There you have it.  To me this weekend is the Sox playoffs for the season. 

If they play well and take 2 of 3 they are barely in hunt.

If they sweep they are squarely in the hunt.

Anything less and they are effectively eliminated, unless the wrong Sox take a series from the Yanks.

That not enough?  Still too early too feel like the playoffs?  Look at the way each team lined up their pitching (...sort of)

Tonight:  Lester vs Price
Tomorrow:  Buchholz vs Garza
Sunday:  Lackey v. Shields

Games 1 and 2 are playoff match ups.  Game 3 is not as sexy but is a realistic possibility for game 3 starts in October also.

I submit that at least for tonight it's worth some beer and an ear, if not a couple eyes to see if the Sox can somehow pull a pennant race out of the ER and walk into September within a series of the WC.

So grab your Sam, find a seat or stand or just listen to Joe on your porch.   It's going to be a fun series, it could be the last series meaningful series the Sox play in 2010 or it could be the start of an improbable run toward October.