The Yankees aren't much of a threat to make the playoffs. Even if they sweep they'll probably be around 2.5-1 dogs to finish ahead of the Sox. Their schedule the rest of the way is insanely difficult

Their schedule the rest of the way is insanely difficult

Equal Schedule Remaining:

Home: 3 vs CWS, 3 vs BAL, 3 vs TBR, 3 vs TOR
Away: 3 at TOR

Boston also has:

3 at Tampa Bay
1 more at home vs. Toronto
3 at Texas
4 at home vs. Cleveland

New York also has:

3 at Anaheim Los Angeles
3 more in Toronto
1 more at home vs. Chicago
1 at Detroit
3 at Seattle

Actually, the more I look at it, the more I think the differences cancel out. NY probably has a slightly better chance of taking a game against LA than Boston does against TB, because NY has been better on the road than BOS and TB has been better at home than LA. NY will probably take 4 of their other 8 games, while Boston will probably take 5 of theirs.

It appears that the "uncommon" schedules probably are close to equal, maybe a slight tilt in Boston's favor. The BIG difference, to me, is that (a) their common schedules are dominated by home games, and (b) Boston has played much better at home. If NY becomes equally dominating at home, or Boston slips at home, the schedules equalize.

I think the path is too steep for NY if they don't dominate the 6 head-to-head games; on their non-Boston schedule they have to outperform their 2008 to date just to hold serve. While this series is important, and while you can't ever count out the Yankees until they're actually eliminated, in my mind if Boston wins one of these three it's done.

While this series is important, and while you can't ever count out the Yankees until they're actually eliminated, in my mind if Boston wins one of these three it's done.

That's my suspicion. I just can't see the Yankees getting insanely hot with what's left of their starting rotation.

Of course, winning 1 out of 3 against NY does nothing about the more pressing Twins/White Sox problem. And while it's not out of the question, running down TB is not really part of the picture at the moment.

lets send this rats nest away with a bang. I want a 3 game sweep with some 11-5, ortiz bi-homer games!

Pay Foulke, Smellhorn, and Schilling to come sit in the front row and get noticed.

I'll be at the games on Wednesday and Thursday. Good times.

I'll admit it: losing Yankee Stadium is kind of a bummer. I'm 28, which means that for my entire adult life, turning on the TV and seeing that blue backdrop has signalled to me that This Game Must Be Important. I count the Yankees-Diamondbacks World Series as the best one in my memory (edging out Twins-Braves), and part of what made that series so great is the fact that the Yankees pulled some typical magic/bullsh*t to take their 3 home games. Also, the Stadium was home to what will surely go down as one of my favorite baseball memories of all time- Damon hitting a grand slam in Game 7 (for me, and probably for a lot of other Sox fans, that was the Holy Sh*t Moment where I realized it was actually going to happen).

Yes, I know the current Yankee Stadium isn't the real one, but it's got to be better than whatever corporate mess the new one turns out to be.

Yankees are 483 - 283 against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in regular season play(with 4 ties). Need to maintain that +200 advantage!

The new stadium looks pretty nice. I am excited about the return of the facade.

And the Red Sox, just for completeness sake, are 4-6 in the playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Leading playoff winner is Rivera with 2 wins (everyone else has 1) and saves is Rivera with 3, Williamson with 2.

From what I've seen of it, the new Yankee Stadium looks gorgeous. It will probably be on the short list for nicest parks in the majors (not that it shouldn't be for ~1.3 billion or whatever it was they spent). Sure the current stadium has history but it's really just a dumpy 70s era park after all they did to it back then anyway. Most of the historical value was wrecked already.

the 70's renovation is one thing but I can't understand why they reconfigured the outfield in the late 80's. At that point there still was a 'death valley' in left, but then they further boringfied it. I guess they misjudged the cache of asymmetrical historical field shapes.

Lineups:

YANKEES (70-60)
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Molina C
Pettitte LHP

RED SOX (75-55)
Ellsbury RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 3B
Bay LF
Lowrie SS
Crisp CF
Bailey 1B
Cash C
Wakefield RHP

When did Jeff Bailey happen?

International League MVP, baby!!!111

Ughhh. :-(

According to the Globe and ProJo, Drew may head to the DL and be replaced by Joe Thurston. Or, he may not be. No one knows...

And while it's not out of the question, running down TB is not really part of the picture at the moment.

Boston is now 3.5 behind Tampa, and ahead of NY by 6, with a month left to play. And Boston faces Sidney Ponson tomorrow night. It's part of the picture.

Boston is now 3.5 behind Tampa, and ahead of NY by 6, with a month left to play. And Boston faces Sidney Ponson tomorrow night. It's part of the picture.

Well, I didn't pants-piss when the Yankees sliced the lead down a few times last year, so I'll stay consistent and say my focus remains on the tighter wildcard contenders race for the time being.

This game was huge. It was the worst matchup for Boston and it takes the pressure off for the rest of the series. Credit to Francona for managing the pen well. He went to Pap early just as he should have.

This game was huge. It was the worst matchup for Boston and it takes the pressure off for the rest of the series. Credit to Francona for managing the pen well. He went to Pap early just as he should have.

I 100% agree with this. Huge win, great bullpen usage. I like our chances in both the Byrd v Ponson and the Lester v Mussina games, although obviously neither are slam dunk match ups. Any chance Kotsay can be activated in time for tomorrow's game?

I don't care if Whitey Ford and Derek Jeter are the starting pitchers for all the rest of the Yankees' games, I am not comfortable with the Sox lead in the standings.

Out here in Seattle, they have started having little radio features of this date in 1995. The Mariners were 11.5 games back of the Angels going into August 24th, and they caught them on September 20th. As for the Sox and Yanks, there is another year: 1978.

I agree this first game was huge, but Sir Sidney does not automatically doom the Bombers to a loss. Let's push hard for a sweep; then I will start to breath a little bit easier.

Sir Sidney does not automatically doom the Bombers to a loss.

That sound you hear is that of your credibility crumbling.

Oh baby, tonight was pretty sweet. The Pedroia HR was just too much. 7 game lead, at least 6 after this series is over. This is a very nice showing with the really crappy lineup.

Taking 2 has pretty much ended the Yankees' playoff shots, right?

No, not ended. If they're at 6 games with 29 to play, they're in a tight spot, but they still have a shot.

Even if the Yankees avoid the sweep tomorrow night, that's 6 down with only 3 head-to-head left with the Sox, all in Fenway.
I like my chances though there is still Chicago/Minnesota to worry about as well.

It would be really nice if they took 2 of 3 from the ChiSox over the weekend.

That was a pretty sweet game to be at. I don't know if my favorite moment from the stands was when a woman got beaned in the head with a bag of Cracker Jack, or when a guy wearing a New York Giants cap berated a fan for wearing a Celtics shirt to a baseball game.

Papelbon: ?(???)?

Baseball Prospectus has the odds of the MFYs making the playoffs at 1.5%. Not good odds but I've been beat by worse playing poker... :-)

I don't know if my favorite moment from the stands was when a woman got beaned in the head with a bag of Cracker Jack, or when a guy wearing a New York Giants cap berated a fan for wearing a Celtics shirt to a baseball game.

Godd bless America, indeed.

Beckett pushed back again and to visit Dr. Andrew.

I hope that Bowden gets the start instead of some mediocrity like Pauley or Hull.

Only WEEI can spin this as a good thing. Pete Sheppard around 5:15 PM: "Good news from the Red Sox. Beckett will pushed back again. They are protecting him." Christ the guy is stupid.

Looks like we get Matsuzaka moved up for tomorrow and Pauley on Saturday. Ugh.