The bleachers at Fenway Park came to life on Sept. 15 as first baseman Hanley Ramirez sent the ball soaring into center field, where a lucky fan would go home with a treasured memory from one of the best comebacks of the season. It seems that the mood in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse couldn’t get any better right now. With the Sox clinching the division in the American League (AL) East, they are feeling good heading into the playoffs, and so are Sox fans all over Boston.

The team started off the season strong with a win against the Cleveland Indians on Opening Day in April, but they have had their ups and downs along the way. A few of the guys on the team have been inconsistent, like infielder Pablo Sandoval, and pitcher Clay Buchholz, but thankfully others have been surprising the league and giving the Sox that “it” factor that they needed to go far in the season. The Sox hit the quarter mark of the season in May, and even back then it was obvious that the team was giving a new meaning to the phrase, “it’s a new season.” A lot still needed to go right for the Sox, but signs were pointing towards a great finish to the season. As predicted, they continued to hold their ground and stay in the hunt, but they seemed to hit their stride at just the right time, with 11 straight wins in late September.

According to NESN, “For many, the Red Sox’s success comes as a surprise, as the club went 149-175 over the last two seasons after winning the World Series in 2013. But for others, the strong start is an instance of Boston realizing its potential.” Based on the credentials of the team’s lineup, the Sox were predicted to do well this year, unlike last season where they finished last in the AL East. However, with it being David “Big Papi” Ortiz’s last season as the Sox’s designated hitter, and with many new rising stars stepping up to the plate, like Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi, and Jackie Bradley Jr., the Sox were motivated and headed in the right direction for the 2016 season.

Fans all over New England will be sad to see Big Papi retire, but are feeling proud that they get to watch history in the making. Ortiz is doing what no other player has done in their last season before. Ortiz broke a 30-year-old record for the most home runs by a hitter in his final season made by Dave Kingman, former Major League Baseball (MLB) left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter, when he hit his 36th round-tripper last week, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Ortiz has also set the record for most doubles and extra-base hits in a final season, has tied a record made by Dave Orr, first baseman in the MLB from 1883 through 1890 in which he got 124 RBIs in his final season, a tie Ortiz is likely to break this weekend, and enters his final regular season series needing nine total bases to tie Shoeless Joe Jackson’s final-season record of 336. He also passed Darrell Evans, former third and first baseman for the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers, for the most home runs in a season for a player over 40 in their game against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 19, and leads in nearly every hitting statistic for a player in their final season. He’s clearly going out on top.

According to Boston.com, “That still doesn’t tell the whole story, however. Ortiz’s 2016 season ranks among the most valuable final seasons in baseball history even when one factors in pitching and fielding contributions.” Because of his age and its finality, Ortiz’s 2016 performance has been one of the most uncomparable in MLB history.

It seems as if every day the Sox are doing the right things to win ballgames, but what else do they have to do to maintain momentum into October?  It’s obvious that the starters have been at the top of their game, but in order to keep putting W’s up on the board, the relievers need to be close to perfect. For the Sox to continue their winning ways, the entire pitching staff has to continue to deliver. In order to do this, they need to keep their Earned Run Average (ERA) low so the team’s offense can continue to support them. Of course, the young, core players in the meat of the lineup need to keep the bats hot.

If the Sox want to play deep into October, another thing that they have to watch for is close games. A close loss is something teams can get away with here and there, but in the playoffs, it could end the Sox’s season for good. For example, on Sept. 25 the Sox squeezed out a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 10th inning. Games like these would definitely keep the fans on their feet, as long as the Sox squeeze out the win.

It’s obvious that Boston fans are already used to New England sports teams winning, so it’s sometimes possible to get caught up in the success and forget how many amazing ball players the Sox really have. Six of Boston’s starters were chosen to play in the 2016 All Star Game, including Mookie Betts, Steven Wright, Craig Kimbrel, Bogaerts, Bradley and Ortiz, which is a sign that some of the best players are currently dominating in Boston. Rick Porcello, David Price, and Eduardo Rodriguez take control of the mound in whatever game it may be, Benintendi, Betts, and Bradley have got the outfield covered, and players like Ortiz and Ramirez are always looking to save the day when needed.

The Sox are hot when it counts most, looking strong going into the postseason – their first playoff appearance since 2013.  What better send off for Big Papi to ride a worst to first season into history?  If it’s October at Fenway Park, then it’s time for the Sox to chase another World Series ring.