Missed it by THAT much

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

It's only fitting that I end the Red Sox blogging season with a photo of Papi since I began the season with David Ortiz. The only exception being that instead of inspiring as the king of cool, after a lackluster injury-riddled season, he had struck out. Such is the game of baseball. After getting 2 more games than previously anticipated, our Sox were limited to one run in last night's 3-1 loss to the 2008 American League Champions, the Tampa Bay Rays. (Gulp, that sounds very odd and looks even odder in writing!)

But that's the reality of it. The Rays played like they have played all season. They have finally earned the respect of the American League, doormats no more. 10 years after their inception, they have earned their way to play in the World Series. My hat's off to them.

That doesn't mean I'll be rooting for them in the Series; I know where my loyalties lie. The Phillies will crush them in 5 games.

Thank you, Boston Red Sox for a fantastic season and for putting up a fight to the end.

Keep Smiling!

AP Photo

J.D. Drew has a reason to smile. And all of Red Sox Nation is smiling with him.

Thanks to J.D. and his game winning RBI in Thursday night's historic comeback win, the Red Sox soldier on and play another decisive game. Do or die. Again. Backs against the wall. Again. Tonight, we take the battle back to Tampa, Florida with the faith of another miracle can get us through another game.

The Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays can bite my tweeter. Johnny Cash says so too.

One More Saturday Night

Beckett would not fail us. Really a toss up for player of the game, Beckett or Youkilis. But I tried every kind of mojo possible. Manny being Merlot mojo. Lucky Hat mojo. Falling asleep before the end of the game mojo (I had some crazy dreams about the outcome, I fell asleep in the 5th with a 2-1 lead).

Manny being Merlot isn't all that bad. It's quite acidic and a little hard to take at first, but it finishes clean with no aftertaste and after half a bottle, it got me buzzing. I corked it and saved the other half for Saturday night's game.

Last Chance Baseball - no baseball for the next 165 days

I've been quiet for awhile, yes, but I've been enjoying the playoffs thus far, even if our beloved Red Sox are down 3-1. Down, but not out. I'm remaining fairly positive, but I will be cracking open the Manny being Merlot tonight, in case this is the end of the road this year. Beckett will save us, or any number of dark horses on this club.