to the 2004 team and give credit.

This version of the Sox has become a special one reminiscent of one not too long ago which rendered itself immortal to Red Sox fans. That was the 2004 version of the Boston Red Sox.

That version was the self-proclaimed “Dirt Dogs” who finally broke the so-called, “Curse of the Bambino”. How sweet that was.

The sale of one George Herman “Babe” Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919 was given responsibility (in folklore and elsewhere) for the lack of World Series wins since then.

Have to say this here, this 2021 Boston Red Sox is a throwback to that 2004 team, and don’t be surprised if they perform miracles, as well.

The Boston Red Sox of 2021 are the new “dirt dogs” of Fenway

While there are some differences obviously in the two squads, there are also metaphorical similarities and that’s what will be dealt with here.

This writer couldn’t help thinking of the quote by Kevin Millar of the Sox, the Dirt Dog Supreme said after the Sox went down three to nothing against the powerhouse Yankees.

Millar said, and it occurred here after the Sox were whitewashed in Tampa Bay in the first game of this series, “Don’t let us win tonight …”  (Disclosure: thought it was “win a game”. Oh well.)

In any event, the Sox won one, then another, and pulled off the greatest upset in baseball history by taking four straight from the Bronx Bombers.

They then headed to the World Series in which they swept a very, very good St. Louis Cardinals team and broke that so-called curse forever.

The 2021 Boston Red Sox are Dirt Dogs of another breed

The Dirt Dogs of 2000 were a team loaded with superstars and future Hall-of-Famers, e.g Big Papi, Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, and possibly Curt Schilling.

Yet, they also had their average to above-average major league players like Millar, Bill Miller, Jason Varitek, and Johnny Damon. All players with real character and grit.

This version really doesn’t have the Hall-of-Fame types. Although, you never really know who might emerge.

So that’s quite a difference. Yet, the one word used recently in this space that readily comes to mind that both share is this, RESILIENCE.

In 2004, it was to come back from a three to nothing deficit against the mighty Yankees team and win four straight.

In 2021, it’s to come back from adversity after adversity both in personnel and otherwise over an entire season and still excel.

It included a seemingly weak offseason and trade deadlines that were panned by some observers. And over the season they seemed totally inconsistent.

It was a roller-coaster season, in which they “were up, and down and over and out” a number of times.

Oh my, I just interjected lyrics from the greatest of the great, Frank Sinatra’s song, “That’s life” in there. But that was this season for the Boston Red Sox.

Yet, every time they were knocked down, knocked back, they just got up off the floor like the amazing Tyson Fury (big fan of his) the other night in a heavy-weight boxing championship match.

Fury was knocked down twice in one round against a truly great fighter, Deonte Wilder, yet, he got off the canvas, “got back in the race” and won in the 11th round by TKO.

So, that’s a bit of Red Sox history, a bit of Frank Sinatra, a little boxing, but most of all, a lot of admiration for two Red Sox teams.

One is historical, the 2004 team, a World Series winner against all odds. The other is the contemporary, the 2021 Boston Red Sox playing a big series now against a great team.

But whether they beat the Tampa Bay Rays or not, go on to win or lose if they do, whatever, one thing is crystal clear, in this 2021 version.

They have the spirit of the old “Dirt Dogs” of 2004, a great trait. They just don’t know the meaning of the word QUIT. And, in the final analysis, what more can you ask of anyone or any team.