Yankeetorial: I don't think we're in 2009 any more, Toto.

Admit it. You thought it: We are back in '09. They win the first half, we win when it counts. Once upon a time, back in the merry merry land of the Bambino, that's how seasons played out. The wicked witch melted. The trees threw apples, and we just ate them. "What if we come across a Youkilis! I'll slap him down and nuke his puss!"

Admit it. After game one, you thought we'd at least win two out of three.

Nope. This isn't Oz. This is Attica. Today, we go home undressed and defrocked, bleeding from the lips and leading in the wild card. Today, we go home knowing the road to 28 requires somebody else - Texas or Cleveland - to beat Boston. We can't beat the flying monkeys.

Undressed and defrocked.

You say Arod is coming back. But, good grief, Nunez homered yesterday. You can say Jesus Montero is coming, but he's just one batter, while they seem to have an inexhaustable tap of young talent. You can clap your hands loud to save Tinker Bell, but it's the wrong cinematic analogy. Boston has two rings since 2004. They have Carl Crawford just starting to heat up, and let's face it: If he continues, and Pedroia and Ellsbury are going to keep hitting, they dominate us at every single postion. And they have two (2) aces.

OK, let's triangulate: We're damn lucky to be here. We have a rotation of Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia. This is a year meant for rebuilding. Montero and a wave of youth will rejuvinate our team... eventually. Plus, anything can happen in an October five-game series. Anything. But they have a better team. We know it. And in terms of going back to Oz, they are us, and we are them.