Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe and Nomar Garciaparra back in Boston.
Manny vs. Jason Bay.
J.D. "Opt Out" Drew vs. the Dodgers.
And, one more time, Joe Torre vs. the Red Sox.
Yes, I'm getting way ahead of myself, but I'm a writer, not a player. I don't need to play 'em one at a time. I can conjure up whatever the heck I want.
For the second-straight year, each Division Series stands at two games to none. When you're talking about four possible sweeps, a man's mind starts to wander...
I dig the Phillies. I love the Rays. But Red Sox-Dodgers would be a showdown for the ages, a soap opera that would make everyone forget the stinkin' Cubs.
(It also would be a ratings bonanza for Fox, but trust me, Rupert Murdoch isn't sitting over my shoulder, whooping it up with every sentence. Nah, he's just on the phone, offering a little dictation.)
One thing, though: I worry about Manny.
We all know he despised his fishbowl existence in Boston. Where would he stay during the Series, Nashua, NH? Back home in Washington Heights, NY? Or in the White House, hiding out with "W" during the final days of the Bush administration?
Here's a thought: Wasilla, AK.
We all know the basepaths at Fenway are like quicksand to Manny, who turned into Usain Bolt the moment he put on a Dodgers uniform. And please, someone tell Bay that he will have to wait his turn for the bathroom inside the Green Monster. Manny still gets first dibs.
Seriously, Manny vs. the Red Sox would be the biggest thing in sports since the Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding showdown at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Yet, the fun wouldn't end there.
The Red Sox had almost as bitter a parting with No-Mah in 2004, trading him at the July 31 non-waiver deadline. They then won the World Series and declined to re-sign Lowe, reportedly because they had concerns about his off-field lifestyle.
Since joining the Dodgers, Lowe is 54-48 with a 3.59 ERA, averaging almost 213 innings over four seasons.
Think he would like to stick it to the Red Sox?
Think Nomar would?
How about Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who hails from Boston and collects every former Red Sox trinket he can find?
Of course, this works both ways.
The Dodgers were livid when Drew opted out of the final three years of his deal after the 2006 season, then signed a five-year, $70 million free-agent contract with the Red Sox.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti reportedly considered filing tampering charges against the Red Sox, but that was as far as it went.
"I know J.D. is a spiritual guy and man of his word," Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said after Drew exercised his escape clause. "I guess he changed his word."
Torre would like to change something, too—his postseason legacy at Fenway. He would return to Boston without the Yankees, but with his former Red Sox antagonists, Manny and Nomar, by his side.
When last we saw Torre at Fenway in October, he was presiding over the start of the Yankees' collapse in the 2004 ALCS.
The Yankees became the first team to blow a three-games-to-none deficit in the postseason, losing two games at Fenway, then two at Yankee Stadium.
The Red Sox player who delivered the game-tying hit in the ninth inning of Game 4 against the great Mariano Rivera?
None other than Bill Mueller, who is now a member of the Dodgers' front office.
Nothing against the Phillies, nothing against the Rays, nothing against any other postseason team — except the stinkin' Cubs.
I'm living for Red Sox-Dodgers.
This article originally published on FOXSports.com.
Read more of Ken's columns here.
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2 months ago
AMEN Ken, beautifully written. I would love to see red sox vs dodgers....of course the dodgers win!
2 months ago
Yeah, because FOX would get great ratings, and we all know what the outcome of that is.
Part of me, even as a Phils fan, hoped for Tampa/Milwaukee, because FOX would have a hell of a time getting people to watch two small market teams
2 months ago
I think Dodgers-Red Sox would be a great series, but I personally am hoping for a Rays-Dodgers series. I hail from the same town as Chad Billingsley, who some in the Dodgers organization are calling their franchise pitcher of the future. I would love for nothing more than to see Chad pitching in the World Series.
I also am rooting for the Rays. It's the classic underdog, little engine who could story. They finish with the worst record in the majors last year, 15 games under .500, and this year, they become the out of the blue team (much like the Rockies last year), win the Division, are up 2-0 on the White Sox. For me, the perfect World Series, that would have my complete attention every game, would be Rays-Dodgers.
