Game on! Again.

The fall ended badly for the Boston Red Sox, as it always does. Only five outs from winning the American League pennant — at the New York Yankees' expense — they found a way to lose to the Evil Empire, as Red Sox' president Larry Lucchio has termed the Bronx Bombers. The Red Sox have mastered this through the years, yet each time the hurt among New England baseball fans is like the first time a lover breaks your heart.

But the Sox and their loyal fans press on, always believing the new year will be different, like the next guy hook up with Jennifer Lopez.

This winter has been no different. Until Saturday, this had been the winter of the Evil Empire's discontent. The Red Sox had swamped them in the off-season, landing ace Curt Schilling to go along with Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. They signed closer Keith Foulke, added another reliable bat in Ellis Burks and finally someone who can catch at second base in Pokey Reese.

The Yankees lost Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens — and got hornswoggled in the process. Few believe New York's lame claims that surly Kevin Brown will make up for those two.

They did manage to add Gary Sheffield and his considerable offense, but the Red Sox have done more overall to strengthen themselves. That's probably why every pre-season baseball magazine had predicted a Red Sox pennant, at the minimum. All but two of them insisted Boston would finally win the World Series for the first time since 1918.

About the only thing that hadn't worked out for the Red Sox was their failed effort to trade Manny Ramierez to the Texas Rangers for shortstop Alex Rodriguez, a trade that would have also resulted in their moving current shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.

That trade was blocked partly by both teams' greed and the intransigence of the players' union. The failed move left the Red Sox with two disgruntled, expendable star players.

Then the Yankees did what they always seem to do.

They did the kind of thing that has made them The Evil Empire in the eyes of every baseball fan north of Hartford, Conn., and throughout much of the U.S. Only days before spring training began, with hearts aflutter in New England at the prospect of finally fielding a team with more firepower and more pitching than the Yankees, New York made its move.

It found a way to trade for the best player in baseball. And he agreed to play for them without necessitating they trade the game's most consistent winner — the Yankees' present shortstop, Derek Jeter.

If the Yankees can get the union on board — which they probably will because they won't blow the deal arguing over a few million dollars, like the Red Sox did — then they will have suddenly turned the tables on the Red Sox once again.

If the Yankees can finalize the deal for Rodriguez it will cost them second baseman Alfonso Soriano, but he was slated to become a free agent after this season. No brainer there. Who would you rather have: Soriano at second base or Rodriguez at third?

So once again it seems, things are what they ever were in Boston.

Self-flagellation will abound. Red Sox fans are filled with fear and loathing again. There is no joy at Fenway Park for mighty Rodriguez is a Yankee. Or at least it looks like he's going to be.

Just the idea of it was enough to ruin Valentine's Day in Boston while making it happy holiday time in the Bronx.

The Evil Empire lives!

At least for now.

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