Dear Tampa Bay Rays:

Well! There you go!

For the first time in your short history you’ve made the playoffs. Red Sox Nation would like to extend a warm welcome to the Executive Lounge, complete with free wi-fi.

Any team that has the best home record and the best record in one-run games deserves some street cred. And, to be honest, I’m one of those people who thought you’d crack. Crack under the pressure, crack under the weight of the Florida sun and just plain crack in half to a losing record. I guess I wasn’t giving you the credit you deserve. (Secretly, I gave you a ton of credit, but damn you for actually being good).

Oh! And, to your fans, the only people who made this happen were the actual players employed by the team. Just as the case in Red Sox Nation. I’m very, very glad that you have a team to root for in the post season, but please go into this without the chest-thumping attitude and Yankee-fan mentality. The only people who belong in the post season are the ones who played their way into the post season. As they say in the spirit business: Enjoy Responsibly.

Oh, and Joe Maddon, I’m glad you are truly, finally making a name for yourself. I’ve been a sideline fan of yours for a while, but I still don’t love the way you handle the bullpen. Maybe, even though you’ve gotten the most out of your team this far, the Sox will be able to squeek through those close games when / if you meet them again.

Congrats on a long, well-deserved post season berth. Now, please lose so I don’t have to carry around a box of Kleenex this Winter for reasons other than a cold.

Best,

Keith