Toasting The Champions? World Series Game 4

All across New England, bosses are setting the contigency plans for when a nation of fans either stroll into work late or not at all Monday morning.

Red Sox fans from Saint David, Maine to San Diego, California are quietly laying out their plans for celebration tonight when Boston could wrap up its second World Series sweep in four years.

The situation the Sox are in, is one a Sox fan could have ever imagined even five years ago. One would ever think the Red Sox could race to a three games to none lead, nevermind actually thinking it could finish in a sweep. Then came 2004 and those idiots.

The common sentiment in the Nation is that 2007 just doesn't feel like 2004. Of course it doesn't, in 2004 fans suffered through each game knowing any minute a collosal collapse could happen. Admit it, even the most confident fan had atleast a sinking feeling deep inside that being the first team to come back from a three-to-none deficit in a seven game series and win, would just lead to being the first team to lose that kind of advantage in a World Series.

2004 changed everything. Sox fans can atleast enjoy the game with a guarded sense of confidence in the Red Sox.

MVP WATCH
With another strong performance tonight, Jacoby Ellsbury could find himself playing a rookie season in Boston next year as the reigning World Series MVP. He already has to be considered the favorite to be the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year.

If Ellsbury slips tonight others who could emerge as favorites for the World Series MVP? Dustin Pedroia and kevin Youkilis would seem to be the likely candidates. Right now it's for Pedroia and Ellsbury to lose, simply because Youkilis the only other serious contendor for it may not start tonight after only playing the last couple innings last night.

Who's Going?
Jacoby Ellsbury's performance last night sealed Coco Crisp's departure from Boston. Mike Lowell's future could rest on wether Boston makes a run at Alex Rodriguez or not and Curt Schilling likely has seen his last onfield action as a member of the Sox.