No- Seriously. This is the Year.

I know, I know.  You’ve heard it a thousand times before.  Those obnoxious Red Sox fans never learn, do they?  No, we don’t.  But seriously though.  This is the year.  I mean it.Why is this year so much different than the past 86 years?  Why is this magically the year that the BoSox overcome the infamous Curse?

Let’s look back a couple months.  The Sox, in the midst of a slump that lasted half the season which witnessed them play .500 ball, were 10.5 games back of the Yankees and were no closer to an AL East crown than the Patriots.  Yankee fans were basking in it all, taking in every Boston loss as if it was a present on Christmas morning.

But that’s the beauty of a 162 game schedule.  It’s as if the Red Sox flipped the switch to on.  That was after they shipped Nomar out, who seemed to insist that the switch stay off.  And they just started winning.  A lot.

As of the afternoon of September 12, the Red Sox can be found just 3.5 games back of the Yankees.  Throw in the fact that the rivals have 6 games left head to head, 3 at Fenway Park and 3 at Yankee Stadium, you could argue that Boston is in the driver’s seat.  But, you say, the Yankees could just as easily put the Sox away for good in those crucial games as the Red Sox could take over the top spot in the standings.  However, you are overlooking the fact that the Yankees are, in a word, imploding.  I like the sound of those words.

Kevin Brown was all but asking to have people like us deem the Yankees as `imploding’ when he went and punched a wall after he was taken out a little earlier than he would have liked in a loss to the Orioles.  Throw in the fact that the Yankees were shut out 22-0 by the Indians, at home no less, and that their only consistent starter is El Duque, who is a number two or three starter at best on a good pitching staff, and you can’t help but look at the Yankees as no better than the Devil Rays at this point in the season.

Speaking of Devil Rays, perhaps the best sign of the Yankees implosion is what happened September 7.  Yes, I’m talking about when the Yankees were practically on their knees, begging the commissioner to force the Devil Rays to forfeit the first game of a doubleheader because the Rays showed up a little late due to Hurricane Frances.  I couldn’t help but smile to see the Yankees try to get a freebie against the Devil Rays.  They could feel the Sox breathing on their neck, and they didn’t like the smell.  The Yankees wanted to avoid playing the Devil Rays.  Again, I just like the sound of those words.

And most importantly, the Sox are rising faster than A-Rod`s bank account, and at the right time too.  Their pitching staff is finally throwing like they should, their defense has gone from one of the worst in the league to one of the best, and they are hitting the same they have been all year – outstanding.  All of this points to one thing…success in the playoffs.  Throw in the fact that they will probably face the Yankees in the playoffs and you have the makings of a storybook year for Boston.

And if you ask me, after 86 long chapters, it’s about time for the story to end.