Series Win Goes Beyond the Surface

When the season is over and everyone looks back on the Red Sox campaign, the three home victories over Toronto in early September may look like three matter of fact games. Three wins over a team that never really put it together, despite it's pitching depth and powerful middle of the order.


Of course, that kind of retrospective analysis minimizes the significance of the series in the moment. If the tables were turned on these results, with the Blue Jays taking three of four at Fenway instead of the other way around, the Wild Card race would appear very much alive. Instead, the Sox seem to be cruising toward the postseason, whether they earn that ticket via the aforementioned Wild Card or the AL East crown. That the AL East crown is even still in the picture after last weekend's Fenway meltdown to Tampa Bay is an accomplishment.

Now, Boston gets a three-game shot at a reprieve. Take two of three in Tampa Bay -- a tall task considering the fact that the Sox have yet to win there this year -- and Beantown will leave with a tie for the division lead. Lost two of three, or witness another sweep, and the division is all but officially finito.

Winning the division may still be a tall task -- trips to Toronto and Cleveland, not to mention that finale with the Yankees, remain on the schedule -- but making up ground on Tampa Bay may put enough shake into the Rays to let the Sox keep pace and maybe steal away with the division crown.

But none of this is relevant if the Sox can't pick up ground over the next three days. The Thunderdome is calling, it's just a matter of whether Boston can answer, starting with Daisuke Matsuzaka tonight.

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