Two years.
That’s how long it was exactly from that game in Yankee Stadium — the one that exhibited the loudest, most intimidating home-field advantage I (and many members of the Red Sox) had ever experienced — to Friday night.
October 9, 2018. The night the Red Sox clinched their American League Division Series victory over the Yankees, allowing for a World Series title 19 days later.
Happy anniversary.
As I sit in my backyard by the fire pit typing this, it’s amazing to me how much has changed. Starting with the fact that I’m in my backyard by a fire pit (I virtually never saw during a normal baseball season) instead of the Yankee Stadium press box wondering why it looked as though a Craig Kimbrel’s arms were covered in five layers of nervous sweat.
It’s amazing that we lived a life with that many people in one place, yelling so loud without any other worry in the world other than to will their Yankees to overcome that three-run ninth-inning deficit.
And most of all, it’s amazing how you can have one team celebrate the anniversary by playing another actual postseason game, with the other dispersed to all corners of the globe -- with more than half of the participants collecting paychecks that aren’t signed by John Henry -- while not carrying a shred of the optimism that they secured that night.
Let’s take a look …
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski: Currently unemployed.
Manager Alex Cora: Serving a one-year suspension, having parted ways with the Red Sox.
Bench coach Ron Roenicke: Let go by the Red Sox after one year as manager.
Pitching coach Dana LeVangie: Moved to scouting department.
Assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister: Now with Giants.
Hitting coach Tim Hyers: Still with team.
Assistant hitting coach Andy Barkett: Let go by the Red Sox after the 2019 season.
First base coach Tom Goodwin: Still with team.
Third base coach Carlos Febles: Still with team.
Starting pitcher that night Rick Porcello: Free agent after finishing one year with Mets.
First reliever in that night Matt Barnes: Still with team.
Second reliever in that night Ryan Brasier: Still with team.
Third reliever that night Chris Sale: Still with team but out with Tommy John surgery.
Fourth reliever that night Craig Kimbrel: With Cubs.
Mookie Betts: With Dodgers.
Andrew Benintendi: Still with team, coming off 14-game season, going 4-for-39.
Steve Pearce: Retired, can be seen in Tampa area wearing newly-purchasedTom Brady jersey.
J.D. Martinez: Still with team, coming off 54-game season in which he hit .213.
Xander Bogaerts: Still with team.
Ian Kinsler: Retired.
Eduardo Nunez: Spent this season with Mets.
Jackie Bradley Jr.: Weeks away from free agency.
Christian Vazquez: Still with team.
Brock Holt: With Natonals after being released by Brewers.
Mitch Moreland: With Padres.
Rafael Devers: Still with team.
Sandy Leon: With Indians, hit .136 in 25 games.
Blake Swihart: Last with Rangers, was released this season.
Heath Hembree: With Phillies.
Joe Kelly: With Dodgers.
Nathan Eovaldi: Still with team.
Eduardo Rodriguez: Still with team, coming back from COVID-19-related heart condition.
Brandon Workman: With Phillies.
David Price: With Dodgers.
- Since that night the Red Sox have won just one game in 16 tries at Yankee Stadium.
- Since that night the Red Sox are 6-23 against New York.
