If we lose tonight, it will be a sweep. I hate to say it but without Manny and with a declining Ortiz, this team has lost the X Factor. Those two guys were so intimidating to pitchers that they altered the way they pitched to the rest of the lineup. They made everyone around them better in the process. This lineup is strong 1 thru 8, but it is nowhere near as intimidating. On the road, most of them are barely average. I miss Manny. I miss Schilling. No one has yet stepped into to fill the void they left. I am hoping someone does. If we go out in the first round, it will be interesting to see what they do in the offseason, because the core of this team is fairly young and they are very good, but they are not great. Will they build around the core or will they bring in players to lead that core?