empirestrikesback26

i'd give ortez a 20% chance of winning the MVP purely on bias against the yankees. 0% chance of it being a shoo-in.

I fairly clearly meant the East.

Eh, they won't do it this year. For real this time. How ironic this is.

Ah the memories. Easy call: Race is a runaway By Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Columnist | June 26, 2005 PHILADELPHIA -- It's OK to say it. Don't worry about jinxing them. The 2005 Red Sox are going to win the American League East. By a landslide. Come late September, this is going to look like Secretariat at the Belmont in 1973. After looking up at the Orioles for two frustrating months, the Sox moved into first place Friday night and they are there to stay. Stop worrying about the Yankees, Orioles, and Jays. It's not even going to be close. ''We're going to the Series, boys!" shouted Kevin Millar in the locker room after yesterday's 7-1 thrashing of the Phillies (the National League really stinks this year, no?). ''We're back! The [expletive] Sox are on a roll!" ''This is the place we thought we'd get to," added Johnny Damon. ''It was just a matter of time. This team is playing great and I'm proud of what we've accomplished." The burst of optimism that consumes Red Sox Nation at this hour (truly, this is an alternate universe) is owed to something more than a season-high six-game winning streak. The Franconamen turned things around two weeks ago when warrior Tim Wakefield took the ball and stopped the bleeding on the ivy in the Wrigley finale. The Sox have won 11 of 12 since that night and their starting pitching in that span has been sensational. In the dandy dozen since June 12, Sox starters are 9-0 with a 1.77 ERA. The fab five have held the opposition below the Mendoza Line for a fortnight. Matt Clement's victory over the Phillies yesterday makes him 9-1. Would the Sox still bid for Carl Pavano or Brad Radke ahead of their Lincolnesque righty? It gets even better for the pitching staff. The Sox have five solid starters and a first-place standing despite the fact that Curt Schilling has been on the shelf most of the year. The Big Blowhard is due back in the rotation early next month. Is any other team going to get a midseason acquisition better than Schilling? Meanwhile, as usual, the Red Sox lead the majors in hitting (.285), runs (409), and on-base percentage (.360). They've scored six or more runs in 12 of their last 14 games. Manny Ramirez is back to his Jimmie Foxx self. Boston's catcher, center fielder, and DH are having All-Star seasons. Bill Mueller (two doubles yesterday) appears to have returned to his batting-champ form. The Sox also have Earl Weaver's proverbial deep depth: John Olerud is better than Doug Mientkiewicz and Jay Payton is an upgrade over Gabe Kapler. Boston's bullpen could be a sore spot, but Mike Timlin -- who should be an All-Star -- can step into the closer role if cranky Keith Foulke can't get going

After all the hating and doubting, the yankees pull it off once again. I congratulate the red sox for making for an outstanding finish, but I'm more than happy with the finish. I don't really care what happens tomorrow and if neccessary, monday. Again great job yankees and red sox for making this one of the most exciting regular season finishes.

You forgot 1-0 vs red sox. Anyway, this is a disturbing trend. We get out to a 5+ lead and by the ninth, the tying run is at the plate and mo's arm is falling off.

Eh, even embree can't blow this. Sac fly for the probable MVP and HR for sheff.

Hey, keep up the hope sox fans. Joe might put in embree soon.

And the yankee forum is complete s***.

You sound familar.http://70.84.190.115/3233/186/emo/hmm.gif

Because thats how YES is.

Gloat? Yanks will play a meaningless series in fenway already down 3 games.

ohhhh, the irony is killing me.

Just wondering if there would be enough interest here to make a league.

Sucks for people who drafted walker.

Man, what a good poster I was back in the day.

I never thought it would hold up, even in the 6th inning.

I didn't say anything about your offense. I said something about your pitching. Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house or however that saying is. Say what you want about our pitching, but also look at your own. Plus both offenses are great. Say Giambi keeps this up, I'd say it puts us even if not better.

Wrigley is the greatest park in baseball, fenway is no.2, YS number 3.

You blamed the sox offense for not getting wakefield a win, when RJ pitched that much better.

Holy 'don't give RJ any credit' batman!!!

Nobody cares, the yankees and fans are looking at the WC right now. Of course I'd rather take the division, but it may be out of reach.

Yankees' season is saved. I compliment the sox on a well played, well pitched 3rd game of the series. Fortunately, came out in the yankees favor.

Obviously this guy doesn't live in the North East.

Really? What do both hope to accomplish?