It's the Red Sox and Yankees in the ALCS for the second straight season, which again has confident Sox fans saying "This is The Year."

We asked you to submit an essay on why (or why not) this is the year the Red Sox will beat the Yankees in the ALCS and win their first World Series in 86 years. We were planning on posting just a few of the entries, but we were so overwhelmed by the number and the quality of the responses that we decided to post them all. Enjoy ...

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This is the best Red Sox Team ever assembled! We have 3 quality starting pitchers in Schilling, Martinaz, and Arroyo. A very good bullpen and one of the best batting line ups in the majors! Not much rest for the opposing pitchers and they are all healthy! Since trading the very popular Nomar, we have improved our defense dramatically! I really liked Nomar, but he made some costly errors costing us some games at times! The Sox play like a team, like the Patriots. Some of these players might be gone next year because of the Free Agency Bidding Wars! So I think they all feel it's now or never! My Dad was born in 1919 and gave up on the Sox in the 60's, saying they would never win a World Series in his life time. He was right! He passed away in Dec. 78! I am 57 and would like very much for them to win at least one World Series before I pass on! Like many Sox fans, I have spent many sleepless nights after their shocking losses in the playoffs! I think they owe it to all the loyal fans through out the country! And there are plenty fans all over this great country of ours! I live in Denver and attend the Rockies games sometimes, but it's nothing like watching the Sox at Fenway! I predict the Yankees will go home the loser this year in 5 games! God bless our Red Sox and Patriots! Bill Glassey

Bill Glassey, Sox in 5

If ever you have seen a game played with enthusiasm, determination like the one last year, between the Red Sox and New York Yankees, it will be one exciting venue to watch again. How two such close towns be so far apart. The Red Sox will endeavor to show how great they are this year not only to themselves, to the town, to the nation but to the world. They are ready for it! Go Red Sox and make history.

Sharon Ham, Red Sox

The bravado talk in Boston is that there is no such thing as the Curse. With the amount of talent, Curt Schilling and the ralling cry of "We are just a bunch of idiots", if the Red Sox lose as it is preordained then how can anyone deny that there is a curse. Yes Virgina there are UFO's, there is life after death and Babe Ruth sits at the right side of God whispering in his ear,"They have not suffered enough in Boston." The Yankees have the right handed power that will take away the Fenway Park advantage, they have never beaten Rivera and the Sox will be playing with over the top emotion that will cause mistakes. After 162 games and still the Red Sox did not beat out the Yankees for first place. When they close the gap in late September, they still could not overcome the Curse. Everyone in Boston even though they do not want to admit it have a deep fear of failure that they will never defeat "The Evil Empire." Curt Schilling was traded for because he won with the Diamond Backs in 2001. DId not The Red Sox Hire Joe MacCarthy to manage and did that work out? NO and it will not work now, because of the Curse. When the Yankess win so does America. Look at what has happen to us since 2001, because the Yankees have not won the World Series. If the Red Sox ever win it will be because Sky Net has taken over the world.

Tim, Yankees in 7

The curse started its reversal during the offseason. Mr. Boone hobbled off the playground and out of the Yankees lineup. Someone above made him pay for that lucky swing. Then A-Rod almost brought his curse to an already cursed team. Someone above stopped it. The Yankees thought they would put the hurt on but they grabbed the bate. George got fooled in this shell game. We offered Manny but he chose the curse! Just ask Mr. Giambi.

Robert Sheehan, Boston wins

There is no other destination for the Boston Red Sox but going up. Last year was a reawakening point and this is the best opportunity for the reality. With the way the Red Sox demolish their opponent one after there is no doubt that this will be their year. Its a great match up against the Yankees considering that they too must settle their great rematch against the Red Sox. I hope I can watch it live. Go all the way.

Dennis Moso, Definitely it will be Boston Red Sox

Dear Boston, If you compare this Yankee team to the teams you have lost to in recent history, you can only arrive at 1 conclusion, If you do not beat us now with this piching staff, you should just mail the loss in from now on. Oh, and by the way, you would still need to win the series, and the Bambino is watching............good luck.....

Ed , Yankees in 7

Not sure where to start. I have been a long time sox fan. I watched when Don Buddin was the shortstop, so that goes back a long ways. I remember when the team was a below 500 team. This team may very well be the best team I have seen. They have pitching, both starting and bullpen, defense and they can hit. They also have the heart that many of the old teams displayed but better pitching and defense. Along with defense and pitching they have a bench that has performed well all year. So you take it from there pitching, defense, ability to hit, a bench and heart. That is a pretty good combination. Congratulations to the team and management for a memorable year and hopes they can keep it going. I would love to see a world championship this year or at least in my lifetime. Thanks.

