As we get ready for the second game of the World Series to start in just over an hour, I realized something important (albeit not very revolutionary): we survived. Red Sox fans did not simultaneously combust after Sunday night, nor curl up in a corner weeping uncontrollably, nor go on rampages throughout New England burning cars and getting in fights. I'm not sure why, but most folks expected the whole of Soxdom to fall apart... and yet.

We're, surprisingly, dealing just fine thank you very much. Disappointed, nostalgic and a tad wistful - but not angry, and not heartbroken.

How and why is it that this year everyone seems to be dealing with the whole "on the brink, and then oops you're eliminated"? Commenter Maggie thought about that question, and earlier this week put together her Top Ten Reasons I Will Survive a World Series without the Red Sox.

What are your reasons? (top 10 or otherwise)

Hit it, Maggie!

I've recently started getting questions about how I will react now that the Sox won't be participating in the World Series. Coming up with this list does not mean that I love the Red Sox less or make me a lapsing Sox fan - I named my cat "Pedey" after a small, scrappy, hairy 2B! El Caballito don't give up that easily! - but really just a realistic one.

So in thinking about my reaction, I would like to share with you my Top Ten Reasons I Will Survive a World Series without the Red Sox:

1. The Tampa Bay Rays are fucking good. They are the hottest team in baseball, hands down. They came out of nowhere, their fans (all 10 of them) were hoping for .500 ball this year, and they've shocked everyone with how consistent they are. They've made history by winning 30+ more games this year than last year. They've been in the bottom for so long that they've gotten the first pick in the draft for many years in a row. This rise was inevitable. Whether it's sustainable is a different story.

2. The Red Sox are beat up and bruised. Yes, there was a chance that the Sox could have come back. History could have repeated itself. However, it would have been much more likely if we had a healthy Mike Lowell & JD Drew, or if Big Papi were making contact with the ball that didn't end in a pop-up, or Jason Varitek had more than one postseason hit (sorry Cap'n).

However, I'm still REALLY PROUD of my boys. Had they gone down in Game 5, I would have been more heartbroken, because it felt like they were out-matched and giving up. But that almost impossible (.06% chance!) comeback followed by two stellar pitching performances by Beckett and Lester made me feel like they really took it one-day-at-a-time, executing one (fucking) pitch at a time. There has been no fighting, no bitterness, no John-Lackey-esque "we were better than them!" sentiments; they lost the Series without losing their pride, grace or dignity.

3. Philadelphia is a hungry city. As much as I complain(ed?) while living in Philly, I really enjoyed my 3 years there, and some of my fondest memories were spontaneous trips to the Vet to see Pat Burrell and J.Roll. I can only imagine how crazy that city is going right now, with the Phillies going to the World Series for the first time in 15 years ... and it will be much easier to cheer for my National League team roots if they are not playing against the only team I love more.

4. I've had my rolling rally. Frankly, we've had our fair share of wins here in Boston (I type as I'm wearing my free-from-work Celtics t-shirt). Let's share the wealth a little bit, before karma catches up to the Sox the way it caught up to Tom Brady. I'd prefer if Kevin Youkilis doesn't get into a parachuting accident or anything in the off-season.

5. Rivalries are the best! Yes, the blow-out games are fun, but after a while you feel bad for the Royals, the Rangers, the Mariners. There is nothing more fun than the buzz in the air during a Sox-Yanks game ... but even that is getting a little old at this point. So now: add another viable AL East rival, the Rays! And wtf, throw in the Blue Jays for fun too! (esp if AJ Burnett re-signs, they'll still have the best pitching in the division.) By adding another rival, maybe it will even decrease ticket prices to Yankees games ... yeah right.

6. World Series t-shirts clog up the stores. I only buy my Sox merchandise from second-retailers - rather than going to the Yawkey Way stores, I shop at Bob's or Olympia or Sports Authority, where I can get the same stuff for 1/3 the price. These stores are chock-full of t-shirts for Papelbon & Ortiz & Ellsbury. Another WS ring would mean more Pap/Papi/Ells shirts with patches on the sleeves. If I am ever to find a Masterson or DelCarmen or Lowrie (I mean, the dude's been our starting shortstop since late June, you'd think I could find ONE), this season needed to end, stat.

7. I'm sick of Manny stories. I know that once Dodgers were eliminated in the NLCS, the stories about a potential Sox-Dodgers WS slowed down, and yes I was intrigued to find out how much of a portion of postseason cash Manny will receive (2/3 even seems a bit generous to me), but if I never hear about the trade again it would be too soon. I want him to get a contract and then fade gracefully into Sox lore. He's an amazing hitter, a first ballot HOFer, and I want to feel good about him eventually ... but every time his name gets mentioned, I still get that feeling of betrayal in my stomach. I think it's hard to understand without living here, but I went to his last game in Boston and the effect that his attitude had on the team was palpable - they were tired and sloppy.

I won't put the blame on Manny that we didn't make the WS. I believed we could do it without him in July and I believed it through the ALCS. Yes, we're a different ball club but Jason Bay has been producing greatly in his absence and the rest of their players aren't keeping up. And the Dodgers proved, Manny can't carry just any team to the WS, and it has been a joy watching the Phillies dance on his stupid short dreadlocks.

8. A good wake-up call to the Front Office. The Opening Day 2008 Sox had a lot of carryover from the 2007 WS Champions. It was fantastic to see all their smiling faces ... one year older. We lost Schill in spring training, Tek was atrocious at the plate all season, Papi's wrist totally threw off his timing, Drew only had 4 ABs in all of September, Lowell is undergoing hip surgery today. We brought back most of the players and we were a significantly weaker team. We have been consistently ranked as one of the best farm systems in the country and I'm looking forward to more new faces. :) (Especially if they are as goofy-cute as Justin Masterson has proved to be.)

9. The Rays are good for baseball. Yeah, it's as hard for me to type as it is for you to read. But this "Cinderella story" of the young team with the hippy manager who has mottos like 9=8 is good for baseball. I mean, c'mon, it's hard to root against the Miracle Mets or the Impossible Dream Team of '67 or any team that Kevin Costner plays for. Cheering against the Rays is like cheering for Globo Gym.

10a. We still knocked out the Angels. If the Sox hadn't made the ALDS, it would have been Rays-Twins, White Sox-Angels. Both AL Central teams would probably have been knocked out (I'm just being realistic here) and the ALCS would have been Rays-Angels. There's a good chance that the Angels pitching depth would have put up a good fight and they could have won. And much as I hate the idea of the Sox not being in the WS, there are very few teams that I would hate to see MORE than I would hate to see the Angels.

10b: At least it's not the Yankees. In fact, there's only one team I'd hate to see more than the Angels. And as much as I hate that our season has ended mid-October, I can take solace in the fact that Jeter had his first golf outing on September 29.

ADDED BONUS: I can sleep now. The Red Sox are known for drawing games out past 4 hours, more than almost any other team in baseball. Maybe a Phillies-Rays series will be done by midnight every night. What a novel idea!

My prediction? (Hope?) Philadelphia in 6. Go Fightin' Phils! Knock that goofy smile off Evan Longoria's face!

Thanks to Maggie for her guest post!