Being totally greedy sports fans, we will gladly take a third 21st century World Series title from the Red Sox this fall, should the baseball gods decide to deliver one.

But even if the Sox get swept in the first-round of the American League playoffs, fans can hardly complain (though that probably won’t stop them from doing so.)

First of all, after last season’s 93-loss debacle, expectations were at rock bottom heading into the 2013 season.

We suspect if the Red Sox wanted to award free tickets and transportation to all of their fans who predicted a 97-win season this year, they could probably fit the lot of them into a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle and have room to spare.

In fact, this is probably the team’s most improbable title since that ’67 Impossible Dream squad.

Consider, for instance, the following unlikely events:

• The team lost both of its anointed closers by the All-Star break. It seemed like they were willing to audition anybody for the closer role except the man who finally excelled at it, Koji Uehara. Once he finally got a chance to close out games, all Uehara did was record 21 saves and pitch 29 consecutive scoreless innings, saving several crucial games in the heat of the division race.

• They traded a .330 hitter and people were happy. OK, so maybe people weren’t happy to see shortstop Jose Iglesias and his magic glove traded to Detroit, but they were delighted to get pitcher Jake Peavy in return. Especially after he posted a 4-1 record for the team.

• They lost their ace (Clay Buchholz) for two months and actually got better.

• The Beard Brigade: People may remember this team for the facial hair worn by its players, but the crew of relative non-stars – including Daniel Nava, Mike Carp, Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli, along with the established core – made a habit of delivering in clutch situations. Nobody left early on this team.

With New Hampshire’s own Ben Cherington (Meriden, Lebanon High School) in the general manager’s seat and jut-jaw manager John Farrell working the dugout levers, it’s been a wonderful ride for Sox fans, even if it all ends next week.

Now, about those World Series reservations…

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