Act Three

Our souls were crushed in 2003.

We were happy beyond measure in 2004.

And in 2005?

The answer will begin to reveal itself tonight at 7:00.

David Wells / Chien-Mien Wang.
Mark Buehrle / Kevin Millwood.

East
New York  94  65  -
Boston    93  66  1
  
WC
Boston    93  66  -
Cleveland 93  66  -

Looking at various sites this afternoon, I believe this is an accurate chart of possible scenarios:

Red Sox win 3
Cleveland wins 0: Red Sox win East, Yankees win WC
Cleveland wins 1: Red Sox win East, Yankees/Cleveland WC playoff
Cleveland wins 2: Red Sox win East, Cleveland wins WC
Cleveland wins 3: Red Sox win East, Cleveland wins WC

Red Sox win 2
Cleveland wins 0: Red Sox win WC
Cleveland wins 1: Red Sox win WC
Cleveland wins 2: Red Sox-Yankees-Cleveland 3-way playoff
Cleveland wins 3: Cleveland wins WC, Red Sox/Yankees East playoff

Red Sox win 1
Cleveland wins 0: Sox win WC
Cleveland wins 1: Cleveland/Red Sox WC playoff
Cleveland wins 2: Cleveland wins WC
Cleveland wins 3: Cleveland wins WC

Red Sox win 0
Cleveland wins 0: Cleveland/Red Sox WC playoff
Cleveland wins 1: Cleveland wins WC
Cleveland wins 2: Cleveland wins WC
Cleveland wins 3: Cleveland wins WC

That loss in the Tuesday doubleheader nightcap still rankles David Ortiz:

We lost an important game against a team that's not even close to where the Yankees are. ... I am [angry]. Man, I am. That game that we lost [Tuesday] night, that's not supposed to happen. You're playing at the house, you're winning, late in the game, and you're not playing against a [playoff] team. ... [W]e're not supposed to lose those games. ... I mean, if we're getting in trouble with the Blue Jays ... they have some good players, but if you match lineups, and you have problems with the Blue Jays, then you don't want to play the Yankees.

Also: Tito trusts Jonathan Papelbon. ... Which Yankee LHP might face Ortiz in the late innings? Torre: "I'd like to see Al Leiter in that situation." ... David Wells says he'll retire if the Red Sox repeat.

Comparisions to 1949 are being drawn, but because both clubs could make the post-season, 2005 falls short, despite the teams' recent history. ... New York sportswriters are still holding fast to thoughts of a curse.

Both the Red Sox and Yankees had an interest in Mike Stanton. Nationals GM Jim Bowden: "I think the Yankees were mostly interested in blocking the Red Sox. We gave them both lists of names and the Red Sox were really aggressive in making this deal."