Clinched!

Copyrighted photo by Kelly O (sittingstill.net)

So we weren't able to celebrate on the field. And in some ways, it feels like we backed into the playoffs. But, still, WE WON THE WILD CARD! ON TO THE DIVISION PLAYOFFS!

In honor of the clinch, I give you the Crazy Closer! Dance, Pap, Dance!

Magic Number 1

That legendary wearer of the #1, Bobby Doerr, comes by to wish the Red Sox good luck tonight as they try to clinch that Wild Card berth!

Down to 2

With our magic number now at 2, I give you one of the most beloved bearers of that number: Jerry Remy. We'll be back at Fenway tonight, with Remdawg in the broadcast booth. How can we NOT clinch?!

(I was going to post a photo of one of my other favorites to wear #2 - Doug Griffin. He was the fulltime second baseman, until the Sox acquired Denny Doyle in mid-1975. After that, his playing time was minimal. But he was awfully cute!)

Down to 3

There have been many wearers of the number 3 through the years. Jimmie Foxx, Rick Miller, Jody Reed, Pokey Reese, David Wells, Grady Little... So instead of choosing, I share with you instead one of my all-time favorite photos - from Boston.com. Mark Loretta with the walk off homer. The expressions on his teammates faces are priceless!

3 more! And on to the Yankee Stadt

Down to 5

Boston.com photo
My fellow Rhode Islander, Rocco Baldelli, shows what our "magic number" stands at now.

(I know others will comment that their favorite #5 is Nomar, but I have to go with sentiment and say Rocco is my fav!)

One more game tonight against KC - here's hoping Buchholz can help us split the series. Then on to the Bronx!

Six!

In honor of our Magic Number now at 6, I give you a glorious six-pack from Gabe Kapler!

And the number now is...

The Red Sox beat the Orioles this afternoon - and finish the season 16-2 against them. Poor Os

Meanwhile, the Rangers were beat by the Angels. And the Yankees are playing in Seatlle - right now they're losing 7-0 (Chamberlain has 50 pitches in 2 innings!)

So, maybe the Division IS in reach. That would be cool - especially if it's due to a Yankee meltdown. But no matter how we get there, I'll be happy to see us in the PostSeason!

NINE!

Magic Number down to 9!

Magic time

Yes, we've gotten to that magical time of year - the countdown to the playoffs. Prior to tonight's games, the magic number for the Sox is eleven. Any combination of RS wins and Rangers losses that equal eleven mean the Sox have the Wild Card. I think our chances are good!

Meanwhile, we've landed in Baltimore for three games - the start of the last regular season road trip. We've not played as well on the road as we have at Fenway -we need to get that straightened out before the playoffs. And our pitching? Looking very solid now - more so than at any other point in the season.

I like our chances!