Bring out the brooms, the Red Sox just swept the Yankees in their last 3-game series at Fenway Park. Before the game, they honored Mariano Rivera, who unless they make the postseason, made his last visit to Fenway as an active player. But this really isn’t a case of the Mo the Merrier, lol, usually you try to avoid seeing the other teams closer, even if he has choked recently. The bigger picture here is that the Red Sox are running away with the division, a year after finishing in Last Place in the formidable AL East.

With another loss by the Rays and Rangers today, the Yanks are still in contention of both wild card spots. Who would the sox rather face in the first round of the ALDS is quite another story. We all seem to conclude that it will be a Red Sox v Tigers ALCS, but that’s counting your chickens before they hatch, all we can submit is that this is a farm-raised organic team… Literally.

Look at all the homegrown players that are apart of this years success: Lester, Buchholz, Pedroia, Middlebrooks, Bogaerts. Ellsbury and Bradley Jf. This is a solid core, part of the winning mold that Clay demonstrated today going by going 11-0 for the first time since Clemens. Lucky 11. It is a shame that he had to spend 3 months dealing with a sore neck from ‘sleeping with his baby weirdly?’ but if we are going to make it to the ALCS and match up with likely CY young apparent Max Scherzer, we need every ounce of our lucky 11 to go toe to toe with the Tremendous Tigers. Even though he was not at his best today, walking 4 and only striking out 3, besides an unearned run in the top of the 1st from what is usually a good pick-off move, he only permitted 2 hits to a rejuvenated yankee lineup, so kudos for that.

The next speculation we could have is how would you structure the playoff rotation.

In the ALDS, a best of 5 series, in a four man rotation, who do you want to pitch twice?

Clay, Lester, Lackey or Peavy. I’d say Lester, your opening day starter, who has been your workhorse all season and is finally turning the corner by using his cutter more selectively. Lester, Clay, Lackey and Peavy… no need for a game 5.. and hopefully no need for a game 4 because the Sox have seen the most pitches in baseball, a thousand more than the next patient team. We’re full of grinders and gamers and a lot of luck.