A Curse On Their Dome

All week, the Red Sox have been trying to reassure their fans that home field advantage isn't everything, and that they love playing at the Trop. (Kind of like last week in the ALDS, when they sneakily dropped a bunch of stories about Paul Byrd being anxious to work out of the bullpen, I assume in case Beckett didn't make it past the 2nd inning.) "The ball seems like it goes a long way [there]," says David Ortiz. Tito likes the dugout and the clubhouse. Kevin Youkilis won't say he enjoys playing there, but he'll concede that he's used to it by now. But I think I know what finally broke the Sox's losing habits at the Trop, and it's not some newfound affection for what is generally known as the worst stadium in baseball.

I'd like to call it the Curse of the Annoying Props. Last year it was the white towels at Cleveland. This year, it's the cowbells in Tampa. And those Angels, despite their abysmal playoff record, won't give up on the Rally Monkey or the thunder sticks. Take notice, John Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino. Do not, I repeat, do not distribute any sort of noisemaker, doll, novelty fabric scrap, or playoff-related prop at Fenway Park, not while you wish your team to win. And anyway, we don't need them. We've already got the K-Men with their Pappet and their Posable Pedroia, complete with arm-flexing action. The K-Men are not a gimmick; they are homegrown and pure and often show up at regular season games. The day I enter Fenway Park and find a "Bank of America" postseason rally rag (or something other than the remnants of last night's spilled beers) on my seat is the day I become an Orioles fan.