NESN, the Red Sox network, ran a slogan all year: “We’re all in.” Ads featured various Red Sox players emphatically stating that phrase. As a fan, I was all in also. The monumental collapse of the 2011 Red Sox certainly tests the limits of fandom. At the last home game of the regular season (and quite possibly the last game … period … of the season), fans actually booed the players coming off the field. Normally, I would say that is just wrong. In this case, however, it was well deserved. The epic collapse is not bad enough. The Sox let the lowly Orioles punch their lights out in 2 out of 3 games in the series. No, folks, I could not bring myself to boo my Sox. But I did stand and hold this sign up which speaks loud and clear. I know there is always a chance that some miracle will happen. I know that the Sox can whip the Yankees into shape this weekend and show the Orioles a thing or two next week. I also know that the Rays and Angels can hit the skids and lose out on the Wild Card sweepstakes. The reality is that even if the impossible happened, the Sox would be facing some stiff competition in the first round of the playoffs. So, my friends in Red Sox Nation, we were wrong. They were not the BEST TEAM EVER, as the Herald boldly stated. No World Series this year — Perhaps no playoffs. But still…. when you think about it …. maybe….they could pull it off, you know… so…just in case…because you never know. So, the tickets to the first home game of the ALDS playoffs are in hand. Just in case. Because you never know. And no matter how maddening and frustrating the Sox can be….when it comes right down to it….I’m all in.