01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, February 17, 2004

It's now or never for the Red Sox.

They have to win the World Series this year or their string of frustration and futility might very well extend to more than a century before they finally -- ever? -- win one.

(It could be pointed out here that the Florida Marlins, who didn't exist even a dozen years ago, have won two World Series in the last seven years, so how difficult can it be, really? But that's another story, for another time.)

That's the real brilliance of the audacious move by the New York Yankees to acquire A-Rod, the player the Red Sox lusted after from the time they lost Game 7 of the ALCS 'til just before Christmas.

The Yanks didn't just buy the best player in the game. They bought themselves time. Because if the Red Sox don't beat them this year, they're hardly likely to beat them in the ensuing seasons.

Prior to the Yankees' win-at-all-costs deal for A-Rod, the Sox were favored to beat out the Bronx Bombers in the A.L. East, which

would make them the team to beat for the pennant, and give them a good chance at finally winning the world championship that has eluded them since 1918.

Now that A-Rod is a Yankee, it's a different ball game.

The pressure's on the Red Sox now, and New England fans have seen over far too many years just how well the Old Towne Team handles such situations.

Look at the team dynamics, the importance of which cannot be overemphasized, as is obvious to anyone who watched the all-for-one, one-for-all Patriots win two of the last three Super Bowls.

A-Rod wanted out of Texas so he could win a World Series. He wanted to come to Boston, but the Red Sox couldn't pay the price of victory. The Yankees did, as they have done so often since Jacob Ruppert began outspending his fellow owners after buying the team in 1915.

Now the Yankees will have A-Rod, who craves a championship, playing beside proven winner Derek Jeter and hitting in the middle of one of the most potent batting orders since the 1927 Yankees of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

And what do the Red Sox have?

They have Manny Ramirez, the sole resident of "Manny World," where he does as he pleases -- "Nah, I don't feel like pinch-hitting today." "I think I'll do my rehab in Florida." "Maybe I'll show up on time, maybe I won't." -- and it's all explained away as "Just Manny being Manny."

The Red Sox tried to give Manny away for the waiver price last year, but, despite his impressive batting stats, nobody was willing to take on his outrageous salary or deal with his bizarre behavior.

In their eagerness to land A-Rod, the Sox openly shopped their own star shortstop, Nomar Garciaparra, who just happens to be in the final year of his current contract.

He's got the Sox over the proverbial barrel of cash now. Can they afford to lose him? He has said he wants to stay in Boston but, newly married to the world's best female soccer player, Mia Hamm, he may well find other, more congenial places to enjoy wedded bliss.

Nomar never has been comfortable being in the spotlight in Boston. He plays hard -- that's never been a concern -- but he's too much of an introvert to be a team spokesman. It all seemed to get to him last September when he failed to hit .200 the last month of the regular season, and then drove in just one run in the playoffs.

Yes, the Boston pitching staff is much improved with the signings of Curt Schilling and relief ace Keith Foulke. But Prima Donna Pedro Martinez, the team's supposed ace, also is in the last year of a contract paying him $17 million.

When last we saw Prima Donna Petey, he was surrendering leads of 2-0, 3-0, and, in the eighth inning, 5-2 in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Yankees, against whom he has a 4-7 record in his last 19 starts.

Martinez was 0-1 in four postseason starts in 2003, and the Sox were 1-3 in those games. The only time Pedro looked tough in the playoffs was when he was throwing septuagenarians to the ground.

Doesn't exactly remind you of Tom Brady, does it? Tom Brady, who has been the MVP in two Super Bowls, leading the Patriots to victory on the strength of his right arm, his guts, and his charisma.

Isn't that what the coddled, pampered Pedro has been paid big bucks to do? And how much will he be demanding now? Will the Sox, who wouldn't pick up A-Rod's contract, be willing to spend serious money to sign the tender-armed Martinez and his sensitive ego to a lucrative, long-term pact?

Those are the Sox' "Big Three" -- Ramirez, Martinez and Garciaparra. They're the team's stars. In theory, they should be the team's leaders, although that role has fallen to the likes of Jason Varitek, Kevin Millar and the personable David Ortiz, all of whom will be hard-pressed to put up the same kind of offensive numbers this season they did in 2003.

The Sox couldn't give away Manny and his mega-contract for the waiver price. They tried to trade Nomar. And Pedro, whose pitch count was monitored all season so he'd be at full strength for the playoffs, was miffed when the Sox graciously -- and, arguably, prematurely -- picked up his $17-million extension for this year at the beginning of last season.

A-Rod will be a Yankee in 2005 and well beyond. Where will Martinez be next year? And Nomar? And Manny? But, hey, the Sox do have Trot Nixon locked up through 2006.

No, this has to be the year for the Red Sox to beat the Yankees. And, when you think about the personalities involved, do you really think Boston has the team chemistry to make that happen? Or do you think it all is going to blow up in their once-again red faces?