Red Sox are World Champions (Again)

SOX WIN! SOX WIN! SOX WIN! And don't say I didn't tell you so. In March, I predicted the Red Sox beating the Phillies to capture their second championship in four years. I was close. Instead of the Phillies, they rolled over the Rockies, the team that beat Philadelphia in the NLDS. So I was close. I'll take it, and celebrate another tremendous season.

I am also already looking forward to pitchers and catchers, but before that, the Sox brass need to address something the minute they get off the Duck boats on Tuesday: re-sign Mike Lowell. Lowell was not only the team's MVP, the World Series MVP, but should be in the running for runner-up to A-Rod in the AL MVP balloting. He was simply outstanding, and the Sox should reward him with a new contract that keeps him in Boston for the foreseeable future.

In fact, if you want, you can sign this online petition to keep Lowell in Boston. Apparently, plenty of other already have.

Also, not that I am gloating or anything, but my prediction about the Red Sox having the best pitching in the American League (see below) also came true. I said back in Spring Training that the Sox starting five could win 70 games, but that was assuming Jonathan Papelbon was in the rotation. As it turns out, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wkefield and Curt Schilling won 61 games combined -- without a true fifth starter. Add what Julian Tavarez, Jon Lester, Kason Gabbard and Clay Buchholz did, and you get those 70 wins, a pretty impressive feat.

• Back in November I mentioned Jacoby Ellsbury, who had just finished tearing up the Arizona Fall League. I think it is safe to say Ellsbury has made a lasting impression on the Nation. The question now is what to do with Coco Crisp. Already people are speculating he will be traded this offseason, which seems a bit unfair but realistic. Crisp never got the true shot he deserved in Boston due to injury, and when he was healthy, he just didn't produce. Now, with Ellsbury's ascension, Crisp's days are surely numbered.

• Speaking of trades, looking at the Sox as they enter the offseason, there doesn't seem to be any glaring holes to fill. Should Boston re-sign Lowell, all of the infield and outfield positions will remain intact. The only area of concern could be Schilling's departure. If he leaves for sunny Tampa Bay, or other points south, the Sox will need to fill a big hole in the rotation. Although, a rotation of Beckett, Matsuzaka, Wakefield, Lester and Buchholz doesn't sound bad to me.

• And finally, here are a few things, in random order, I learned this season:
1. The left-field bleachers at Yankee Stadium is a very loud, dirty and ultimately terrifying place. Don't bring your children there, unless you want to give them an education on swearing or fighting.
2. Kei Igawa is Japanese for "terrible pitcher."
3. Watching baseball as a job is nowhere near as fun as watching for pleasure (but who's complaining).
4. Never, ever count the Yankees out of it, no matter how far back they are in May.
5. Scott Boras really is baseball's most powerful man.
6. When Manny's being Manny, hilarity is right around the corner.
7. The National League has some work to do to catch up to its AL counterparts.
8. Watching Papelbon pitch is going to be something special for years to come.