Save us (again), Pedro

A second close loss to the Yankees has put the Red Sox in quite a hole. Or maybe we have 'em right where we want 'em. Just ask the Indians what happens when you go two games up on the Sox.

Can Pedro Martinez save the season, or are we pretty much done with baseball in Boston for the century?

Lisa, NH
After restoring my faith in the ALDS, the Sox beat it up in the first two games of the ALCS. Everyone knows the Yankees are the "better" team on paper, but the Yanks have yet to win a game. Instead, the Sox have lost the first two. The Sox can be confident that the Yanks will come out and actually win one for themselves here soon so they better start taking advantage of the opportunities while they have them. Now I know why so many New Englanders cheer for teams from other cities - New England sports are the ultimate heartache! Yankee fans should be on their knees thanking the Bambino for keeping the curse alive. Come on Sox, restore the faith yet again!

Sarah, Belmont
These were two very close games that we all know (including the Yankees) could have gone either way. However, with that said, the key is execution. We have to capitalize on those opportunities and get guys home. The Yankees are clearly beatable- they are not the giants they were last year. Keep up the momentum boys- don't lose faith and play your hearts out! GO SOX!!!!!

Ross, Boston
Enough with the "bad call" garbage. Rick Reed didn't throw a meatball down the middle to one of the most dangerous hitters in the game in Bernie Williams. Nor did he drop a ball at the plate, nor did he make two errors. The Bronx Bombers are a team built for October baseball, the Red Sox are a team built to compete with them...not beat them. Pedro will make it interesting, but he will just postpone the inevitable. Yanks in 5! good luck next century.

Eddie, Hyde Park
I think it's time for them to stop swinging at the first pitch. They need to be patient at the plate if they want to win some ball games. That's why I gave hope on the sox, because they always fall in on their own trap, let's see what happens in Fenway this weekend will they pull some wins out. I don't know anymore, but to see what happens next.

Greg, S. Boston
Confucious say, "When you have read the last page, close the book." That pretty much sums it up for you people! Too bad the book's only plot was one of loss, pain, and bitterness!

Lou, Allston
Someone needs to tell Bob Ryan that no one in their 20s has heard of Almy's....so his little comparison story is useless.

Eric, Boston
Go Sox, bring on the Braves

KG, Andover
Red Sox fans - you should all hope Pedro doesn't throw his shoulder out trying to strike out every batter he faces.He's not that massive physically. Plus, Rocket pitched shut out ball for 7 innings against Texas, which had a more potent lineup than Boston. All New York has to do is score one run more than Boston - something they proved they could do the last 2 games. Go NY!!

Chris, Alaska
It's funny to think that even though I'm now living thousands of miles away from Boston. (Alaska) and I haven't seen a game in years, that this team can still bring me to tears. I love 'em. More than I've ever loved anyone. Come on guys, forget the curse, you owe the fans now. Let's just get this one series. If we can beat the Yanks for the pennant then we can beat ANYBODY! The World Series would be a breeze if we can pull this one out. Besides, I think it would be better for baseball as a whole if the Sox won the series. No one wants to see the Braves or the Yankers win ANOTHER series. But, the Red Sox are a team that the whole nation, even the world can rally behind and root for. I'm telling you, and hear me now so you know where you heard it first. World Peace as we visualize it today can be found in a Red Sox game 7 win over the Yankers and a sweep of whoever wins that Braves vs. Mets series. Think about it, miracles can and do happen everyday. Just, not to us. But we've waited our turn, and the time is now more than ever. We need and deserve that trophy and if we have to rase the house the Ruth built in order to exorcise the demon then so be it. But in the end we'll be there together.

Brett, NYC, NY
I know these last two nights were traumatic but we all need to relax! What were we thinking last week at this time? That the sox would score 44 runs in three games? Of course not; things couldn't have been more bleak! And hey, whatever happens just be glad most of you don't live, commute, and work surrounded by millions of spoiled Yankee fans! It's torture!

