Baseball is all about ebb and flow. It's a long season for a reason. No one is expected to win every game. Not the Red Sox and not the Yankees. It simply can not happen.

What's unfortunate is that the Red Sox have had too many ebbs. They had a five-game losing streak (to two of the weaker teams in the league) and are in the midst of another brief slump. It won't last. It can't. The team is too good to allow that to happen. The Boston Herald says the team as some real problems.

As advertised last night's game pitted two of the best pitchers in the game against each other. Jeremy Bonderman was a force. Curt Schilling fought the good fight.

I loved the tension, the defense and the pitching. I even enjoyed listening to Dennis Leary go nuts in the NESN booth with Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo. Funny stuff.

There was really only one problem - The Sox lost.

Wily Mo tried to do too much too early. Without having the ball, he was thinking of the throw and ultimately that cost the Sox the game. Had he made the catch, the runner would not have advanced and well, perhaps they'd still be playing baseball.

'Nuff said.

Everyone seems to think that the Red Sox need to sweep or at least win 4 of 5 over the Yankees in order to make this year's quest a reality.

That's a tall order considering the circumstances. It is is not necessarily the right approach to take either. MSNBC.com says the Red Sox, Yankees add fuel to the rivalry.

First of all, there has been so much focus on that Yankee series, no one is dealing with the task at hand - taking at least one from Detroit.

Detroit has proven why they have the best record in baseball. Nothing seems to phaze these guys. Lose a lead? No problem. Lose the second baseman? That's OK put the catcher there. Lose five in-a-row? Win two. The Detroit Free Press calls is Separation Anxiety I call it good baseball.

The truth is that the Sox still could not capitalize on any weaknesses. The Detroit Free Press reports on Placido Polanco's injury.

But all is not lost. The Sox are only three games out of the division lead and three games away from the wild-card slot. It could be worse.

They do however need a win this evening. Thursday's day off will be welcome and may be just what the doctor ordered. Bonus: The Yankees don't get a day off between now and the weekend.

I haven't given up nor have I begun to panic. Hang in there Boston.

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