Not tied no more.

Things are getting a bit ugly. Sox are down 4-3 in the 7th. Cleveland already won, and the Yankees are up 8-2 in the 8th. If things remain at the status quo, the Sox would have to sweep the Yankees to win the East, or win at least one more game than Cleveland to get the wild card.

They could make things a lot easier on themselves by coming back and winning tonight. That would leave them just one game behind the Yanks, and tied with Cleveland.

I don't have a lot of confidence on them getting through the playoffs if they make it. They really don't have enough pitching, especially in the bullpen. I would make the Cardinals the favorite to win the World Series this year. They have one thing they were missing last year - they have two stud starters at the top of the rotation in Carpenter (who was injured last year) and Mulder. The Astros are probably my second pick with Clemens, Oswalt and Pettite at the top of the rotation, although their offense is suspect.

I'll make my predictions this weekend after the playoff participants are set, but I'm thinking this might be the National League's year.