It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not... We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love...we’ll give it a shot!

I'm still having a difficult time grasping this whole "Sox made the playoffs" thing. To think about where they were a few days ago, clinging to the faintest of playoff hopes, still stunned over that horrific Twins series. Ozzie said it himself, "our heads were hanging when we left Minnesota."

I still haven't come down from the last three games. That Detroit game was exhausting in its own right, the Sox looking beaten until Alexei's dramatic grand slam. And the Minnesota game? One of the greatest games I have ever witnessed. Both teams were so locked in, the slightest mistake could decide the game--and it did. I was emotionally spent after that game, and I still am. Just thinking about how hard this team fought, and what they overcame to get here.

So now Game 1 of the ALDS starts in about two hours. I don't really know what to think. I'm thrilled they made it, but I'm really not sure what to make of their chances. For starters, Tampa is an awesome team, they play out of their minds at home, they're young, quick, and opportunistic. Essentially, they're like the Twins, but better. Their pitching is great, and they have clutch power hitters too.

While the Rays can win in a number of ways, the Sox are pretty limited in their approach. They're a softball team playing in a professional baseball league. They need some clutch extra base hits and their pitching to come through. But I'm not really confident with Nuke Vazquez getting the start today.

But whatever happens, happens. I'm not going to give myself a stroke if this team gets swept. I'm going to enjoy seeing them in the playoffs, and see if they can prolong this magical ride. Because I look at two things. For starters, they weren't supposed to be here in the first place. Nobody saw this coming. The Tigers or Indians were supposed to be here instead. Secondly, I'm still so happy and proud of them for how they battled back these last few games. In a sense, they're playing with the house's money. Nobody expected them to contend, nobody thought they'd pull off that dramatic three-game streak, and nobody expects them to beat the Rays.

I do think they have a chance in the series. Not a great one, because they have to fire on all cylinders, make no mistakes, and hope Tampa hurts themselves with any playoff jitters. The Sox suck in domes, on turf, on the road, and against Tampa this year. But Buehrle, Pink, and Danks have testicles the size of mountains, so maybe they can lend some to Javy. Thome and Griff have to be motivated. Paulie, JD, and AJ are playoff vets, and Alexei continues to shine as this season wears on.

So maybe I'm grasping at straws. Maybe this series will be a disaster. But whether the Sox get swept or they win the World Series, I'll enjoy it no matter what.

But it is October, and strange things happen all the time. As Wesley Snipes once said in Passenger 57:

Wesley: "Ever play roulette?"
Terrorist: "On occasion."
Wesley: "Always bet on black!"