Somebody at the 4-letter thinks the Red Sox will now pull off the greatest comeback in the history of baseball, coming back from a 4 games to 3 deficit. Well, Bristol is in the heart of Red Sox Nation. (Thanks Brett).

We have now watched the 8th and 9th innings about a dozen times. One thing we didn't notice last night was the incredible play that Aki Iwamura made on the final out. The ball takes a wicked (pun intended) hop and nearly goes over Aki's head. If he misses that ball, it is first and third and things are suddenly very scary.

Also, let's not forget the one guy that has worn the Devil Rays/Rays uniform longer than anybody else and knows the pain of the first 10 years more than most, Scott Cursi. The Rays bullpen catcher has been warming up pitchers since 1999. Congrats Scott, you earned it.

Finally, last week we took exception when one Red Sox blogger wrote about Carl Crawford and his "gangster neck tattoo". This week, Red Sox bloggers are back at it. This time courtesy of Surviving Grady.

Especially that punk-ass Carl Crawford, who you know is just an injury away from boosting car stereos.

Stay classy Red Sox Nation.

(The image after the Webtopia is from the Boston Globe)

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA...

• Some photos from the game 7 celebration. [Tampa Tribune]
• A recap of the game (with unfortunate appearance from Steve Harvey) from the guys at "The Dugout". [Fanhouse]
  
• It is impossible to overstate exactly how big David Price was in game 7. [Big League Stew]
• 10 reasons to watch the World Series. [SI.com]
  
• One writer at Bugs and Cranks is bracing himself in anticipation of having to get a Rayhawk after losing a bet. [Bugs and Cranks]
• Boston Irish will be rooting for the Phillies in the World Series because the Rays fan base "haven't exactly earned this as yet". They also hate the idea of all the "punk, spoilt, brash NBA star types" on the Rays being champs...Jonathon Papelbon? Something comes to mind about a pot and a kettle and grapes that may or may not be sour. [Boston Irish]
  
• Apparently, the Rays were just practicing for these postseason celebrations back in May. [The Sports Hernia]
• Coolest Rayhawk yet? [Deadspin]
  
• Dick Vitale was his usual passive self last night...Ahh, who are we kidding, the dude went batshit crazy. [Bugs and Cranks]
• Big League Stew debates whether Terry Francona stuck with Jason Varitek too long. [Big League Stew]
  
• Jordi Scrubbings spoke to Sports On My Mind about the Rays, prior to game 7. [Sports On My Mind]
  
• The cover of today's Boston Globe (thanks Scot). [Boston Globe]
• The Rays may have ended the Red Sox captain's career in Boston. [Boston Score]

Diamondbacks 7, Devil Rays 4.
James Shields was roughed up in his second straight start. As has been the case all season long, Shields was susceptible to the long ball allowing two home runs. The difference in the last two starts is that the home runs came at inopportune times, early in the game and with runners on base.

We have all heard about the amazing change-up that James Shields throws. The national media has even referred to it as one of the best change-ups in baseball if not one of the best pitches in baseball. When thrown correctly and thrown to the right spot it is as nasty as it comes. The problem that Shields faces is when the pitch does not have the proper sink to it or when Shields leaves the pitch up in the zone, it is basically a batting practice fastball. He can get away with that when the bases are empty or when he is leading 5-1.

In the third inning, Chad Tracy hit a 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence to give the D-Backs a 3-0 lead. In this case, Shields got the change up in, but he left it up and when it started to sink, it ended up right in the wheel-house for a left-handed hitter. An 87 mph pitch, down and in to a lefty is a strike, but often it is a 370 foot strike down the right field line. In the fourth inning Shields just left a fastball up to Eric Byrnes when Dioner Navarro was looking for a pitch out of the zone low and away. If you slow the pitch down, you can actually see the disgust on Shields' face before Byrnes has even finished his swing.

We are not predicting the Apocalypse for James Shields. Quite the opposite. He will be fine. All great pitchers throw bad pitches. Shields just needs to learn that a change-up with nobody on is a lot different than a change-up with 2 runners on in a scoreless game. He will learn to bear down in the more crucial situations. He will learn that if he is going to miss, he needs to miss down...not up. James Shields is a young pitcher. These are just the growing pains that we all must suffer along with him.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• Regular RI commenter and fellow Deadspin Commenter Jordi Scrubbings, of The Serious Tip has tackled an even tougher task...Trying to convince baseball fans why they should love the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Reasons #1 and #4 should be good enough for most of our readers. Oh, and we are now convinced more than ever that Raymond was the only individual that ever looked good in the Rainbow Warrior jerseys. [Sports Gone South]
  
• Not much in this post, but the headline sums up Elijah Dukes and his influence in the Blogosphere these days.
• For example, where else would you get to read about Elijah Dukes and PacMan Jones in the same story as role models.
• Elijah Dukes has now been limited to pinch-hit duty for 9 straight games and would be in the minors if there was a team on the farm that wanted him.
  
• Carl Crawford is one hell of a baseball player. But a super-hero?
• The Rays have are 8-7 in their last 15 road games. Compare that to the second half of 2006 when the Rays went 3-173* on the road.
  
• What does a team do when they don;t have any of their titles to honor? Honor the title of the team that your "senior adviser" played for. The Rays will turn back the clock on Saturday and honor the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers' championship.
  

*May have only seemed like 173 losses.