This is the end...

SPORTING GOODS

A look around at some of my favorite Sox blogs as they wrap up the season.

Surviving Grady predicts a Dodgers/Twins series culminating in an agonizing Grady Little decision, while declaring his new rooting interest:

ANYBODY BUT THE MF YANKEES!

Fire Brand looks at the bizarro 2006 season:

Of course, for many the real high point was the five game sweep of the dreaded yankees that marked the end of the empire’s run atop the AL East. And what a sweep it was, beginning with Wells’ perfect game, and the feeling of schadenfreude we all felt watching A-Rod commit 7 errors in the first two games, his subsequent benching, the tearful interview on ESPN and then his ultimate trade to the Nationals for a conditional set of draft picks.

Dewey's House asks that some intelligent thought be infused into the "we'd be better off without Manny" camp:

So the Mariners elininated A-Rod, brought in a clubhouse ping-pong table and water bubbler and that’s how they won 116 games? Or do you think it may have had something to do with Bret Boone’s arrival (.331/.372/.578, 141 RBI)? And did you know that the Rookie of the Year and League MVP in 2001 just so happened not to be on the club in 2000? His name is Ichiro Suzuki and I am pretty sure he helped to make up some of A-Rod’s production.

Call of the Green Monster reports on a surprising development in Yankee land:

With the shocking allegations that Roger Clemens-and Andy Pettitte-may have had
a little something extra on their fastballs thanks to performance-enhancing
drugs, a distraught George Steinbrenner immediately surrendered all World Series
titles won while either pitcher was on the roster.

And lastly, Soxaholix looks back to better times.