The Morning After: Conquest, act one

It may not be the whole enchilada, but it’s a hell of an appetizer, isn’t it? It’s a little like waking up next to Tara Connor; it might not have happened under the most holistic conditions, what with the Red Sox ongoing meltdown, but it sure looks good in the morning regardless.

Tara Connor and a nice bottle of Brut? Hard to beat, unless it’s an AL East or World Series title.

The Red Sox sewed up a playoff berth, aborting the frustrating conclusion of 2006, by mounting a ninth-inning comeback against Tampa Bay in the dome. Just when it appeared the Boston bullpen had blown a sure-fire win - again - the captain himself came to the rescue, with Jason Varitek launching a game-tying homer to start things off, then Eric Hinske knocking a double to start the game-winning explosion. Naturally, Jacoby Ellsbury had a hand in the spurt, providing the latest proof that Boston’s bounce-back is being powered by its internal youth movement, not the mediocre over-priced free agents (though Julio Lugo is making a late case for himself, isn’t he?).

Still, so much of the credit for the win should go where the win that should have been last Friday should go, too: Daisuke Matsuzaka. Suddenly, the Dice-man is back on schedule and looking like the dominant pitcher he was early in the season.

Of course there was the inevitable letdown when Terry Francona summoned Javier Lopez from the bullpen instead of the significantly more reliable Manny Delcarmen or Mike Timlin, matchups be damned.

Tara Connor gone wild. Like we hope the Red Sox will.

In the end, it all worked out, right? And what better place to celebrate than Florida?

Especially when you’re celebrating with Tara Connor.

– Cameron Smith