nick, sox in 6

Somebody came up to me following a political fundraiser last week in Kentucky and asked. "Well, are they going to do it? Do you still think they have what it takes to solve those second order differential equations?" I vividly recall a conversation last March. It took place in the storage room of a local music store. I was late for my second Guitar Lesson and my instructor left just before I arrived with instructions that if I showed up, to ask if I woud be late if it were the Sox Vs. the Yankees on T.V. and not a music lesson. My response must have come as a surprise as I expressed no remorse for being late. This was my chance to say something that would show that I took baseball seriously. I proceded to break down baseball as a series of second order differential equations solved by a group of overachievers who spent the off season lifting weights and shooting up steroids. I figured what i said would go in one ear and out the other as the two remaining music teachers seemed more pre-occupied with finding the right tube to replace the one that had gone cold in one of the practice amps. I figured my musings fell on deaf ears. Six months later I was in shock when asked aout the Sox by someone who had never said a word to me in my life. To remember the reference to second order differential equations (mindfull that this occured in rural Kentucky) was beyond belief. I figured this must be the year. Then it happened. It happened the next day. Dave Roberts was not called in to pinch run for David Ortiz. Tito Farncona had done something that was no little matter. A five bank shot in pool. Now the manager was solving second order differential equations. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principal having played out in the offseason with Manny and Nomar (You cant look at something without changing its position, its momentum or both) we in Red Sox Nation don't think much about the trades that werent. We don't ponder who might be taking steroids and how they might look or perform without. We don't long for the return of the hidden ball trick or the three man rotation. We just suffer through 7 months of baseball to get to this point. In two weeks we will miss baseball. If they loose I'll be so happy to be unhappy with the results (as ususual). This year I wont know what to do or think in the off season. I won't have to wait until next year. It will happen this year.

Eric, Sox in four

This is finally Bostons year. Forget all the past history ,this team wasn`t playing in the 1970`s or 80`s. The bats are hot the defense is much better and the Red Sox have the premier pitcher in the American League. Remember this team came within 5 outs in last years ALCS and have since added Schilling and Foulke to strengthen significantly. Sure the Yankees are still good but the starting pitching has deteriorated, no Rocket or Pettitte so they may not get to Rivera anyway. If he shows up at any time the Red Sox are good at hitting him now anyway, just ask Damon and Mueller. He`s blown more than 33% of his save failures against Boston. I had a word with the "Babe" during a trip to Monument park in the Bronx in February of this year and while he`s had plenty of fun watching on over the years, he agreed to drop this curse nonsense as its only ever existed in the heads of the Boston fans and sportswriters when their team came up short. This team has no shortcomings and so the tide will be turned. Better pitching, better hitting, better team spirit and a sense of destiny. Oh and finally a collection of hair cuts, beards and lip insullation made for celebration at last. From all the suffering Red Sox across the Pond, Let`s get it on!

david, Boston in 6

Being a transplanted hardcore Boston Red Sox fan has been a very hard road to hoe for my last thirty five years ,living up in the North country of New York. I moved to Saranac Lake From Boston to attend college and not only fell in love with the beauty of the area but also with a local native blonde beauty whom i married and began raising little red sox fans with. This was done out the need to help purify the fandom base up here in Northern New York. The old bumper sticker on my car read " I Love New York Too; It's the Yankees I hate !!! So, enough history about my love of the boys from beantown, now the reason why "This is the year"; Forget any talk of a Curse, please let the thoughts of better pitching also out of the equation,. Talk of a much improved defense is another viable point to consider as well as strong bats from all our hreoes. All of this reasonable,statisticle argumentation ,is well noted and may hold some validity: However; the main reason that the loves of my life will come through and win it all this year is Chemistry; yes that's right, Chemistry. This years edition of our beloved Boston Red Sox are a band of; fun-loving, hard nosed, easy-going, light-hearted, Wacko's. I being called a wacko all my life can really relate to this band of slighly off-center, over the edge, non -nornal personalities. Why when George Steinbrenner makes the statement that he would not have any of those "long haired, bearded, unshaven ball players in my clubhouse", it confirms my resolve. This is Boston's year because they are loose and just love to play the game. Each player feeds off one and other. Terry Francona may not be the best manager in the league, but he gets my vote because he has let this bunch of self proclaimed "Idiots" do it there way. Now don't get me wrong, ; their way has been very focused and professional all year long, one goal in sight, the world championship. Therein lies the answer. The purpose of this correspondence is to support with good argument why the Boston Red Sox will win and I say the only answer is Chemistry. Having watched Boston for thirty- five years I feel this years mob of crazies is destined to finally jump the last hurdle of 86 seasons of frustration. CARPE DIEM; live for the moment, grab the oppourtunity, Watch the Yankees in the next few days as they score a couple of runs and you will see a team of straight laced,staid, and conservative ball players high five and nod to each other their congratulations; Now watch our Boston Bad Boys, they jump up and down with the excitement of a school child, they hug each other enthusiastically, they play in the dug -out like a young group of puppies, they tease each other as a group of junior-high sofomoric adolescencents would do, they jesture to all the world on camera, their fun-loving and happy-go-lucky love of their place in time, love of the wonderful game of baseball. and destiny that they feel is about to take place. Yes,all my fellow Red Sox nation believers this is our year, cease the moment, savor the next seven days. If their goal is not attained take heart and "Keep the Faith", Still Believe" but above all watch the "FUN" of this 2004 Boston Red Sox. The most fun team I have ever had the pleasure to watch in my baseball watching history. CARPE DIEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nick, Boston in 6