The curse of the Yawkeys is finally over

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox and their fans. But, geez, how surprisingly weak were the St. Louis Cardinals? No pitch, no hit, no run, no manage.

Speaking of managers, props to Terry Francona. I -- along with thousands of others -- have ridiculed him all year. He out-managed the Angels' Mike Scioscia, the Yankees' Joe Torre and, even more thoroughly, boy-genius Tony LaRusa.

Bobby Avila, 1926-2004.