Slowly but surely the Boston Red Sox are getting closer to ending the Curse of the Bambino.

The one streak I never dreamt, nor hoped, would be broken would be the streak of futility the Red Sox have shown.

For those unfamiliar with the daunting curse of the Bambino, it all began in 1918 after the Red Sox won their fifth World Series. Prior to the 1920 baseball season, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Since then, the Red Sox have not won a World Series.

If you look at the players the Sox have put together since 1919, like Ted Williams, Carl Yastremski, Jim Rice and today’s stars like Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and Manny Ramirez, you can’t help but wonder why they never at least gone to the World Series more often.

The Red Sox seem to be a little bit different this season. Instead of rolling over and letting the Yankees win the American League pennant, the Sox gritted their teeth and dug their heels in to do the unthinkable – they came back from three games down and several extra innings to win the pennant.

These Red Sox are a pretty interesting group to watch, not just for the signature wild haircuts it seems every member of the team has.

It seems as though for the past 85 years, everything that could have gone wrong for the Red Sox did.

This time, instead of a game six or seven at Yankee Stadium where Boston would unceremoniously lose off an unexpected home run, the Red Sox pitchers shut the door on the Yankees.

Pedro Martinez may not have been overpowering in the series, but for once the Red Sox didn’t have to rely on his arm to get them through the series.

Instead, Curt Schilling mustered up the strength to show why he is the best big-game pitcher in baseball, and Derek Lowe did his job in game seven perfectly.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Sox own a 2-0 lead over the St. Louis Cardinals.

In a column previewing the postseason, I said the Cardinals had a “Murderer’s Row-esque” lineup, which may be true. Larry Walker, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds and company are a heck of a lineup. All of those hitters are talented and can crush the ball with one swing of the bat.

But the most feared hitter in all of baseball plays for the Red Sox: David Ortiz. Ortiz has been spectacular during the playoffs.

Right now, the Sox are in good condition, but a lot of things can happen between a game three and a game seven (look at what happened it the Yankees series).

This year it seems as though the Red Sox deserve it, though, as a Yankees fan, it pains me to say that.

I just hope the Boston fans remember to enjoy it, because if George Steinbrenner really opens up his wallet in the off-season, it could be another 85 years until they get back.