Thank you, Boston Red Sox

Yeah, you read that headline correctly.

I'd like to thank the Boston Red Sox for their possibly epic end-of-season collapse. Because without them, tonight's final game of the season at Camden Yards would just be a meaningless, depressing dud—another opportunity for Os fans to contemplate a lost season. Instead, I expect the atmosphere at Camden Yards to be electric, just as it was on Monday night when I went to the game with my buddy—and die-hard BoSox fan—Chris. (That's us, above, right after the game.)  We won that night, and I was positively elated. It was like the Os had just clinched the playoffs. So thanks Boston Red Sox for your recent nose dive. And thanks to us Oriole fans for caring enough to drown out the chants of "Let's go, Red Sox" (it wasn't easy) and the Oriole players for caring enough to give us two thrilling games (okay, last night's wasn't quite as much fun). Meaningful baseball at the Yard. . . sigh. . .what a concept.

Oh, and check out Sun sportswriter Child Walker's eloquent take on the season. (Love the headline: Fans Torn Between Apathy, Love. Yup, that just about covers it.)