Joe & Dave

I'll believe it or not -- we are seeing some sun have to this weekend that he wear the Red Sox to the rays have lived at the ballpark and played a total of five innings plus one batter.

Yes and look at that that is actually blue sky and sunshine here at Fenway Park -- I didn't think would ever see it again. But it's here and it's going to be beautiful day so let's play two.

That's right so that's what the Rangers are doing the Red Sox lead by three games in that today could. Pretty much be a huge factor in wrapping up the wildcard.

Yeah the swing a bit when you think about it if the Red Sox sweep here against the rays and Texas winds up. Getting swept by Seattle Red Sox would have a five game lead. And the race would be effectively over I think at that point especially when you look at the Texas schedule. Because they have seven games remaining with the Angels now. They may in the back of their minds be thinking they're only five and a half behind Anaheim in the American League west and they were legitimately have a chance to still win that division. Maybe they do remember the Angels have to come here next to take on the Red Sox for three game series. And if the Sox one of sweeping them in Texas gets hot who knows but seven games remaining on the schedule. For the Texas Rangers against the Angels including. Four out of the last seven of the season so their schedule can be a little on the tough side by the way the Angels have a pretty difficult schedule here the last couple weeks of the season as well. But what do you think about that. Red Sox are going to wind up playing as the wild card top team. The number one team first place team from the American League west don't play very well against Texas at this point anyway the Sox -- 217 against the Rangers so. In that case and does it really matter if it's Texas order for the Angels.

While some Manny is the Angels I wonder what this three game series coming up means in terms of a post season probably not much. In the long run although you will get a look at this and pitches you haven't seen since may.

I think that's right and they blew the Daisuke Matsuzaka story is probably the biggest thing that's going to come out of that series against the Angels Daisuke isn't being thrown in against the Orioles he's not being thrown and against the Kansas City Royals. He's being thrown in against a team the Red Sox at this point are very likely to see in the first round of the playoffs. -- very very good apologist but everybody in that lineup hitting around 300. That's going to be a fascinating gave from -- is -- coming up on Tuesday night against John Lackey.

While that he'll look at the Tigers they've lost five in a row all they still have a comfortable lead. There -- by you know five games in the east central they should win and then Tigers and Yankees. Likely to meet. Justin Verlander is the key guy -- that series all right.

And -- more yet absolutely true in any other key guy is is AJ Burnett. Number Lander has had a great year he's going to be one of the top two or three vote getters for the Cy Young without question. He throws a hundred as we saw here at Fenway closer to a 103 at times. And and AJ Burnett is a guy yesterday got shelled again he continues to pitch very poorly not that that would be your first game matchup between those two teams who beat it would be CC sabathia. But you feeling good Verlander he has the ability to stroll. An absolute gem in game one. But even that Yankee Stadium and the chance for. The Tigers right away to put a major heard on the Yankees and put them on the defensive and we're looking ahead but that's the way that shapes up.

ABC a lot of the national they would you ESPN Wednesday night baseball broadcasts and the Philadelphia Phillies who looked like the class of the league are having awful bullpen -- lidge is -- seven he's blown two saves said. Myers got lit up yes today against the Mets and then Ryan Madson who's blown have a dozen saves comes in gives up a game losing two run homer with two lot of in the ninth to David Wright. They're not a sure thing.

Makes me think that maybe they should have made a really hard push to bring back. Billy Wagner maybe they needed him more than anybody although he's not ready to pitch on consecutive days and in his workload has to be -- down a little bit. The Red Sox and a great job of that but they certainly need bullpen help lidge has lost that spot that's incredible when you think of how good he was Joe. Last year he was absolutely. Automatic he was as close to perfect. As I've ever seen a closer and this year he has been awfully lost that -- Bob masses taken over. And as you say is not doing any better but the Phillies have been that way all season long -- been a roller coaster. Rollins was cold at the beginning of the season he warms up they get Pedro they start playing better Pedro by the way has been just fine as he got off to a -- start.

And you look at the Dodgers they've been fading and they had a good series one the first two games against the Giants but Iraqis hit. Really the team to watch in the National League in terms of being hot and of course they have the Cardinals and Albert Pujols and good.

Starters why I think they're the class and the record. Pretty much Bears this out since the All-Star break that the Cardinals -- the class of the division and the class of the National League they have three terrific starters this year. I don't know exactly what happened with jolt -- year old but he's become. A real top of the rotation kind of guy and of course they have Wainwright they've got -- Chris carpenter's had a great year just might win the Cy Young the kid from Exeter New Hampshire.

Well certainly a long way to go away and we go to October 4 with a regular season and today will be very very important for the Red Sox. In terms. Helping in nailed down a postseason spot John.