I didn’t think the Sox were fated to lose in 2003 or win in 2004. Both time I felt they had teams that were good enough to be the MFY. In ’03, Grady choked. The following year, the MFY—and especially Joe Torre, who fell asleep after Game 4—choked.

Believing that sports teams are fated to do this or that is stupid. The Red Sox got their fair share of bad breaks prior to 2004. None of those had anything to do with fate (or curses). They had some good teams that didn’t win, like a lot of other good teams. They also made some awful personnel decisions and paid for them.

The best story this post-season is the Rays. The Cubs were a sentimental fave of some, but they’re gone. Why weren’t the Cubs “fated” to win? 100 years between championships has a nice symmetry, doesn’t it? How about the Rays? Worst to first, now that’s a great story. The Phillies have only won once in over a century. Why not them? Go on HH, they love fate there. You’ll get an earful about how the OJ trial or other playoff series affects what’s going to happen in this series.

I don’t believe in fate. Nor am I some bs MFY fan who believes the playoffs and World Series are a birthright. My team has won twice in my lifetime and I am grateful for that. The Sox are where they are right now because they are good—and deep. They have overcome injuries to get here. I believe they are a better team than the Orange County Angels. I was pretty sure they would win this series before it started (I picked Sox in 4). Stop talking about the Dodgers. The Sox still have another game to win to put the Angels away. After that, I’ll worry about Tampa or Chicago.

Both are good. I just don’t want to see a Game 5 with Dice-K on the mound.