The Morning After: Two to go

Ever been in a situation where you’re really proud of one accomplishment, but know that there’s an even bigger step on the immediate horizon? Welcome to the world of fellow Red Sox fans.

Make no mistake, the team’s last couple wins have been huge accomplishments. Two nights ago the Sox needed to get a win and solid performance from Curt Schilling. They got both. Last night they needed a win to keep momentum going, not to mention take a huge step toward officially getting rid of all digits in the “magic number” column.

They’re close. That counter now reads two, with a chance to wrap up the organization’s first AL East crown in 13 years as early as tomorrow. Still, until the final score from a Sox win or Yankee loss in a clincher goes up on the big left field scoreboard, cementing it, no Sox fans are going to be breathing any easier.

Does that diminish the strong vibes from yesterday’s win? Not at all. But it does make it a little hard to enjoy completely. Remember the Real World Las Vegas? Last night’s win takes a cue from that season. It’s a little like getting drunk and hooking up with Brynn, enjoying the experience but knowing all the while that you really want to land a night with Trischelle, who’s more attractive and a much bigger slut (clearly, anyone that would have dated Steven, one of the all-time Real World douchebags, would have to be). It almost cheapens the whole Brynn experience, doesn’t it?

Sure, it absolutely does. But that doesn’t mean the night with Trichelle won’t be glorious. It just means that you have to make sure it’s happening. The Sox have four games to get rid of the number two. Whether they do it with two wins or a win and a Yankee loss or even, God forbid, two Yankee losses, that hardly matters. What does matter is that they get to the finish line of a quest which started months ago. A drive toward a division title that has been more elusive than in any other stretch of the team’s history.

Trischelle and Irulan? Both had quite the, ummm, prolific love life in Vegas.

After last night’s walk-away, they have all the weapons to do it, including Eric Gagne, who finally pitched a relatively drama-free inning of late relief. Jonathan Pepelbon’s sitting amped in the pen. Manny Ramirez is back to being himself, and Big Papi is hitting up a storm. All of that, of course, is before even factoring in Mike Lowell, who has now officially put up the greatest offensive season for a third baseman in team history.

There’s no excuses. Two games left in the column. All the weapons. Like having a handle of vodka with Trischelle in the signature suite of the Palms. Viva Las Vegas? Screw it. Viva Las Fenway. Viva Las Back Bay. Viva Las North End.

Viva Boston. Sox fans just need to hope they can make it an AL East champion city again.

– Cameron Smith