Today I have nothing but questions. How do YOU think this weekend's series will go? The USA Today has a preview. As does half the country.

The Sox are now only 1 1/2 games out of the division lead and in the best of worlds could be 3 1/2 up on the Yankees. Though, a reality check is needed.

The Boston Herald offers that reality. It states that the Sox simply don't matchup with the better teams.

I strongly believe that the Sox could win three of five cutting the margin down to 1/2 a game by Tuesday.

But which three?

Regardless of The Big Jab's attempts to bring hope to the Red Sox fans by stating Chien-Ming Wang and Sidney Ponson's Fenway records (which both stink, frankly), it is unrealistic to think we can take two today.

Wang has 13 wins with a sub-4.00 ERA. Not too shabby for a fourth starter.

However, Wang may not be the pitcher everyone thinks he is. His wins have come at the expense of the AL West and sub-.500 teams, accept for one particular win at Yankee Stadium against the Sox. He also has a win against Toronto, but the Yankee offense bailed him out (he allowed four runs in six innings).

His last two outings have not gone so well - a no-decision against the White Sox and a loss vs. the Angels.

But it's that June 6 win against Boston that is particularly troubling. He went seven strong innings allowing eight hits and one earned run. Wang is also a workhorse, going deep into games, allowing his team many chances to win.

The same can not be said for Boston's Jason Johnson.

He has only gone seven innings three times this season, accounting for his only wins. His last win was May 28. His team has lost at least 11 times when he has started games.

I can't understand why a pitcher a 3-11 record remains on a contending team. Add the fact that the Yankees handed him a huge lose on June 14 when gave up 10 hits and six earned runs, and the Sox should be looking at their minor league system for this start.

Johnson can not continue this slide. He needs to step up, if not Boston has to send him on his way. If indeed the Yankees have a blowout by the sixth, I say leave him in. What can it hurt. The Sox can ill afford to overuse their bullpen.

No matter how much I want to believe it isn't true, the edge goes to Wang and the Yankees for Game 1.

Hope will then rest on the shoulders of rookie Jon Lester. Great.

Related news:
Boston Globe: Sox had interest in Abreu, Lidle

Man, how could you not. We'll see firsthand the impact Abreu brings to the club. One more superstar isn't really going to make the difference, right?

The Guardian Unlimited says Yankees routed on eve of big series.

The series can go either way. The day of rest was most important for the Sox, not the win over Detroit.

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