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January 28, 2008
1,283 Days Ago
Gabe Kapler, speaking while being inducted into the Moorpark College Hall of Fame:
Kapler, Moorpark College's first World Series champion, was in right field when the Boston Red Sox broke the "Curse of the Bambino" with a sweep of the Cardinals.
He wore his World Series ring and told a story of the Red Sox's famous brawl with the rival New York Yankees, started when catcher Jason Varitek stuck his catcher's mitt in the face of Yankees star Alex Rodriguez.
"We were struggling and Jason knew that we needed a spark at that moment," said Kapler. "I'm not condoning violence by any means. This is part of a teamwork story."
Ah, July 24, 2004....and that stupid fight. Looking backwards, I wonder if A-Rod has any regrets on that one?
Posted by Steve Lombardi at January 28, 2008 07:29 AM
Comments
I wonder if A-Rod has any regrets on that one?
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Well, if he thought they were throwing at him, I think he has the right to take umbrage.
It wasn't a spark that rallied the team, any more than the "Jeter dives into stands" game was.
Posted by: Raf ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 28, 2008 09:45 AM
The spark comment is silly because if Dave Roberts wasn't very fast, the whole thing wouldn't have mattered. I guess we can chalk starting fights up as one of those intangible things Jason Varitek does?
Posted by: williamnyy at January 28, 2008 10:12 AM
The spark comment is silly because if Dave Roberts wasn't very fast, the whole thing wouldn't have mattered.
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Also, don't underestimate the work of Keith Foulke.
Posted by: Raf at January 28, 2008 10:32 AM
Also, don't underestimate the work of Keith Foulke.
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The work of his 85 MPH slop that batters just swung through so they could take their seat on the bench. LOL
Posted by: minikraft at January 28, 2008 10:41 AM
A-Rod's fault again, huh. If Varitek was determined to provide a 'spark', and the only way he knew how was to fight another member of the team, well, it kinda tarnishes that 'legacy', doesn't it? And kinda busts the theory that A-Rod is a 'bush-leaguer'. If anyone was a bush-leaguer, it was Varitek. Try running that one past any Sox fan.
Posted by: Andrew at January 28, 2008 10:55 AM
>> "I'm not condoning violence by any means. This is part of a teamwork story." >>
Correct me if I'm wrong Gabe, but weren't you the one who gang-tackled & started pummeling Tanyon Sturtze on the ground, along with your buddies Trot Nixon and David Ortiz?
Posted by: Pete at January 28, 2008 11:24 AM
"We were struggling and Jason knew that we needed a spark at that moment."
Which vaulted the Red Sox to go 6-5 over their next 11 games!
Haven't we been through this nonsense...the fight was meaningless.
Posted by: Repoz at January 28, 2008 12:06 PM
ah Varitek, being the big man he is, fighting a guy with his mask on...
Posted by: Travis G. at January 28, 2008 01:34 PM
Please with this spark stuff!Was Mariano blowing the save in game 4 of the 2004 ACLS because of that brawl?Dave Roberts stole that base because of that ball?Does that ball make Schilling pitch like garbage in the 2nd game and pitch for the ages in game 6?Absolute Hogwash!
Posted by: butchie22 at January 28, 2008 04:14 PM
Revisionist history.
Posted by: Rich at January 28, 2008 05:48 PM