I just wish they could do this in the heart of the season instead of just for the first few weeks and the last few weeks. But that was a solid teamwork based finish that gives me some hope for next season.

As for victory parades, you are obviously unaware of how low the bar has fallen in Baltimore.

It's hard to argue with what you said however a majority of those Red SoX losses were do to late inning WELL PLAYED BASEBALL by the opposing team. While The Yankees CHOKED A SEVEN RUN LEAD and gave DANGEROUS MOMENTUM to a club that's going to be an awakening post season Juggernaut.

...you do realize that the 'B' squad (bench and recently called up
players) was in for the Yankees during Tampa's comeback don't you?

The 'A' team built the lead and Girardi pulled everyone to give time to
the young ones, and rest the vets for tonight...to Tampa's benefit.

I give Tampa a lot of credit and they are very dangerous, but
I don't think they have any allusions about who they faced in the
second part of game 162.

They faced the A squad the week before when something was on the
line for BOTH teams and they lost three straight till the Yanks clinched.

...and let's not forget all the 'WELL PLAYED BASEBALL' that occurred last
weekend in that last Yanks/Sox series as well...I'm sure you haven't.

Now that your team is 'history' for this year, and all time...it appears
you've shifted your allegiance to Tampa...rooting for anyone to beat the
accursed Yanks.

Regarding that...you'd best focus your attention on surviving Texas
for now.

Next question is, if it shakes out to Yanks vs Phillies...do you shift your
rooting interest to the National league?...do you really have it that bad?

You should really take a page out of soxolas book...that's a classy Red Sox fan, with clear perspective and not blinding hate.

I haven't shifted anything and I'm not rooting for Tampa I'm rooting for whoever bounces The Yankees in the first round. Sorry, but The Yankees ALCS collapse back in '04 is STILL THE WORST as least Boston has the injury excuse, chemistry issue, and every loss was a DOGFIGHT. I don't care what team the Yankees field CHOKING a 7 run lead = YOU SUCK in my book.

Wow, you're funny...so much pain.

Enjoy the off season, you've earned it.

Keep the faith --- things change and they change again. When I say I'm a longtime Red Sox fan, it's due to the fact that I've been rooting for them since I'm ten and now I'm older than dirt.

That said...I remember only too well that period in the late '60s-early '70s when The Team To Beat in the AL was neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox. It was the Birds of Baltimore with a killer of a pitching staff and everyday players such as the two Robinsons, Boog Powell, et al. They were as scary a team as I've ever seen --- and scarier than most.

Holy Crow, the Orioles were the class of Major League Baseball. That's what made the outcome of the '69 Series so stunning --- especially after the Orioles took Game One by beating Seaver.

People who were baseball fans in the '70s often count the '75 Red Sox-Reds World Series among the better ones. And that '75 team was terrific, with the arrival of Jim Rice, Fred Lynn and Cecil Cooper. But the previous year, the Red Sox had the division lead on Labor Day, only to go 12-16 the rest of the way. They ended up in third place, behind the Yankees. The Birds? They went on a 28-6 streak, won the division and went to the World Series.

Anyway...if nothing else, these Orioles -- Buck's Birds of September 2011 -- have made people pay attention. Now it'll be up to them -- really, the organization -- to make sure they take the next step and then the one after that.

Meanwhile, cheer up: you could be a Mets fan, following a major market team that charges major market prices and remains more concerned with how it can continue to slash payroll.
Thanks again for your kind words, but I fear you give me too much credit.

Admittedly, there was a time when my passion and frustration made me more prone to craziness. After watching the one-game Yanks-Sox playoff in '78, I went catatonic on my parents' sofa and didn't move or speak for several hours. More recently, after Aaron Boone hit that homer to end the 2003 ALCS, I walked into a closet and screamed my head off --- until I lost my voice for three days.

Nobody was calling me "classy" on those days, I have to confess.

Finally winning in 2004 and then again in 2007 removed a lot of my craziness as a fan, if not my passion.

But you know what they say: "fan" is short for "fanatic."

Anyway...here's something I think we can all agree on: what other pro sport could have provided so much drama, joy and angst within a few hours as those baseball games did the other night to set the post-season match-ups? Baseball really is the greatest game.

At this point, without a dog in the hunt, I'm just rooting for some games worth remembering, as we'll remember the other night.

But on the matter of individuals...I'll be rooting like crazy for this thread's namesake. As an older guy who got downsized, there's nobody easier for me to root for right now than Jorge Posada.

I'd LOVE to see him win the World Series MVP!

One other thing: I hope that all will be well with Don Baylor --- somebody who played for three of the teams (Orioles, Red Sox, Yanks) I've mentioned in this post, among others. I understand he had to be carried out on a stretcher earlier today.

Get well and take care, big guy.

Hey, whats wrong with the NL (ANGRY FACE), I haven't been paying attention to the last month really, mainly because the embarrassment the Reds were this year, especially the month of September...they go a whole friggin month without facing an above 500 team, and not only do they fail to make up ground, they flippin' lose ground (shakes head). I'll tune into the postseason, because you have to as its one of the most exciting times in the sports year, but I don't think I'll have a real rooting interest. Right now I hate the Phillies more than the Yankees, and if that ends up being the WS, I'll cry a little inside.

Uh, that said...can I get Bronson Arroyo back?

Found this

I'm sure Tito isn't desitute and won't have any issue finding a job.

Also the Sox should hire Dave Duncan (damned Reds killer), get him away from the Cards for me.

Heh. Is it up on eBay -- with the 1948 issue of the Chicago Tribune that has "Dewey Wins" on the front page -- yet?
Unfortunately, that's a package deal --- you want Duncan, you gotta hire LaRussa first.

And Tony LaRussa wouldn't last a day with the Boston media....