Not that anyone was saving the cover of the March 31 Boston Herald ready to throw it back in someone's face on Sept. 29

Even those at MassholeSports.com could see this coming a half-year away when they posted this Boston Herald cover almost exactly six months ago.

"The 2011 Red Sox havent even played one real game, yet the Boston Herald is declaring the 2011 Red Sox the best Red Sox team ever. No disrespect to the 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004 and 2007 teams of course."

At the Boston Herald site that day, however, they kind of couched it (linked here): "Yeah, We're Saying It: This Could Be Sox ... Best Team Ever."

Or more accurately: Best team that gagged on the largest lead for an AL wildcard ever after Wednesday night but gave John Lacky a chance to breath a sigh of relief that he didn't have to go to the mound anymore in 2011.