Mission Not Impossible

It's funny how the human memory can play tricks.

The 2004 Red Sox season is immortalized in our brains. We remember it only as a conglomeration of beautiful shapes and colors, a highlight reel of Big Papi's swings followed by cheering crowds and euphoric teammates jumping up and down at home plate. We remember clips from local bars as fans grasped their heads in pleasure, following that final out:

"Swing and A ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it. He underhands to first. And the Boston Red Sox are World Champions!"

What we don't remember is that even last year the Sox were beaten by Ted Lilly, the starting pitching on a few occasions gave up seven earned runs in less than four innings, Millar used to pop out and ground into double plays and don't forget that sometimes the best option out of the bullpen was Curtis "where are you now" Leskanic.

The truth is that the Red Sox were completely mortal last year too. They won 98 games in 2004. In 2005, they have won 92 with four games remaining -- not a huge difference. Last year, the Yankees had already clinched the AL East at this point. This year they have the most precarious one game lead over the Sox and are heading to Fenway Friday.

In fact, the pressure is squarely on the Yankees. I mean, the Boss went out and spent $200 Million dollars on this team for the sole purpose of beating the Red Sox. A team with such a huge salary should have run away with the division within the first month of the season. The Yankees couldn't possibly CHOKE again, could they? I heard a rumor that Steinbrenner has threatened to ship the entire team out to Gilligan's Island if they don't make the playoffs.

I'd even bet a bag of marbles that Alex Rodriguez has his therapist with him on this road trip to help him with his positive thinking:

Therapist: "Look in the mirror Alex."

A-Rod: (looks in mirror)

Therapist: "You are good enough and smart enough, and gosh darn it, you are a clutch hitter."

A-Rod: "Shucks, I don't know. Who makes the MLB schedule anyway. Why do we have to play in Boston for the last three games of the season? Why can't we just keep playing the Orioles. I can hit against the Orioles. What if we lose to the Red Sox again? What if I strike out with the game on the line again? They are all going to start that talk again about how I am not a clutch hitter and how David Ortiz is the true MVP."

I'm not saying that things don't look a little bleak at the moment (okay, I admit it, I hurled a bowl of popcorn at the TV last night), but my point is that it wasn't easy last year either.

It is definitely time for some magic though. Go Sox!