Here comes a walk…then a single…and…

Goodbye win.

Sometimes that third strike is soooo hard to get. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Have a nice off-season, Boston.

Via the AP – Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, left, is removed by manager Terry Francona, right, in the ninth inning of Game 3 of an American League baseball division series against the Los Angeles Angels in Boston, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.

The random law of the postseason guides how [Red Sox G.M. Theo] Epstein and the Red Sox operate. In baseball, Epstein believes the consistent winner is better than the powerhouse.

The most dominant team in a generation, the 116-win 2001 Seattle Mariners, did not even reach the World Series. Reaching the playoffs once, no matter how dominant a team is, is like buying a lottery ticket. Reaching the playoffs often – like six times in seven years – is like being the house in blackjack. Eventually, over time, the odds dictate you’ll win.

“That’s why we have clearly defined objectives,’’ Epstein said. “In our mission statement, part of it is we want to operate with a long-term view to put ourselves in a position to win 95 games and get in the playoffs as often as we possibly can. Now we’ve done it six out of seven years. Part of the thinking is that if you make the postseason multiple times, you improve your chances of making the World Series. Theoretically, if you’re in eight times, you’ll win one World Series. Well, we’ve been in five times. This is our sixth time in. The first five times in, we won two World Series. I’m not going to [complain] about that.

“I don’t believe in building a team with the season goal of winning the World Series, and the next year you look up, you’re old all of a sudden, you don’t have any options. ‘Now we’re a 75-win team. Hey, we won the World Series two years ago.’ It doesn’t work that way. We want to try to always operate with the broadest possible lens, so we have a solid foundation so that every year, or just about every year, we’ll be in a position to win 95 games and get in, and then trust our players, trust our manager, trust our coaching staff, trust our advanced scouting, trust our ability to perform under pressure to go win a World Series.’’

…Theoretically, if you’re in eight times, you’ll win one World Series…

Well, since they brought in the Wildcard, and not including 2009, the Yankees (13 times), Braves (11 times), and Red Sox (8 times) have all made the post-season (at least) eight times. And, the Cardinals and Indians have each made it seven times – which is darn close to eight. But, just the Yankees and Red Sox have won more than one ring during this run.

So, does that mean the Red Sox and Yankees were lucky to have won as many rings as they did? Or, does the fact that the Yankees and Red Sox usually have payrolls much higher than teams like the Braves, Cardinals and Indians have something to do with it? After all, you pay peanuts and you get monkeys, right? But, I doubt that Theo Epstein and/or Brian Cashman would ever ‘fess up to the fact that their secret sauce is just having deep pockets…

With the Sox’s magic number for clinching the American League Wild Card berth down to three games, there’s a chance they could celebrate at Yankee Stadium this weekend.

The earliest the Red Sox can clinch their sixth postseason berth in the past seven years is Saturday.

A Bronx celebration for the Red Sox, who trail the Yankees by 5 1/2 games in the AL East but lead the Rangers by eight in the Wild Card standings?

“Oh, we will … hopefully,” said slugger David Ortiz. “So [then] we don’t have to get our clubhouse dirty.”

The Sox could be the first team to have a champagne celebration at the new Yankee Stadium. And Ortiz left no doubt that there will be at least some bubbly if that occurs.

“Oh, we have to,” said Ortiz. “Of course. We have to roll like that. That’s how we do it.”

Great…

Can you just imagine the sight of the Red Sox partying on Yankee Stadium turf this weekend? And, of course, you know that there will be at least 7,000 members of RSN attending each of these games – and they’ll be hanging out, trying to get down to the field level, to cheer their “champions” on during the celebration…

It’s one big reason to say “Let’s go Yankees…and let’s go Texas Rangers!” this weekend.

Van Buren Elementary fourth-grader Nathan Johns thought his teacher was kidding when he instructed him to go to the bathroom and turn his Yankees T-shirt inside out.

The blue shirt read “New York No. 52” on the front and “Sabathia” for the New York Yankees’ pitcher CC Sabathia, on the back.

“ I thought to myself ‘Is he serious or is he kidding,’” said Nate, 9, a student in Peter Addabbo’s fourth-grade class. “But he had this look like he wasn’t kidding at all.”

Nate complied, and said he was later told to wear it that way until dismissal. At lunch, Nate said the fifth-graders made fun of him because he wearing his shirt inside out.

“It was such a horrible day.” Nate said. “I don’t ever want anything like to happen again.”

Nate said he felt he was treated unfairly.

“Just because my teacher doesn’t like the Yankees I should still have the right to wear a Yankees shirt,” Nate said Thursday after school. The teacher has Boston Red Sox paraphernalia all over the classroom on display, he said.

Baldwinsville Schools Superintendent Jeanne Dangle said Friday morning the district is conducting an investigation into the incident, and has told the parents she will get back to them on the issue in a few days.

“We are investigating,” Dangle said. “This is a personnel issue, and we will be following up and doing what’s appropriate after we get all the information.”

