Because we are not mean fans, we are smart and sarcastic fans... even jerks. But not truly mean - though we may want to act like it sometimes (Steroid chants!)
I think a lot of it has to do with perspective and time. Before the error, Billy Buck was loved. He killed the Yankees that year and Boston may not have made the playoffs without him. How could you not love a guy so hobbled but who played so hard and well despite it? After the error, RSN (much smaller then BTW) realised it was Buck/Mac/Stanley - well basically a team meltdown to another team that all along was supposed to win it all anyway. Didn't the Mets that year win 110 games??
Same thing with Wake. Without him there is no way there would have been a game 7. He should never have had the chance to pitch in that game. It was over. I also think that, if the Red Sox were going to lose that game, at 12pm that night the best option was to go with Wake. He had been on a great run and he could go long if he had to.
Wakes also got the luxury of that fascinating knuckleball. He's so good when it's on, but we all know the thing is floating up there on a wing and a prayer. If anything, blame the knuckleball and not the guy who threw it.
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