Home Game 81. The last game at Fenway. We're coming back for playoff baseball, but I'm stilled a little bummed out.

I checked out of my Back Bay hotel around eleven and moved the german sedan over to the usual spot on Comm Ave. I meet up with The Barber and Sher at the big facility, Wally arrives halfway through the first beer. The Barber is playing it cool, they leave after a while to head over to the Tavern. Wally and I order lunch with our pre game cocktails.

What a flash this season has been. Hanging on for half the year waiting for them to "get it going". They finally did, slapping around contenders on the way. Now here we are, with as good a chance as anyone to win it all.

After lunch we do our uaual pre game ritual and head into the ballyard. A couple of beers on the way to the seats and we're ready for the Yankees. The Sox get up early and it looks easy. Our drinking can't keep up with the pace of the game so we cool it for a while.

The scattering of Yankee fans around us are once again bummed out. They know that they're ripe to be had, the domination of the 90's is nowhere to be found. They can't pitch enough to win this year and they know it.

Around the seventh I head Wally over to Yawkey Way and downstairs for a cold mexican. This is the last "regular" game. The playoffs happen on a much different plane. I take in the calm one more time, next time I'm here it will be wonderfully insane. We finish the mexicans and head back in for the ninth, sliding in behind Section 25. We win and slap the hands around us.

We walk back down the ramp and the body rushes start. Shit, last game, end of the season...The Playoffs, October Baseball. Serious shit. Let the Nation intensify!

What do I know?