What He Wrote

I'm not a big fan of Dan Shaughnessy. I'm not even a little fan.

But I have to say that I like what he wrote here:

The playoff-bound Red Sox are home tonight to start the final six games of the regular season, and manager Terry Francona continues to straddle the line between playing for the division title (and the best record in the league) and getting his team ready for the postseason.

I say go for it. Beat the Yankees. Win the division. Cop the best record in the American League to give yourself home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Use Jonathan Papelbon the way you'd use him in July and August. Find out if Manny can play before he calcifies at the end of the bench. Tell Eric Gagné to find his mojo on somebody else's watch. Stop babying Clay Buchholz and get the kid ready for playoff action. Play Jacoby Ellsbury until he's no longer hitting .372 or until he gets thrown out stealing one time. Fire all your guns at once and explode into space.

You know where that last sentence comes from dontcha?

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space

Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf
Words and music by Mars Bonfire

Here is the rest of Shaughnessy's article:

In the season's last week, they need to stay on top of things