Damn Yankees

Games 109 & 110 - Red Sox

Mariners 7, Red Sox 4
Red Sox 4, Mariners 3
Record: 67-43

I'm looking forward to hunkering down in my living room at 4:05 this afternoon to actually watch a Red Sox game, marking the first time I've had that opportunity since Fausto Carmona bested Josh Beckett some 10 days ago. While the Sox have played reasonably well over that span, winning 6 of 9, the object in the rearview mirror has, like Leo, been getting larger, courtesy of a schedule that would make many AAA managers smile.

The Yankees are 17-7 over their last 24 contests, thanks in very large part to their suddenly sick offense, which in turn has been abetted by the arms of the Devil Rays, Blue Jays, Orioles, White Sox, and Royals. One more today for the Bombers against the Royals and a trio in Toronto before real big league teams get a crack at them.

All of which means sphincter puckering for Sox fans, and heel-digging for the Sox themselves. After one more in Seattle and three in Anaheim, the Sox get 13 of their next 17 against the Devil Rays, Orioles, and White Sox, followed by three in the Bronx at the end of August. Even as the standings tighten and the Yankees play up to their potential, the Sox still control their own destiny. Win the series they're supposed to against bad teams, break even against the good teams, and they win the East. Stumble, and September gets way more interesting than it needs to be. I could do without interesting.