While he may have started off fifth in the rotation, this weekend Bronson Arroyo was the ace of the staff. He showed amazing poise and control especially amid rain delays. The Sox have found their third starter for the post-season. It is not the first time that Arroyo has stepped up. And although he has four no-decisions in four starts versus New York, the Red Sox have won every one of those games. It hasn't always been pretty, but Arroyo has been very valuable.

He's obviously gotten some help late in those games. Part of it is the bullpen, which was again stellar, but the real defensive power house may be the left fielder. Yes, Manny Ramirez. His catch in the left-field stands to rob Miguel Cairo of a homerun was easily the best catch of the year. You can see the catch at MLB.com.

To me, Manny is the 2004 MVP. And why not consider him a Gold Glove too? We can stare in awe at his 41 home runs, 118 rbis, .616 slugging percentage. But his fielding numbers aren't too shabby. He has fewer errors and more assists than Hideki Matsui. Let's not forget that he has to contend with the Green Monster for 81 games. No one has played the left-field wall better since Yaz. Hmm. Add Friday night's catch to the case file.

Friday night was indeed good baseball. I was on the edge of my seat, jumping for joy throughout the whole ninth inning. I slept great that night and awoke ready to face the day. Then the rains came.

From the moment I woke, I thought about the next two games. Was it raining in New York? Is Derek Lowe going to be able to handle the pressure? Will Yankee pitchers find a way to win?

My apprehension about Derek Lowe's start proved worthy. What happened? He was out of his element. I'm not even sure he knew where he was during the game. I hate it when veterans make rookie mistakes. Lowe made costly ones.

Who was that pitching for the Yankees? It couldn't have been Jon Lieber. Going into the game Lieber, opponents had batted .295 against him and he had a 4.46 ERA. Plus, he had not beaten the Sox this year in two starts. But Saturday, Lieber was masterful. Until the seventh inning, I had nothing to cheer about. Thank goodness for David Ortiz. Ortiz broke up the no-hitter and the shut out with a deep drive to Monument Park. Hooray. Listen to MLB.com's coverage of the home run.

Oh well, I knew Saturday's game was going to be tough. I had already given the Yankees that one before Friday's game was played.

It's Sunday's game that truly hurt. My stomach still aches from watching New York pound Pedro. New York newpapers are so very proud. The New York Times writes "Take that Boston.... The New York Post suggests the Sox are done dancin'. And the New York Daily News' Vic Ziegel writes it's over. The Daily News' Mike Lupica also chimes in calling Derek Jeter Mr. Intangible.

Well, I do not share their view(s) Yes, the Times is correct when they report "Pedro surprised by Yankee strategy." and the CTnow.com is correct when they write there was No Tek support. The Times also noticed that Jason Varitek "can't buy a hit in the Bronx."

But are the Sox done? I don't think so.

I give the Yankees a little credit. They could have come out Saturday feeling glum, but instead put Friday's game behind them and went back to work. The New York Post's Mike Vaccaro says it's "business as usual" for the Bombers.

It's a different approach, for a different team. And I'll take Boston's carefree attitude. I enjoy the longhair, hairy-faced "dirtdogs." The Sox are "hippies;" the Yankees are "suits." The Sox are under-rated and the Yankees are over-rated.
It's not over yet, but is is going to be tough.

Reader comments: The Red Sox face Baltimore for a four-game series this week, before another round with the Yankees. While the Yankees face the Blue Jays in a three-game series and Tampa Bay for one game. Can the Red Sox close the 4 1/2-game gap?

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