Winning it all in 2013 was so different from '04 and '07. In '04 and '07, there was that desperation to win and vanquish overwhelming enemies and prove something. In 2013, this team got me through some tough times and I'm grateful to them. I was less elated when they won tonight but got much more into the everyday rhythms of this 2013 team: the way Nava (cut from his college team) would take a close pitch outside for a ball and then slam the next strike for a line drive; the way Victorino would fly into the right field corner to save a double; Uehara's magic splitter and the sheer joy of his high-fives; Pedroia's slide onto one knee to stop a ball that seemed destined for right field; Miller throwing the ball unbelievably hard; and Napoli going to a 3-2 count every single time. We got to watch a new teammate step up each time we needed someone new to deliver and count on each other and, to use their favorite word, "grind." This team never gave up and came from behind more times than I could count. I was much more involved in the journey than the destination this time and it was beautiful to believe in the magic of baseball (tough to do after 2012) and to let baseball carry me through the pain and weariness of recovery from surgery. Most of all, there was Ortiz, father figure to the whole team, telling us, "Nobody is gonna dictate our freedom" when we needed to hear it. I would have loved the 2013 Red Sox if they hadn't won the World Series or even the ALCS or even the ALDS. They are a special group of guys. But of course, they did win, by coming from behind over and over, even when I counted them out, even when an umpire made one of the most infuriating calls of all time. They were able to let that go and move on and take it one pitch at a time. Winning in 2004 and 2007 was pure joy and elation and relief. But winning in 2013 has felt much different, much more like gratitude for how they carried those of us who believe in this stuff through. Thanks, gents.
-Nick
