Solid Clay

Dan:

It pained me to watch how good Clay Buchholz was last night.

But only because I forgot to start him on my fantasy team.

Despite stumbling early on in Kansas City - when they might have closed the gap with the Yanks and actually made a run at the division - the Sox are looking great. With each start he makes, Buchholz confirms to the rest of the American League that he has indeed arrived.

While many great October teams have two ace starters . . . and then have to hope for a miracle . . . the Red Sox are entering the playoffs with a complete staff of four ace starting pitchers (provided Matsuzaka can keep it up) who can shut you down. They already have the game's best bullpen and a very good lineup. They have to be the favorite heading into October.

A lot will be made of this weekend's series with the Yanks. But, in reality, it is just appetizers before the main course. The division has in all reality been decided, and nobody is going to stress out their pitchers to try to win it when they are already in the playoffs. Can't wait for October.