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Well, since you asked, Eric…

I stand by what I said. I am prouder of this team than I could possibly express. They gave me more than I ever expected. And I will die believing that the players on the field did not lose that game.

After all, I was right. Pedro pitched like he pitches when he needs to win. Clemens faltered, as I felt he would. The Red Sox remembered how to bat.

And Grady Little left Pedro in one batter too long. Then another batter too long. And another.

Tonight, Grady Little said this: “Pedro had gas in the tank… he was the man we all wanted in there on the mound.” And Pedro said this: “You want to point fingers, point them at me.” Little let his ace take the blame, and Pedro was too much of a man to blame Little. Do I have a single solitary reason to be unhappy with my team — not the manager, but the players I cherish so much?

I do not. And once again, I thank them.

[Population: One] <A HREF="http://popone.innocence.com/ar

Batting cleanup, this fall morning:

• Edward Cossette
• Jim Caple
• Tom Boswell
• Eric McErlain
• And A. Bartlett Giamatti:

“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoon and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, you rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then, just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.”

Full credit is due, by the by, to Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera. They both pitched very well. If I were a Yankees fan, I would be overwhelmed with Rivera’s three innings of relief. They didn’t pitch well enough to overcome Clemens’ outing, but they deserve credit for taking advantage of Grady’s Folly.

As for 2004? I still believe.