Will the Boston Red Sox's impossible dream come true, or has it already?

The Red Sox insist this isn't the United States "Believe in Miracles" Olympic hockey team playing Finland, and becoming the first team in baseball history to erase a three-game deficit to win a postseason series isn't enough, that the prize is winning the 100th World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

"Regardless of the outcome of the World Series," began Boston's Game 1 starter Tim Wakefield in a tone leaving a suspicion of doubt, "I think we accomplished a huge goal for the City of Boston that we finally beat the Yankees in the LCS to get to the World Series."

Wakefield then caught himself.

"It's not over, yet," he said. "We still have a tough team coming in."

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The Red Sox are here for a lot of reasons, not the least of which was a singleness of purpose in trying to win one game on one day, although, for accuracy sake, they did win Games 4 and 5 of the ALCS on the same calendar day.

"As much as when we were down 0-3 to the Yankees and I said, 'We want to win tomorrow,' that's what we feel about what's coming ahead of us," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

"That's how we're going to accomplish what we want to accomplish, not by getting carried away with things."

If they don't beat the Cardinals, the Red Sox know what's in store: Next April 4, Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, they will hear the chanting, "1918 1918."

Of the 16 original franchises, Boston's 86 years since winning the World Series is the third longest drought, topped by the Chicago White Sox in 1917 and Cubs in 1908.

The Red Sox, no doubt, after beating the hated Yankees, are the sentimental pick nationally. The Cardinals are perceived as party-poopers, which doesn't at all bother St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.

"No, because I come from St. Louis, and talk about pooping on a party," La Russa cracked. "We haven't been there in 17 years (1987 against Minnesota) and there have been a lot of doggy bags. We lost that Championship Series three times."

Both teams are aware of the letdown factor following grueling League Championship Series that sapped energy and emotion, and was a factor in the Yankees losing Game 1 last year to Florida.

"It's like two World Series. We won the first, now we have to win the second," said Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon. "We know the job is not done."

So do the Cardinals.

"We know what's at stake," La Russa said. "You're not going to see any letdown. We're going to be ready."

This is the third time Boston and St. Louis will have met in the World Series, with the Cardinals winning in seven games in 1946 and 1967, the latter being the "Impossible Dream" season with Carl Yastrzemski winning the Triple Crown and the Red Sox outlasting three teams in baseball's most thrilling pennant race.

Offensively, these teams are similar with speed on the top - Johnny Damon for the Red Sox and Edgar Renteria for the Cardinals - and boppers in the middle.

The middle of Boston's order has MVP candidates Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, and Jason Varitek, while the Cardinals are loaded with Larry Walker, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds.

"When you start hitting Larry Walker second, you've got some sock in that lineup," Francona said. "Pujols might be the best hitter in the game. They are pretty thick like we are and they are pretty dangerous."

ALCS MVP Ortiz hit .387 with three homers and 11 RBI against the Yankees; NLCS MVP Pujols hit .500 with four homers and nine RBI against Houston.

Both rotations and bullpens are drained, so as usual, it comes down to who gets the most out of their staff.

"Whenever the pitching is sharp, as it always is in these games, they get these outstanding lineups out," La Russa said. "It will be whoever pitches well."

Not whoever talks the best, with the Cardinals firing the first salvo, from lefty reliever Ray King, in response to being asked about St. Louis being an underdog.

"We won 105 games. We won the first two rounds of the playoffs," King said. "The underdogs are at home."

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