It finally happened. As I predicted, the Sox are atop of the A.L. East. They are currently 2 1/2 game ahead of the Baltimore and more importantly 6 1/2 games above the Yankees.

It's hard to contain my excitement.It's the end of June, and they are 14 games above .500.

How have they done it?

The pitching has been, at best, inconsistent.

David Wells' ERA is 5.00, 1.28 higher than last year. The last time his ERA was 5.00 or higher was in 1996. He was 32, wearing pinstripes and weighed well about the same. In an article with the Boston Herald, He blames the umpires.

I will give him some credit for making contact this weekend. It's rare when a A.L. pitcher gets a run and an rbi in the same game.

Wade Miller has been lack-luster as well, going 2-2 with a 4.83 ERA. His too is over a point from last year's (3.35). His strikeout totals are down and his walks and WHIP are up.

Alan Embree has given up 28 earned runs in 32 innings. He only gave up 24 all of last year.

Keith Foulke has also been MIA. His earned-run total of 20 matches 2004's.

The above mentioned is all good news. "What?" you say. The pitching will turn around. It has too. Curt Schilling will be back...eventually. The Sox will make a move at the trading deadline, probably for some relief.

And the offense will continue to roll.

Did you see Manny's blast Saturday? It was huge, no doubt, but I was more impressed with Sunday's. An opposite-field shot that left the pitcher Brett Myers baffled. The pitch couldn't have been it by anyone else. This week Manny has been the man. His average is soaring upwards as are his home-run and rbi totals. The Boston Herald reports, Manny is now second on the all-time list grandslam list.

How about David Ortiz' home run Friday night? Wow! Mammoth. Upper deck. Same place as the BP shot. That's consistent.

The Sox have averaged 5.68 runs per game since the beginning of the season while their opponents averaged 4.75. Over the last 13 games, of which they have won 12, they have averaged 7.38.

But I'm not going to say that it's over like the Globe's Dan Shaughnessy did this past weekend.

I'm more in line with the Boston Herald's Michael Silverman who warns us to not get ahead of ourselves.

It is only June afterall.

E-mail this entry to a friend