Random thoughts on

... the eve of destruction -- HA

I think back to last year in the 8th inning of the ALCS when the Yanks looked all but sunk -- and was simply amazed by the comeback that tied the game and ultimately lost Grady Little his job -- it really put another one in the column of how the heck do the Yankees keep pulling it out of the fire

This year against the Twins, I had the same feeling -- in the 2001 playoffs, the Yankees abused BH Kim two games in a row late in the game after looking offensively lethargic -- they fell back 0-2 to the A's, only to be energized by the Jeter pitch play

So here we are, only 4 days ago the Yanks had an ironclad grip on the series --
3-0 -- in fact, if you look at it from one standpoint, the Yanks prior to Game 6 had basically completed the first 5 game sweep in ALCS history -- as atypically, the bullpen lost leads in G4 and G5 at Fenway

Today, they got beat down by Curt "Walks with God" Schilling, and the offense was lethargic as hell --

This series has shown a lot of what this year's Bombers are about -- the best record in the AL -- yet can lose game 22-0 -- can beat the crap out of Boston 19-8 -- and lose to KC 26-5 -- pull games out of their ass at Minnesota -- come from behind -- 61 TIMES! -- and then go flat when the clincher is at hand

Las Vegas had Boston as a slight favorite to win the AL pennant -- actually if you look at Series To Win bets -- the most likely scenario was Boston in 6

So here we are on the eve of destruction AGAIN -- ha

Is Boston the same team that took 5 of 6 from the Yanks in the first two series of the season? -- Are they the ones that fell behind 10 1/2 -- Are they everyone's sweethearts that took 20 of 22, and cut the Yanks lead at times to 1 1/2 -- or are they that team that never broke through

Both teams have shown that HOT-COLD tendency this year -- so one year later in the ALCS, here we are again -- almost as if it were written in the stars

For NY, if they win, it is surprising because they took out a team that has many of the features that they had over winning seasons past -- almost like a role reversal -- they have somehow pulled it out again when all the experts (and SL owner guy, not an expert) wonder how the heck is this team winning with the patchwork pitching staff and the overworked bullpen

If they don't win, all you can say is that money doesn't buy championships -- and I think the Boss should be expected to make a lot of moves to deal with the championship drought -- obviously the Yankees need arms -- although adding Carlos Beltran would be incredible

For Boston, if they win, it will be an amazing comeback for a team that has proven resilient this year so far -- but has yet to break through

If Boston doesn't win, damn -- I don't buy the curse stuff -- I think a lot of the non-WS appearances have to do with being in the same division as the Yanks and Orioles who both have had years and years of success in the pre-Wild Card era --

I think all that can be said is that this will be one of those teams that had swagger and power and mass appeal but ultimately fell short of championships -- like the 81 Chargers or even the 98 Vikings in football -- that absolutely loaded Red Wings team a few years back that lost a handful of times in the regular season but didn't win the cup -- the 110+ wins Mariners of a few years back ... the list goes on and on

I think the problem that faces the winner tomorrow is the same as last year, NY emerged from the war but had nothing left for the Marlins -- that is the next question, what will the AL pennant winner have left for Houston or STL?

No matter who you cheer for tomorrow, enjoy the game -- I think that for two straight years now, the ALCS has just been simply amazing