Red Sox Back in the Driver's Seat Again [Addison Quale]

It hasn't felt this way around Boston for a long time. As long as 2 months some might say. It's the first time in a while people have felt comfortable with the Sox lead in the AL East and confident they can hold off the Yanks. A big turning point was this past Friday. The Sox swept a double header against the White Sox on the backs of Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling. And as Curt Schilling said in the post-game interview of the night-cap, "We're feeling really good. Things are clicking finally." This is actullay just a paraphrase mind you. But it demonstrates the confidence exuding from the Sox suddenly.

I think the biggest difference between the Sox now and the Sox a month back is pretty obvious. They have their ace back. Schilling was out for quite a while. And even when he came back, he was struggling a bit. On Friday night he went 6 innings and gave up only one run on a frugal 3 hits. With their ace back and feeling good. They're starting to feel good too. And now they have that 1-2-3 punch in Schill, Beckett and Matsuzaka once again. They're starting to look like the juggernaut they were in April and May. Not only that, they're boasting 16 game winner Tim Wakefield, who just might have a shot at 20 wins this year! (At the age of 40 no less.)

The Yankees are still out there though. And they should not be underestimated--as I have said all along. But they clearly do not have the consistent solid pitching that the Sox have. This is the difference between them. Yankees bats are going to have to stay hot. Though after the Sox' drubbing of the White Sox this past weekend, it's their bats who are hottest of all!