Cathy, Squantum
GO SOX!! I HOPE THAT THE FENWAY FAITHFUL WILL SHOW THOSE DAMN YANKEE FANS THAT WE CAN AND WILL RISE ABOVE THEM AND BEHAVE IN A MANNER THAT WE WILL BE PROUD OF. OK, SO BOO ROGER A TAD BUT THINK OF THE KID THAT MAY BE SITTING NEXT TO YOU. KEEP THE MEMORIES OF FENWAY FRIENDLY.

James, Da Bronx
I think the Red Soxs do not have a shot in Hell. I can not believe all you beantown losers actually think the Yankees got lucky. It is not luck when you have done it 2 out of 3 years and thanks to your shitty team, will do it again this year. Red Soxs should not even be in the ALCS. The Indians are a much better team, you just happenned to get on a hot streak. Well that streak is over. Do not even blame the curse of the bambino on this shit. Red Soxs were out pitched, out played and out coached.

Patrick, St. Louis
Don't give up Boston! Everybody hates the two New York teams. In St. Louis the Mets are called POND SCUM. I can't write the name we have for the Yankees. Red Sox will come back and sweep the next four games. There will be national satisfaction seeing the Yankees lose it all in the House that Ruth built otherwise known as the jungle in the Bronx.

Glenn, Winchester
While reading what "others have said", I couldn't help notice the inane ramblings of "Dave" in W. Roxbury. There is no comparison between the missed calls at second base in the first two games. First of all, missing a call on a bang-bang play like Offerman's steal of second is not comparable to calling a player out when the fielder never catches the ball. If they called Brosius out at home on Nixon's throw, THAT would be the same thing. Secondly, a loss is a loss, whether the score is 3-2 or 3-0, so the missed call in game two did NOT affect the outcome of the game. Unfortunately, the missed call in game one may have affected the outcome of the entire series.

Chris, Quincy
Not worried. Pedro vs Clemens. That's one. Petitte on the road. That's two. El Duque-(see Bartolo Colon) That's three. Then back to the Bronx to wrap it up with Martinez. And this time we won't need Pedro. I guess you Yanks fans will have to listen to "Blockhead" and "Pawlie" whine until next year. Too bad we can't beat the Mets too!

Scott, New Haven, CT
Who is in more pain today, the players or us? We die-hards take this stuff very seriously! These were two very, very tight games yet we are just a little short on talent when measured against NY. I have been a fan since 1967 and this team has shown more heart than ANY other group over the past 33 years. Other than Carbo and Henderson's HR's, when has a Sox team every shown as much real clutch play as we saw in the final 3 games against Clev? There is no curse, we just seem to always ben a little short on talent. The next 3 at Fenway should help even the playing field abit and let's keep the faith that we get a few breaks going our way. I have enjoyed this season more than any year I can ever remember. Let's hope for a few more thrills like Troy gave us Monday night...Go Sox

Mike, San Diego
We're not done just yet but we are on the brink (again). Pedro will beat up on Roger (he sucks as a big game pitcher) and the Yanks and I'm not afraid of Pettite in Fenway. Everyone who is going to game 3 yell as loud and as much as you can at Roger because he WILL choke!

Chris, Anchorage, Alaska
Sure we lost the first two games but a certain ball club is sitting at home right now watching the ALCS because the Redsox lost the first two and then came back and won the series. IT CAN BE DONE AGAIN! We get Pedro pitching and guys like Valentin hitting again and we're as good as gold this weekend. Oh, and Jimi, pull Daubach for God's sake. What is he 0 for the century!! Let's Go SOX!!!

Rudi, Beverly
The Yanks will probably win this series because they are a club of veterans and the role of a dominant pitcher such as Martinez has been diminished with the expanded playoff schedule. But the Yanks are a ballclub that is clearly going downhill fast due to age. I doubt that they will finish within 10 games of first place in the AL East next year.

Mike, Orlando
The soxs will take two out of three at home. They are scrappy guys with a lot of heart. You can't count them out. Only a few people even believed that they would keep it close against the Yankees. We have two proven winners still to pitch. Forget the curse, the soxs will be the ones getting the breaks at Fenway.