As I continued to read the day by day recollection of the 2004 Red Sox season, it was the same thing every day. The summary of the day's game, an inning by inning, important play by important play, and a quick look at what the Yankees did that day, and what the division looked like. This book can get boring at times, but is definitely worth the read when a season changing game happened on July the 24th.
The Sox were playing the hated Yankees in a three game series just after the All-Star break. Fuses will always be shorter between rivals as the games mean a lot more than just a regular game against any other team. It started in the 6th inning, when Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo plunked Yankee "pretty boy" Alex Rodriguez with a pitch. Some trash-talking ensued and a pseudo-wrestling match took place between the Sox' catcher and A-Rod.
The benches ended up clearing and many players were ejected, but the fight meant more than the ejections. Both players wanted to prove to their teams that they were the tougher man, and they were not going to let the rival player look tougher. The benches clearing also means that teammates have each others backs and will always be there for them. As an athlete, I realize the influence pride has on the game and nobody wants to be the guy to get his face beat in. But more than pride and fighting, is channeling the aggression and tension into hard work and effort, and that is what the Red Sox did for the rest of the season
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