If You Think It's Over You Haven't Been Paying Attention

With the Sox of Red now ahead 3-2 in the World Series, I'm sure you've heard the following:

"Boston's one win away."
"They're going home with the lead."
"It's over."
"Cardinals would have to win two in Boston." 
...and the like.

Anyone expressing these sentiments should have their junior high school diploma burned. Let's review:

The home team has lost three of five games.
The best pitcher in the series has been beaten twice.
The winning run in Game 3 scored on an esoteric rule infraction.
The hero of Game 4 was a fourth outfielder who hadn't hit safely in the Series.
Game 4 ended when a pinch runner type got himself picked off.
The hero of Game 5 was a backup catcher who was batting .111 in the Series.
The Red Sox manager blundered horribly in Game 5 by allowing his pitcher to bat with second and third, one out in the seventh inning of a 2-1 game. His team won anyway.

The World Champions, whoever that will be, must win at least one of the last two games. To do so, they will have to defeat the best team in the other league, a team stacked on the mound, in the bullpen and at the plate. You'd rather be the Sox than the Cards right now, but that could change after the first inning of Wednesday's game. 

Let's instead appreciate the beauty of this World Series:

The best two teams are playing.
They are a pair of high-character teams. 
They represent two great baseball cities -- maybe the best two in America (and Southeastern Canada.) 
Every game but the first has been a nail-biter.
Each team has a charismatic leader -- David Ortiz and Yadier Molina. 
The pitchers on both sides, nearly without exception, have mastered their craft. Nearly every pitch has creased the lower edge of the strike zone.
The fickle late-October weather has cooperated.
Two players -- Big Papi and Carlos Beltran -- are using this showcase to burnish their Hall of Fame cases.
 

The Fat Lady isn't even in costume. Enjoy the last day or two of the 2013 baseball year.