Last night's game was a little strange. A combined 16 runs were scored before the end of the fifth inning and then nothing until the 11th. We witnessed errors, lots of runs, stolen bases and a struggling Red Sox starter.

It's unfortunate but Derek Lowe couldn't get it together for a third consecutive time. Perhaps he celebrated a tad too much on Monday night.

CTnow.com writes the celebration continues. But the site claims no one had a hangover. In fact it quotes centerfielder Johnny Damon as saying, "We're a bunch of idiots, but we're grown-up idiots."

Well it's time to see which "idiots" make the playoff roster. Everyone is questioning Lowe's position. I'd be shocked if he did not make the team. But what role will he play? Boston.com reports Red Sox management is staying pretty tight-lipped about their playoff plans, but a four-man rotation looks to be solid. The newspaper site also asks, "Will Derek Lowe resurface in the playoffs?"

Here are my choices if I were manager:

To quote Ren & Stimpy, one of my favorite cartoons, "Happy, happy, joy, joy!"
They're in! With last night's victory over the Devil Rays, the Red Sox have clinched a playoff berth. They are guaranteed the wild card, at least.

TBO.com says watching last night's game was like watching a boxing match - heavy weight vs. lightweight.

It's been a tough season. The pressure was on from the start. Red Sox Nation was clamouring for a championship in January.

This team is made for the playoffs. They're ready.

Pop the champagne!

Wait a second...Isn't there some work left? Is the season over? Can the Sox take the division title and assure themselves home field throughout the post season?

Yup. Yup and yup. The Red Sox will most likely have to sweep both remaining series in order to summit the AL East.

So put away the Dom.

My camping trip was cut short by family illnesses. It was somewhat a blessing in disguise; I'm not sure I could have listened to another static-filled game on the transistor.

Friday night's loss was a heart breaker. Pedro actually pitched pretty well, but came up short. Yes, the Yankees seem to win against him. Calling them his "daddy" seems a little harsh. NYNewsday.com reports on Pedro's comments.

Pedro's giving New York a little too much credit. You could almost blame Friday's loss to umpires making bad calls. This series was plagued by them. The umpires could not see tags or strike zones. Batters on both sides were left shaking their heads. I'm glad that the umpiring crew has left Fenway. I hope we do not see the same crew in Tampa Bay.

So Saturday, I watched the game from my usual spot on the couch. When the Yankees went ahead in the top of the fourth inning, my wife asked, "Why don't you wear the hat anymore?"

"The Red Sox lost two-in-a-row, actually three," I replied.
"You have given up too early. I think you should start wearing it again," she suggested.

I got up and headed to the coat rack where the cap had rested for a couple of weeks. I placed it on my head.

Double-play inning over. Bottom of the fourth Red Sox score a couple of runs to tie.

I hate the use of the word "if." Whenever I hear it I pretend the word doesn't exist and usually the truth of the matter is apparent. Such is the case with Terry Francona's quote "If there is blame, I'll take it" found in Kevin Thomas' article in Friday's Portland Press Herald. By using the word "if," Francona believes there isn't any blame. Omit the word "if" and you will see "there is blame. I'll take it" - a much more accurate statement.

Is there anyone else to blame? Some may say Ramiro Mendoza. Others may say Byung Hyun Kim. But no, it's all Francona. Afterall, it was his decision to put Kim on the mound. I'm not a manager, but even I know that the ninth inning of a must-win game is not the time to test a pitcher just off the DL. Especially when it involves Byung Hyun Kim, who the fans already have doubts about. Heck, the Sox were only down by two runs.

Terry, what were you thinking? Did you give up? Did you have that much confidence in Kim? A man that struggled before he went on the DL and has an ERA of 7.11. Is you name secretly Grady?
The Boston Herald's Michael Silverman says one good thing came out of Kim's evening - he didn't flip off the fans.

There is another good thing that came out of Thursday night's game, we won't be seeing Kim anytime soon. Well at least I hope we learned that. Right, Terry?

I've seen Francona mismanage his pitching staff all too often this season. It's time to let Dave Wallace take more control over the pen.

It's a different hero every day. Wednesday Orlando Cabrera came up big, no huge. A walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th. Yes, this is what baseball in September is all about. And to think that earlier Wednesday he was in South America checking on his wife who is recovering from surgery.

How did he know he was needed in Boston? Boston.com writes about Cabrera going the extra mile. Not only did he hit that home run, but made some key defensive plays too.

He's a very capable shortstop with more potential to tap into.

Wednesday's victory put the Sox 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees. We need a little help but a division title is still within reach. Go Devil Rays!

These last two games have been emotionally draining. I'm not sure my heart can take it. Tonight will probably be more of the same.

My friend Bill called me this morning with a trivia question. "Who has the most wins from opening day 2002 to the present?" he asked.

Last night was one of the better games I've seen. Although there wasn't any offense, pitching duels always intrigue me. I love watching pitchers square off against hitters. I love watching how they set up each pitch, positioning to keep the batter off-balance, guessing.

I've watched Rodrigo Lopez before. I've studied him from time to time during fantasy league competitions. He is a special pitcher who has had some bad luck and injuries. In fact., this year he started the season in Baltimore's pen, making his first start May 20. However, Lopez has owned the Sox this year. He has a 1.13 ERA and three wins this season against Boston. He also has amassed 19Ks in 24 innings. Last night he allowed one run in seven innings, striking out seven against the best offense in the league. I only wish he did this well against New Yorkers. It takes two to have a pitching duel. Curt Schilling took ten paces last night.