Sounds like Peter Addabbo should be forced to stand in front of an entire school assemby, wearing a Yankees shirt and cap, and read from a copy of “Why Is Everybody Always Picking on Me? A Guide to Understanding Bullies for Young People.”

“It’s always going to be amped up between these two teams,” Johnny Damon said. “It’s the best rivalry in sports.”

“We know that we can get the job done this weekend,” Mariano Rivera said. “It would be nice to do that at home.”

“Playing these tough games is important this time of year,” Joe Girardi said. “It gives you an idea of what you’re going to face as we move forward here in October.”

“It’s great for everybody to get that feeling, to play in that atmosphere,” [Joba] Chamberlain said. “October is a little different, so it helps being able to play teams like Boston in this kind of series. Coming down the stretch, trying to finish strong and set the tone will be good. People are going to be getting excited for October, so it’s going to be crazy.”

Kinda makes you think this is it for the Yankees, and those six games remaining this season against the Royals and Rays, after this series, are just going to be semi-exhibition games…

And, some Yankees fans are starting to hear Red Sox Nation footsteps…

Now, to this, those into math will remind of us the following:

If the Yankees play just .500 baseball for the rest of the season, and go 7-7 in their remaining games, then the Red Sox will have to go 15-1 in their remaining games to pass New York in the standings. Yeah, fifteen and one…

Fat chance, huh?

But, here’s where it gets interesting. The Yankees have 5 more games on their current road trip – two with the Mariners and three with the Angels. And, after that, they meet the Red Sox for three games in Yankee Stadium. And, the Red Sox have 6 more games on their current road trip before coming to the Bronx – two with the Orioles and four against the Royals.

So, the Yankees have to deal with the M’s for two and then tackle the Angels – who usually plays New York well. And, on the other hand, the Red Sox play the O’s and Royals – two last place teams who have lost 6 out of every 10 this season, on average.

So, what happens if the Yankees go 2-3 in their next 5 games…which is possible…and, while that happens, the Red Sox go 5-1 in their next 6 games…which is asking a lot, but, it’s not impossible?

Then, when Boston comes into New York for a three-game set on September 25th, the Red Sox will start the series being just three games behind the Yankees in the loss cloumn. Yup, three games back with three games to be played head-to-head.

Interesting, huh? All of a sudden, that “15-1″ thing seems moot, eh?

But, here’s the deal…before we, in Yankeeland, get our panties all up in a bunch over this…let’s see the Yankees lose 3 of their next 5, first, while the Red Sox win 5 of their next 6…OK?

Plus, remember, in the past, the Red Sox have shown that they don’t care – whatsoever – how they make the playoffs…as long as they make them. And, right now, Boston has a 7 game lead in the wildcard race. The Red Sox magic number to take the ‘card is ten. Further, the team behind them, in the wildcard standings, the Texas Rangers, have lost 6 of their last 7 games. The Rangers are tanking.

There’s an excellent chance that the Red Sox may clinch the Wildcard six days from now…and, once that’s done, I expect them to go into Spring Training mode (and prepare for the post-season). Therefore, if you want to worry about the Red Sox…save it for the ALCS…should the Yankees get that far.

But, of course, I reserve the right to cancel that recommendation if the Yankees lose three of their next five, the Red Sox win five of their next six, and the Rangers win six games in a row…

If the Yankees lose and the Red Sox win, then Boston will be just 4 games behind New York, in the loss column, with the Yankees having 15 games left to play and the Red Sox having 18 games left to play.

Pretty big Wednesday night for both teams. Betcha their both wishing they had someone else starting for them in these games…

Since that time, the Boston Red Sox have gone 14-5.
And, since then, the New York Yankees have gone 15-6.

Pretty close, huh?

At the close of business on August 23rd, the Yankees were up 7.5 games on the Red Sox. And, today, at the close of business on September 14th, New York is 7.5 games up on Boston. In three weeks, overall, there’s been no change in that gap between the teams. The only thing that’s changed has been the number of games left on the schedule.

Now, that last fact is great for the Yankees. But, should New York be concerned that Boston is still playing well…despite their issues…and it appears the Red Sox will be at the dance in October? Can we handle a 4th ALCS between the Yanks and Sox in a span of 11 years? And, if they do meet, and Boston wins, that would give each team two “wins” each – with the Red Sox winning the last two match-ups…and giving Boston two ALCS “wins” over the Yankees in the last 6 years. As Yankees fans, how would you feel about that?

Me? The whole thing bugs me. Part of the issue, I believe, with the 2003 post-season was that, after the Yankees beat Boston in the ALCS, New York was running on empty at the end. It’s too much stress facing the Red Sox in the ALCS. And, now, the Yankees have to try and make up (as if that’s possible) for 2004 if they face Boston in the ALCS again. Which, if New York wins, could lead to another World Series let down.

As much as the Angels are a pain in the Yankees tokhes, I think I’d rather see them in the ALCS than the Red Sox…especially if Boston is still winning seven out of ten games, like they have been the last three weeks. How about you?