u/Dependent_Age_6886

So this year has been a slog. Insufferable at times. Flickers of excitement and potential here and there.

The young kids have had scant veteran leadership to teach them to navigate this adversity (aside from the blessings of Contreras and the few years in perspectives of young’uns themselves like Crochet, Ceddane, and — gulp — Duran).

If the young players were kids in a family, we’d applaud the life lessons they’re getting, to toughen them up for the time when they need to lead and do it on their own.

So … will it be worth it? Will the young kids reap the rewards of the challenge of this year and be stronger as a unit next year?

I don’t want to give Breslow credit for giving them this sink-or-swim, rudderless year. But I wonder if it will pay off.

(Despite being a Red Sox fan for 45+ years and a purveyor of this sub for 1 year, I somehow still hold onto a shred of optimism.)

So this year has been a slog. Insufferable at times. Flickers of excitement and potential here and there.

The young kids have had scant veteran leadership to teach them to navigate this adversity (aside from the blessings of Contreras and the few years in perspectives of young’uns themselves like Crochet, Ceddane, and — gulp — Duran).

If the young players were kids in a family, we’d applaud the life lessons they’re getting, to toughen them up for the time when they need to lead and do it on their own.

So … will it be worth it? Will the young kids reap the rewards of the challenge of this year and be stronger as a unit next year?

I don’t want to give Breslow credit for giving them this sink-or-swim, rudderless year. But I wonder if it will pay off.

(Despite being a Red Sox fan for 45+ years and a purveyor of this sub for 1 year, I somehow still hold onto a shred of optimism.)

I wonder if the Sox broadcast was on a longer delay than normal with Bill in the booth last inning. Did Bill take a shot (“pickle juice”) during the inning?!

Funny guy, but Will Fleming seemed to be riding cautious side saddle, hoping something forbidden wouldn’t come out of the Spaceman’s mouth.

Not sure Will or Lenny noticed Bill’s retort to Will telling Bill that he “might need some more pickle juice.”

Missing zero beats, Bill replied: “that’s what my ex wife used to say.”

Not only do I love his performance and swagger — but I absolutely love seeing him out on the handshake line greeting every Sox player with a high five. And a hug for Chappy.

I saw a smart post today remarking that Fred Dryer was cast as Sam Malone, Sam would have been much less likable. I agree — though Ted embodied Sam so well, and Ted is such a remarkably good television actor, that it’s hard to imagine anyone be more likable than Ted’s Sam.

But … what if Ted had the titular role of Sergeant Rick Hunter on television’s Hunter?

While I have great respect for Ted and his ability to shape shift into any television role, I’m not sure the Dirty Harry archetype is one he could have pulled off. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that Fred was the right pick. As was Ted as Sam.

Thoughts?

(Addendum, are there any tv dramas from the 80s that Ted could have pulled off? I think Magnum PI is an easy one to imagine him doing well. Knight Rider’s Hasselhoff is another one. Greatest American Hero? Mmmm, I think that might be a stretch but comedically, I have faith in Ted.)