By Peter Karl, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
Well, they got in. It was an ugly road to the playoffs, but the Red Sox have clinched a postseason spot for the fifth time in the six-year Terry Francona era. After last night’s almost-enough-effort in front of the Fenway faithful, where the Sox gave up 3 homers for the first time since 2004, the Sox didn’t get to shower beer around Fenway just yet. Instead, they had to wait ’til one in the morning to celebrate without their fans, as the Rangers lost to the Angels in Anaheim, handing the Sox the Wildcard spot in the most unorthodox way possible.
So, thanks Angels. I guess you’re really looking forward to losing to us, again.
To say the Sox have stumbled into the playoffs is an understatement. In fact it is very reminiscent of the struggle Ace Venture once had trying to exit a mechanical rhino. You see the similarities? Despite losing their last five games (one fewer than the season’s longest losing streak), Boston is in and, of course, the players are promising better results in the playoffs.
Dustin Pedroia couldn’t have said it better, “It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you’re in.”
With five games remaining in the season, (one more against Toronto tonight, and four against Cleveland) the [...]

 
By Phil Shore, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
Now that we are in the middle of September, we have reached the home stretch for the baseball playoffs.
The Red Sox are a relatively high seven games behind the first place New York Yankees—arguably the hottest team in baseball—in the American League East.
However, they do hold a tight four-game lead over the Texas Rangers for the Wild Card, and it looks like this will only be a two-team race as Seattle and Tampa Bay have fallen more than ten games back.
The first thing to look at for both teams is their upcoming schedules.
The Red Sox play 10 of their next 20 games at home, while the Rangers play only 9 on their own field. Still, not much of an advantage there on either side. Where Boston gets a slight edge is with who they play against.
Both teams will face the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; however Boston only plays them for three games, whereas Texas will have to face them seven more times. The Rangers have sported a 9-3 record against their division rivals so far this season, but the games will certainly be difficult. The Rangers also have a few last games against [...]