2 months ago
Fantastic article Ken. I completely agree with as I am also rooting for a Dodger-Red Sox World Series. I would love to see all of the former Red Sox on the Dodgers face their former teams and I would like to see who would actually win it. Also, the Red Sox would be trying to win their second straight and third in four years which would make them a dynasty. Finally, the Dodgers would be trying to win their first World Series since 1988.
2 months ago
Great article Ken, would love nothing more than to see a magical reunion of sorts at Fenway good times for everyone. The only thing better than a Sox-Dodgers world series would be a game seven bench clearing brawl started by Nomar or Coco. That would be one for the ages!!!
2 months ago
Great article Ken. A Dodger-Red Sox world series would be the best world series in a while. I really hope there is one.and if there was, the Dodgers would win =)
about 1 month ago
it will be the best world series ever.. dodgers will win in 6 lol but great article
about 1 month ago
I agree completely that a Dodgers/Red Sox World Series would be epic. In fact, I agree so strongly that I wrote a column on this exact premise "about 24 days ago" (quoting Bleacher Report). And I'm not bitter at all that it didn't even make the front page while yours is the featured article. Nope, not bitter at all. No sir. Not even a little.
:-P
I'm just messin', Ken, your article is better written than mine, anyway. We can only hope this vision pans out!
about 1 month ago
Don't worry it won't happen.
about 1 month ago
This would be the best world series match up for baseball as a sport; with the best ratings and the most compelling story lines. I agree that this is what every Fox executive is dreaming of, but Red Sox-Dodgers would be the most fun to watch.
about 1 month ago
I disagree with the article and some of the comments. I would rather see a Rays - Angels ALCS because these are the best of the American league.
I really wanted to see either one of those teams against the Cubs in the World Series, because again, I wanted to see the best. Of course, I could care less how many watch the games or how many read the articles. The same can't be said for anyone associated with the sports media.
If the Red Sox are in it, I won't watch simply because it will be too hard to get through the hype coming out of the tube.
Why don't they just go back to the way it was? The best record in the AL plays the series against the best record in the NL. Now, that would be a World Series.
about 1 month ago
Not bad. Although I must disagree: I would love a Boston-Philly Series. The two most passionate baseball towns right now (are you listening, New York?), two very potent lineups, lefty matchup between Cole Hamels and Jon Lester.
I say most passionate because Milwaukee is out, Chicago is out (almost). I don't know if anyone watched regular season Rays or Dodger games, but their were a lot of empty seats, even late in September.
from about 1 month ago
Agreed.
But its WAY too early to start talking about Red Sox-Dodgers.
This is exactly why I don't like national columnists. Putting the cart way out in front of the horse, especially since the Sox are still playing the best team in baseball.
from about 1 month ago
Tyler - Dodgers were 2nd the NL in attendance this year at over 46000 per game. I watch nearly every dodger game and let's face it, even the yankees don't sell out a 55000 seat stadium. LA is a great baseball town - although Boston is clearly #1.
about 1 month ago
Call me silly but I would love to see a Phillies-White Sox World Series. Of course I am a Phillies fan and Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr. are some of my favorites. Go Phillies!
about 1 month ago
In theory, great idea. Unfortunately, the media-carpetbombing of every "big story" would make a Manny (excuse me, Dodgers)-Redsox WS annoying. The Manny-hype has already made it seem as if the rest of the Dodgers don't exist. Unless Fox has sense enough to let Vin Scully announce another World Series, any of the modern genereation of sportscasters would spend so much time talking about the Sox and Manny (with occasional patter about Joe Torre sticking it to the Steinbrenners) that we wouldn't hear anything about the game or the other players. I'd rather have Dodgers-Rays. Then they'd actually have to talk, at least a LITTLE bit, about what's actually happening on the field, and who the other players are.
about 1 month ago
I think this will happen, also as a Yankees fan I would like to see it happen to show the Yankees management that offering him a contract with a pay-cut was ridiculous. Especially since they would've paid him the full amount if he made it to the world series. I think he will, just not with the Yankees!
about 1 month ago
The Dodgers will win the World Series!
It has been 20 years since we won a World Series.
It's been 50 years since the Dodgers called Los Angeles home =o).
It has been 53 years since we won our first World Series.
We're the hottest team in baseball!
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