A simple bit of arithmetic: the Red Sox are 4 games behind the Yankees in the AL East, and they play a four-game series against New York over the 4th of July weekend, so by Monday night they could be tied with the Yankees for first place.

Well, it's possible, on paper, but as my Dad likes to say, "they're not playing on paper - they're playing on grass"... Not only that, but to get those four precious wins, the Red Sox have to go through the Yankees' formidable quartet of starters: David Wells, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina. I know - not one of these guys is under thirty (Pettitte, at 31, is the baby of the bunch), but their combined total of 825 career wins speaks for itself: these guys win ballgames. It might be a holiday weekend for everyone else, but Boston is going to have a long four days in the Bronx.