Scared of Balti-no-more and For The Love of the Game; Anaheim is a Field of Dreams!

October 7, 2004, Grantham, PA. With the Wild Card locked up, the Red Sox still went into Baltimore on Friday with something to prove – that they could beat Baltimore. Why Baltimore? Who knows! Baltimore always seems to be the one team that, no matter how poor their team is, plays the Red Sox harder than anyone else. In fact, if the Red Sox had held a winning record against Baltimore in 2003, they would have won the AL East. Boston went in on Friday to gain momentum and prove that they could take on Baltimore – as well as everyone else. Boston took the first three games, going into Sunday with the ability to play the bench and rest the starters. The Baltimore series did more than allowing the team to gain momentum. Starters were given the ability to rest, the rotation was set for Schilling on Tuesday and the dirt dogs showed their ability to “Skin to win” and “Cowboy up.”

The team traveled back to Boston for Rally Monday where The Dropkick Murphys played songs, including this year’s anthem “Tessie” to help the team “Reverse the Curse.” And, as always, Johnny Damon and the rest of the team promised to “go all the way this year.” Over 5,000 people showed up for this free event to support the team. In fact, support of the Red Sox is at an all time high, although team chemistry may not be. As Johnny Damon so aptly stated, "We are not the cowboys anymore. We are just the idiots this year... We got the long hair, we got the cornrows, we got just guys acting like idiots. And I think the fans out there like it." Kevin Millar was quick to respond to this as, "No way man. I just ordered another 1,000 "Hell's Comin' With Us... so Let's Cowboy Up... and Skin It to Win It... Yee Yaw!" t-shirts. Tell Damon to quit workin' my side of the street. I'm still gonna Cowboy Up! C'mon Boston, Cowboy Up! Please... I got a contract with these folks who have the dang Cowboy Up logo. I'm the slogan guy around here!"

Anyone who knows the Red Sox just smiles and laughs at this – after all this shows that the team chemistry is holding strong, as it has since the exile of Nomar to Chicago and full evolution of CabERROR to “the Cab to the playoffs.”

Come Tuesday and its Play-off time again. The thrill of victory experienced early for us Sox fans; or should I say the “Schill” of Victory. Schilling’s (which should have a W in it) victory put Pedro in a good situation on Tuesday. “A good situation? WHAT are you kidding me – this could make Pedro TICKED and only reaffirm to him that leaving Boston at the end of the year is the decision to be made”

Friends, enemies, and others – RELAX – hear me out. Pedro’s had a rough year and, not counting the Tampa Bay complete game, he hasn’t been the same Pedro. In fact I could go on and on about why this is good that Schilling started game one, but Pedro says it the best himself: "It actually took the pressure off (starting Game 2), watching Schilling go out there... I appreciate that."

After watching game two, I say we start Schilling ahead of Pedro for the rest of eternity – Pedro snapped his skid of 4-5 with a 3.80 era in the last 10 and turned into the normal “dependant Pete,” giving the Red Sox a much needed start. Contrary to the rest of this year, his velocity picked up towards the end of the game. Perhaps the biggest shock to all Red Sox fans was Francona NOT leaving him in for too long.

The series could not have started any better for the Boston Red Sox. Unlike last year where they were forced into winning three straight after losing the first two, the Sox have a chance at winning in 3 games and resting up to face either the Twins or Yankees. With Bronson Arroyo (5-1 in his last 10 starts with a 3.79 era) pitching on Friday things are looking up; the Red Sox could finish the series Friday or Saturday and get much needed rest time as the Yankees and Twins battle it out in, at the rate is going, seems to be the perpetual series, almost guaranteed to go five games.

The way things are going, this really could be the year to “Reverse the Curse” the way things are going for the Red Sox. So lets “Cowboy Up” as we “Skin to win,” so hand me my lucky hat, grow your hair long, put it in cornrows, or shave it if that’s what happens, wear your lucky socks, and only change your clothes if we lose. Do what it takes an “Just win baby.”