"Numbers still favor the Red Sox at this point.

Of course, the numbers aren't staring at Josh Beckett's tender ankle or Erik Bedard's sore knee. And the numbers have nothing on the medical chart (back sprain, sports hernia, hip bursitis) of Boston third baseman Kevin Youkilis.

Logic says the Red Sox are still in an enviable position this morning.

Of course, logic knows nothing of damp palms or nervous laughter. And logic cannot explain the increasing tightness of a pair of underpants when your lead in the wild-card race goes from nine games to 3½ in a little more than a week.

"Hopefully," Rays DH Johnny Damon said, "they can feel us coming."

Just three days ago, I tried explaining why it was a bad idea to get your hopes too high in the final 20 games of Tampa Bay's season. And it seemed to make sense at the time."