So Much for Vitamin Water

From the Herald:

If the Red Sox are going to repeat as world champions this season and win their third title in five years, they may have to do it without David Ortiz. After injuring his left wrist during the Red Sox’ victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night, Ortiz learned yesterday he has tendon sheath damage that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. According to a source, Ortiz’ wrist will be immobilized for roughly the next month to determine whether the injury can heal on its own. If it cannot, the Red Sox and Ortiz very well may face a harsh reality: Season-ending surgery.

Let me get this straight, because I sort of nodded off halfway through reading that. So the Red Sox are saying that Papi will likely be out a month, and others are suggesting he might need surgery that would end the season for him. The Sox might have to go the rest of the year without greatest clutch hitter in their history, you say? They could lose the most feared left handed bat in the American League, you say? They might have to make do without their emotional leader and the most respected player in the game? Yaaaawwwn. Sorry. I don't mean to be rude, it's just that this story is boring me.

There was a time when news like this would incite panic in the streets, cause a run on the banks and make it Standing Room Only on the ledges of every high rise in Boston. But that was a long time ago. When you're living in the sports mecca of the world, smack in the middle of one dynasty (the Patriots), the early stages of another (Sox) and the ascendancy of yet a third (Celtics), you don't let something like the potential loss of the city's most beloved athlete get you down. You persevere, move on, and pencil Sean Casey's .302 career BA (.351 with the Sox) into the 3-hole. The loss of Papi, for however long it lasts, is just another bump in the road for the Sox; something you overcome that makes winning all the sweeter. A challenge to add drama to their inexorable march toward Team of the Decade status. Like the thing Rocky has to overcome in every sequel (loss of Eye of the Tiger, Mick's death, punch-drunkeness, old age) losing Ortiz will just make this year's World Series Championship DVD that much more interesting.