Memo to Kalle Oakes:

It ain’t over until the Fat Papi sings, dude.

How is that 14.5-game lead tasting nowadays?

Actually, do you enjoy the taste of crow?

About a month ago, my co-worker called me out for predicting the demise of the Red Sox…more particularly the pitching staff.

And while the lead is 2.5 games at this point, there is no doubt who the better team is entering October..the Bronx Bombers.

Yes, Sox fans will throw out the fact that Kevin Youkilis, Coco Crisp and Manny Ramirez are hurt. Boo-friggin-hoo. The Yankees’ injuries in the first half resembled a line at the morgue, but they have turned things around.

But, the Sox are fighting off the injury bug at the wrong time of season, and it is proving fatal.

And, if you can sit there with a straight face and claim that Crisp is a difference-maker, then I have a bridge I want to sell you. In many ways, Ramirez hasn’t been the same player this season as well.

Here is why Sox fans should turn their attention to the Patriots at this point:

1. The bullpen stinks. Hideki Okajima has dead arm, Eric Gagne has dead head and Jonathan Papelbon can’t carry the load himself. Of course, you could pray that Julian Tavarez and Mike Timlin…well, I don’t even think a prayer would help there.

2. Too much pressure on the starting staff. Josh Beckett has been nails, so I won’t take anything away from the guy. But how healthy is Curt Schilling? Can he go eight or nine innings, especially with the bullpen blowing leads left and right? Is Tim Wakefield burnt out? We can all see that Daisuke Matsuzaka is toast, so you can’t expect him to pitch deep into games. Obviously, this is a losing formula, and relying on a Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester to get you through is unrealistic come playoff time.

3. The lineup isn’t scary. David Ortiz is obviously a superstar, but he has been so sporadic this season that you can’t count on him to lead by example. Ramirez and J.D. Drew are complete duds, Dustin Pedroia is getting used to being stranded on base and Kevin Youkilis is banged up.

Obviously, the playoffs are a given, and that is because the Sox came out of the box like gangbusters. But, baseball is a marathon, and this team wasn’t built to withstand that long distance.

Speaking of long distance, I’ll be giving you a call from Florida, Kalle, I am going to enjoy listening to you eat your crow.

Don’t choke.

Oh wait, that’s the Red Sox.