Schilling has done everything that's been asked of him this season. Tuesday night was no exception. He came up big. He baffled Baltimore's lineup, striking out 14 - a season high. Eight innings of shutout ball versus a potent Oriole lineup - not an easy task. Truly amazing stuff. When he left in the eighth, I felt he still had some gas left in the tank.

Although Schilling did not end up getting his 21st win, the team effort put fourth in to the ninth inning was stirring. You didn't see Curt Schilling berating Keith Foulke after he blew the save. Instead there was hope. This team has faith in its players.

This team needed something, or someone to celebrate. It's been a long week. Enter Mark Bellhorn, the hero of Tuesday's game. With one single to right-center the team could release its emotion. All Lopez could do was watch as his team's bullpen blew its chance to win. One better not celebrate too much though. ESPN.com reports that Boston is cracking down on Sox-related partying. Good luck, if they won the World Series.

Now the Sox need to clip off five in a row. Keep the momentum. This is still a championship team, not to be reckoned with.

They have three playoff pitchers (Pedro, Schilling and Arroyo) and two MVP candidates (Ortiz and Manny). And about 25 heros.

Speaking of MVPs...The New York Daily News sizes up the MVP candidates. Who will it be? Ramirez, Ortiz, Sheffield, Guerrero? The Daily News of course picks Sheffield. Of course my pick - Manny. Numbers don't lie.

While he may have started off fifth in the rotation, this weekend Bronson Arroyo was the ace of the staff. He showed amazing poise and control especially amid rain delays. The Sox have found their third starter for the post-season. It is not the first time that Arroyo has stepped up. And although he has four no-decisions in four starts versus New York, the Red Sox have won every one of those games. It hasn't always been pretty, but Arroyo has been very valuable.

He's obviously gotten some help late in those games. Part of it is the bullpen, which was again stellar, but the real defensive power house may be the left fielder. Yes, Manny Ramirez. His catch in the left-field stands to rob Miguel Cairo of a homerun was easily the best catch of the year. You can see the catch at MLB.com.

To me, Manny is the 2004 MVP. And why not consider him a Gold Glove too? We can stare in awe at his 41 home runs, 118 rbis, .616 slugging percentage. But his fielding numbers aren't too shabby. He has fewer errors and more assists than Hideki Matsui. Let's not forget that he has to contend with the Green Monster for 81 games. No one has played the left-field wall better since Yaz. Hmm. Add Friday night's catch to the case file.

Friday night was indeed good baseball. I was on the edge of my seat, jumping for joy throughout the whole ninth inning. I slept great that night and awoke ready to face the day. Then the rains came.

While the Red Sox need to concentrate on the task at hand, I can't help but think about the upcoming series against New York.

Let's take a moment and assume the Red Sox can get past the Devil Rays tonight. It's not that tough considering Curt Schilling will be on the mound for Boston. Couple that with the fact that Mark Hendrickson will start for the D-Rays and you can almost jot down a W now.

Although I fully expect him to rebound, the last time Schilling faced Tampa Bay he allowed six runs. He's attempting to record his 20th and league-leading win, which should provide plenty of incentive. Hendrickson has lost seven of his last eight starts and has an ERA just under 5.00. He shouldn't be much of a factor. The Sox are hungry so the fish better watch out. Are Devil Rays good eatin'?

Okay so with tonight's assumed W, Boston will go into New York trailing the division leaders by 3.5 games. Too big a deficit to take the title away this weekend, but it will be close.

This was not the best way to return from a vacation. Perhaps I should have gone deeper into the woods instead of the golf course. Although, truth be told, I was in the woods there. Perhaps I should have stayed in the kayak instead of returning to shore. Perhaps I shouldn't dwell on the should haves.

It happened. Two consecutive losses and three out of the last four games. Life's not so good. What's worse? The Red Sox have lost to Tampa Bay and Seattle - two of the weaker teams in the American League.

So today, for the first time in over a month, I have removed the cap. I should have known. Tuesday I got a phone call from Michelle at "Life is Good" responding to my inquiries. In her message she mentioned how pleased she was that the cap seemed to be working. Figures. "Let me know if there is more we can do," she stated.

So much for that. What can you do now? I haven't a clue.

Although the hat is gone, I've not lost my faith in the team nor should anyone else.

My heart rate is up. I'm on the edge of my seat, sweating every play. I've got butterflies in my stomach and the palms of my hands are clammy. It's September, time for the stretch drive and I'm sick, sick with worry.

By now you have all read about the amazing offensive numbers the Sox have put up. You have heard how the relief core has come in to shut down a potent offense. You have seen some remarkable catches. You have witnessed steals, bunts and hit-and-runs. You've gotten a whiff of playoff fever. But perhaps we are getting just a tad bit ahead of ourselves.

There's just too much optimism. Before I was alone. Now it seems everyone wants to jump on board.

The ProJo's Bill Reynolds asks if this is the end of the Yankees dynasty?

Masslive.com reports the Sox win even after their starting pitcher can't get out of the third inning

It's exciting for sure. The Patriot Ledger reports that even with all the hype Terry Francona is only looking at one game at a time.

As I write about Francona, I must reluctantly give him some credit. I have to agree with a colleague who said earlier in the year, "All Francona needs is the right pieces." He was right. Francona has his club stealing bases, putting down bunts, making hit-and-run plays. The pitching has been excellent and you can't say enough about the defense. The Sox are finally playing playoff baseball.

Francona has the right idea. But although he may be thinking one day at time, it's hard not to think about the New Yorkers.