Ever since the Sox clinched a playoff spot and had no chance at catching the AL East Champion Devil Rays (pardon me as I puke), the Sox games have been like a week-long last day of school. Did the Sox draw straws to see who got to close? Come on, Manny Delcarmen in a 1-run game? David AAArdsma with a 2-run lead in the 9th? What’s next, Dustin Pedroia batting cleanup?

But since the Sox games were so lacking in intensity I thought I saw Coco taking a nice summer-nap on a lawn chair in center the other day, it seemed like a good idea to check up on a few former Sox.

One guy you may remember, who now wears Dodger Blue, took over for Joe Torre for a day and managed the Dodgers to a 3-1 loss to the SF Giants. No, his name isn’t Manny, it’s Nomar. He took the pre-game press conference as the manager, made the lineup as the manager, made another lineup when Manny asked out as the manager, and sat behind the manager’s desk to answer questions at the end of the game. I’m kidding about the Manny thing, but I wonder how long it will take for CHB to put it in a column as fact. Since the Dodgers’ game meant about as much to them as the Sox games’ did to the Sox, I had the opportunity to pick Nomar’s mind about Johnny Pesky. If you’re curious, here’s what he had to say:

In the other clubhouse, was a man who should be thanked daily for his work in 2004. And so I did. If you ever get the chance, don’t ask Dave Roberts for an autograph, or a picture. It’s much more rewarding, for both you and him, to just thank him for The Steal. Seeing his smile as I thanked him made me realize how much he loved his 3 months in a Sox jersey, and that he was just happy to help. Way better than a pen mark on a baseball, trust me.

So as we enter the playoffs with the 2007 World Series MVP in question, the 2008 All-Star Game MVP in question, and a man with a lifetime 1.26 ERA in the playoffs in question, let’s try to remember that it’s been a pretty good season regardless. And if all else fails, we’ve still got Johnny Pesky and The Steal. (Author’s note: I still reserve the right to bitch mercilessly if the Sox make fools of themselves in the ALDS. I just can’t help it.)