This weekend was exciting for sure. We saw some tremendous home-team pitching. As expected, the two Red Sox aces (yes we have two), Pedro and Curt Schilling, came up big. They are going to take us to the playoffs and hopefully to the World Series. Yes, I still believe.

Philadelphia simply did not have the pitching required to win the series. I knew Randy Wolf was going to be tough on Saturday, but having written that, the Phillies had no one else. Things may have been a little different had we seen Kevin Millwood and Eric Milton on the mound, but I doubt it.

We saw some explosive power from both teams. Each team had four home runs during the series. Led by Jim Thome and Boston's David Ortiz.

Thome add two HRs to bring his total to a league leading 26. It's not even the end of June. Wow! This guy is amazing and on pace to overtake Mike Schmidt's team record of 48 HRs. I would hate to see my favorite player's record broken, but if anyone is to do it, I'm glad it's Thome. He is fun to watch. In interviews, he praised Manny as being intelligent. Also saying he learned a lot from him when they played for Cleveland. An all-around good guy. Besides his home runs really fly. MLB.com has video of his 26th, a towering shot to the Green Monster seats. The site also writes about Thome's torrid pace. I'm not sure why he is fourth in All-Star voting. I mean Albert Pujols is great, Thome should at least be second.

David Ortiz also had two HRs this weekend. As if this guy isn't an All-Star come'on. That is ridiculous. Ortiz now leads the AL with 72 RBIs. Yet, he too is not registering enough votes to earn him a spot on the AL roster. Amazing.

Speaking of All-Stars. Have you seen the commercials? N.Y.'s Jason Giambi driving recklessly to the game with a bunch of other Yankees. The add flashes still shots of Vladimir Guerrero, Ichiro and I think I saw a quick view of an Oakland pitcher. But not in any frame do we see a Red Sox player. Pathetic. Boston appears to get no respect. Since Red Sox Nation is so vast perhaps MLB should rethink its advertising.

It now appears that the Yankees will have four players starting in the All Star game (1B - Giambi, SS - Derek Jeter, 3B - Alex Rodriguez and at OF - Gary Sheffield). And Hideki Matsui has a shot to take the away Manny's spot. He is currently fourth in voting. The SportsNetwork reports that the Yankees are dominating the voting. Why would I want to watch the Yankees play the NL? I do not think this is how the game is supposed to work, but the fans have spoken. There really should be some changes to the voting. Not that I have anything against the Yankees, but, well yes, it's because I can't stand the Yankees. There I've said it. MLB.com has the latest voting results. By the way, it's still not too late to vote, you have three more days to make a difference.

Perhaps the lack of respect will motivate the Red Sox as they get ready to play the AL All Stars, I mean, Yankees. The New York Times reports that the Red Sox are looking to build momentum. That is true but pitching is going to be the key, yet again.

With Pedro and Schilling having already pitched, we do not have a genuine stopper to pitch against New York. It will be a tough series. Derek Lowe and Tim Wakefield will have to come up HUGE. The Yankees are much improved since the last time the Sox faced them. MLB.com writes that Jeter has turned the corner. He is in every sense still the leader of that club and has proven it both on and off the field.

There aren't too many holes on the Yankees. However, the New York Times also writes the Yankee starters will have to step up to the task. Kevin Brown will remain on the DL and will not ptich against the Sox. That leaves Javier Vasquez, Jon Lieber and rookie Brad Hasley. This will be close. Neither team will sweep. The most we could hope for is 2 of 3.

It's time to play more defensively now. Start playing David McCarty more at first base. Sorry Millar, you are the odd man out.

Reader comments: Both the Yankees and the Red Sox failed to acquire another difference maker when Seattle sent Freddy Garcia to the Chicago White Sox. Is it time to panic? Do we need to make a move in order to stay in the race?

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