Sox giftwrap series sweep...

Christmas came early this year to the Bronx as the Sox hand over three games. Apparently the Sox left their offense back in Chicago. Despite the loss of Manny, what an awful performance. At least starting pitching held its ground - other than a Damon blooper...

Hats off to the Yanks starters who pitched well enough to win. Let's not get ahead of ourselves Yanks fans - they weren't dominant by any means. With 4+ walks given up by Wang & Clemens, it was the Sox inept bats that are the cause. Your sluggers didn't exactly light up the sky either.

For those of you thinking the Yanks would sweep after this past series, raise your hand... Yeah right. So you must have based that on the 16-0 trouncing in Detroit and the Sox lighting things up in Chicago. Riiiight...

Well, enjoy it while it lasts. It won't last too long - as we've seen all season. You're still down 5 games and you have Seattle coming up. By the way, who is pitching for Mussina these days?

Think the next meeting will be more significant than this one? Try & hold your breath that long... Dare ya...

These aren't "Your Daddy's" Yankees...

Hee hee. After climbing back to within 4 games of the AL East lead, the Yanks have fallen back to 8. On the eve of what could have been their biggest series of the season they get trounced by the Tigers 16 - 0. Not exactly a momentum builder. After playing .700 ball for the beginning of the second half, the Yanks have lost 5 of their last 7 at the worst possible time. It also looks like Mussina just pitched himself out of the starting rotation.

Doesn't feel like 1978 all over again? The Yanks finally fell victim to a tougher schedule. Even though they've still managed a 29-16 record since the break, the Sox have been almost as good at 26-17. So those thoughts of catching the Sox are all but dead. Oh, and with Matsuzaka, Beckett, and Schill all pitching this series, kiss your sweep dreams bye-bye. In fact the Sox should take at least 2 if not all 3. It's time to hit the gas petal and leave the Yanks in the dust. The Sox are playing with a ton of confidence and are comfortably in the drivers seat.

We here at Red Sox Nation can sleep soundly until the playoffs start. Our Sox are in. The Yanks have to struggle the rest of the way just to keep up with the Mariners. They've also let Detroit crawl back to within a game in the wild card. The entire rotation has been slipping. When did Wang's Era pop up to almost 4? Clemens has been pedestrian, and Hughes has only been an average #5 guy. Now with Mussina on the outs, who steps up? Torre may have to leave him in there. Too bad Wells is in LA, huh?

Is that the sound of the Yanks coming? Nah...










Even with the herculean effort expended (until last week), they're still in rough shape. Looks like the tease of 2007 has just about ended for you Yanks fans. With only 30 games left, their biggest series could be with Seattle.

Good luck with the whole wild card thing. We'll be waiting at Fenway, if you make it that far.

The Yanks are Coming! The Yanks are Coming!

Thats right folks, the Yanks are actually making a race out of this season. And panic has officially set in throughout Sox Nation. Well, at least part of it after GaG-me's performance over the weekend...

Your 43 - 43 Yanks at the break have been feasting on sub par teams to the tune of 23 - 8 since the break. They have been an absolute hitting machine.

However, pitching isn't much improved over the first half. Surprised? It sure seems like it has but the numbers don't lie. Before the break, the team Era stood at 4.36 - while since the break it's been 4.25. What does that tell you? They've been hitting and scoring runs against lesser pitching opponents.

Curiously, the Yanks traded away one of their most reliable relievers in Proctor & picked up a utility infielder. They are also going against their past history, relying on young pitching to take them down the stretch and into the playoffs. Based on years of playoffs, you'd think this is a recipe for disaster. Heck, the Sox teams of the 70's & 80's were built the same way & where did that get them?

The Yanks finally begin a tough stretch of schedule. Although, if their sweep of the Indians over the weekend is any indicator, they'll still be standing at the end of the month. Nevertheless, we'll all know how good this Yankee team really is in another couple of weeks.

Despite the bullpen blowing two very winnable games this weekend, the Sox starters are getting the job done. That's what really counts this time of year. It looks like Schilling is back to old form and it looks like we'll get a look at the phenom Buckholtz at the double header later in the week (don't be shocked to see him replace Lester). The bullpen will straighten itself out with or without Gagne, but he can't be worse than what we've seen already. And despite perception, this offense is 3rd in runs scored and 2nd post all star break. So those of you still pining for Jermaine Dye, he's not as needed as you think.

The lead is still 4 games, and the Yanks really can't play much better than they have been. In turn, the Sox won't struggle as much as they have been either. Look for the Sox to build the lead back up to a more comfortable level before facing them on the 28th...

Hey you, off the ledge!!!