About Last Night

The Boston Red Sox won the World Series. And this time, it's fun, not a relief.

And suddenly, the Red Sox are the best organization in baseball (despite Rupert's earlier beliefs. Note: Lugo hit .400 in the WS, and Drew was fantastic in the playoffs. Discuss), and you have to wonder if this might happen again in the next three or four years.

Whatever part of that Red Sox history that was lingering, just kind of hanging on, has to be gone. While I advocated that the past was the past (see my constant posts through the summer saying the Sox were going to win the division), some folks got all anxious as the Yanks made their late-season charge. Sometime in mid-September, an office colleague said she was "done with the Red Sox." I haven't seen her this morning, but I'm sure that's not the case this morning.

Anyway, despite 2004, despite the evidence that the Sox are right now constant champion threats, some folks couldn't let the past go. It's time, people, once and for all, to forget about the ancient history.

It would be foolish to tab the Sox as the favorites for next year. Repeating so damn hard. Not only do you have to be good, but you have to be lucky. Not just in the playoffs, but along the way. Winning 96 games isn't easy, but it was important, as it turned out, to have home field in the ALCS. Not that it mattered, but winning the all-star game -- purely a luck situation if there ever was one -- could be important one of these days (note: Not all WS are sweeps).

The Sox fan's biggest concern right now -- behind coming up with the believable excuse to skip work for the parade (please pass along any and all potential excuses. I'm gonna need one), and whether or not Mike Lowell comes back (a giant concern for 2008) -- is not becoming the Yankees. It's pretty much too late -- two World Series in four years will do that -- but becoming the obnoxious, entitled fan like the Yankees (and the Patriots, it should be noted) should be avoided, if possible.

That said, it's time to sit with the satisfaction of watching the Sox win the World Series, without burying any kind of curse or history. They led essentially wire-to-wire, smacking everyone around for the first few months of the season, going through the usual troubles that a baseball season presents, and then just ripping the heart out of the Angels, manning up against the Indians, and then just overwhelming the overmatched Rockies. As someone who watched at least a chunk of probably about 150 games (and listening to some others while on the road), it's been a fantastic ride. This one was far more enjoyable than the drama and anxiety of 2004.

Now, the future. Look around. Youkilis and Pedroia are set on the right side of the infield. Lugo is competent and worthy at short. Bringing Lowell back would be wonderful. You have Manny for one more year in left (his bat will be missed someday, but his $20M would go a long way toward a decent replacement). You have a wonderful problem in center with Crisp/Ellsbury (you have to figure Crisp is on the block), and Drew can only get better, right? That lineup over the next two or three years can be pretty much set, and very good that way.

Even better, look at the pitching: Beckett, Matsuzaka (who will get better next year), Lester, Buchholz, with Schilling/Wakefield/starter TBD. That's a nice rotation that is very young. I don't think any of those guys are older than 27. Okijima is 32, but clearly has plenty of gas in the tank. Delcarmen is coming on and should be an excellent set-up guy next year (he was very good this year until the playoffs, where he struggled some). And I think we all know the ninth is in good hands.

The best team in baseball won the World Series this year, and it has the potential to be the best team in baseball for the next few years, at least. If you haven't done it already, it's time to bury the past.

See you at the parade.