Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Early Friday evening, I was reminded of Michael Corleone’s great line in Godfather III, the only memorable words in an otherwise forgettable movie.

“Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in.�

Al Pacino was talking about the mob, but he could just as easily been talking about the Red Sox and how they always manage to fool their loyal fans. After winning two in a row over the Angels, a handful of Fenway Faithful approached me during the course of Friday to take issue with me for giving up on the team. “All we have to do is makeup one game a week on the Yankees� they’d tell me. “The Yanks are due to fall into a slump, like they do every September.�

Well, Michael Corleone died at the end of the Godfather trilogy, and the Sox are now dead as well thanks to a trilogy of horror in Seattle. I don’t have to deal with this issue any longer and neither does the Kool-Aid brigade. I think only the suits in the Yawkey Way corporate suites would be foolish enough to suggest a playoff appearance is possible.

The Sox actually mailed out post-season bills to their season ticket holders late last week. I’m curious how many fools will actually send them their hard earned cash so they can salt it away in an interest bearing bank account. I personally know of one guy who, as of Saturday morning, was still going to send a check.

Wonder if he’s changed his mind yet?