Sports Redux: PawSox 12, Rays 5

When we looked at the lineup set for Monday night's game between the down-and-almost-out Red Sox and the see-you-in-October Rays, we felt badly for those who'd plunked down cash for tickets. Sure, seeing Rocco Baldelli back at Fenway was going to be special, but a lineup chock full of rookies against a hot AL East team? That's just cruel and unusual punishment for the fans - perhaps worse than the way the Sox put their minor league squads on full display after the guys clinched a playoff spot last season. As Nick Cardafo put it pre-game: "You can pretty much tell now, based on the Sox lineup, that the end has come."

And yet - and, let's face it, there's always an "and yet" this season - those fans wound up being pretty lucky to be inside the fabled ballpark last night. Not only did the young guys step up to the challenge, they decimated a lineup that has given the veterans a rough time all season long. The PawSox (for all intents and purposes) beat those Rays, 12-5, creating the most unlikely of outcomes before a dubious Red Sox fanbase.

The hero of the day? There were several: Jon Lester once again brought steely command to the mound, where he anchored the defensive effort with a 10-strikeout performance. David Ortiz started things off in the first with a homer to right, immediately followed by Adrian Beltre's Wall-clearing first inning blast and, later, a grand slam by Ryan Kalish.

So what does this mean? Is this that magical game that serves as the least likely of catalysts and the Sox do sneak their way into the postseason? Unlikely. Does it mean that the Sox are going to continue to do their best to keep the fanbase agonizing over every game between now and October 3? Perhaps. But, if nothing else, it means that there's still some magic left at Fenway this season. Here's to seeing how it all pans out - both during Dice-K's start tonight and the remainder of the season.

Stepping away from Fenway, we were reminded Monday of how difficult it is to be in the upper echelon of professional athletes in the Boston area. It's tough, people. You work hard, you get paid millions of dollars, and you're left feeling as if no one wants you, no one cares. Or, at least, that's what Randy Moss thinks. Randy spoke to CBSSports.com about how he doesn't feel wanted in New England. We're wondering if Marc Savard immediately called him up to explain how to overcome those feelings of hurt and disappointment. We would have done so ourselves, but we were busy rolling our eyes and thinking about how great Wes Welker is.