Too good to be true: the Red Sox and Cubs came up short in the postseason, but thanks to technology, we learn a Series between the teams would have been one for the ages.(The World Series)

Admit it: You really wanted the Red Sox and Cubs to meet in this year s World Series, if only so one group of fans would stop whining about curses. The next best thing, naturally, is a highly realistic computer simulation by the Strat-O-Matic Game Co. If the actual Sox and Cubs would have played the way their Strat-O counterparts did--seven games, five decided by one run--this might have been the greatest Series ever,

Game 1. Can you second-guess a computer program? Cyber-Dusty Baker leaves in lefty reliever Mike Remlinger to pitch to righty sluggers Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Bad move--Remlinger walks Nomar to load the bases, and Manny follows with a grand slam over the Monster to give the Sox a 5-0 lead. Boston goes on to a 7-3 win. John Burkett, who would have been the Sox's likely Game 1 starter in real life, allows one run in seven innings. Matt Clement, who would have opened for the Cubs, is charged with the loss.

Game 2. Boston makes it two straight at Fenway with a 2-1 nail-biter. Trot Nixon's seventh-inning homer off Carlos Zambrano is the difference.

Game 3. The series shifts to Chicago, and the home team rallies for a 5-4 win. Sammy Sosa and Alex Gonzalez homer off Mike Timlin in the bottom of the eighth to give the Cubs the lead for good. Time to second-guess the simulated Grady Little for staying with Timlin too long.

Game 4. Kerry Wood and Pedro Martinez match ...