So September baseball has started and its all quiet on the Eastern Front. Hang on no it isnt? So why is it so quiet around here? This time last year Sawxheads was overflowing with blogs and news stories about the post season. Now obviously with the new changes to the site some people are taking a little time to get used to the new setup but where have all that passionate, fire breathing, die hard Sox fans gone?
With 31 games left in the regular season the boys from Boston are 6.5 games out of the AL East top spot and 3.5 games in front of the Rangers from the big state in the wild card race. 6.5 is a large gap but do we give up and take 2nd place to the evil empire? I dont think so!

Over the next 31 games 15 will be at Fenway, including the final 2 series against Toronto and Cleveland giving us certain well known home town advantages. As far as road trips go the current Tampa to Chicago trip is the second last with the final trip away lining Baltimore and Kansas City up before a showdown with the Yanks in the Bronx. Now look at the teams we are facing over the next month.

Tampa Bay: If todays game is anything to go by we look pretty good. Beckett goes to the mound tomorrow followed Bucholz who flat out shut down the Blue Jays last week.

Chicago White Sox: Whilst the last series with Chicago wasnt exactly a whitewash we still took the series 3-1. However Chicago are in a similar position to the Sox, they are 7 out of the division lead and would love to make a run at the top spot. Unfortunately having only 1 win in their last 10 games doesnt look good for them. Looks good for us though!

Baltimore (@ Fenway): The O's last 10 games is a bit of a red herring, not as bad as Chicago with 4 and 6, they have a dismal road record of 22-44 and sit on the bottom of the ALE ladder and have only won more games in the AL than Kansas City. The lads from Camden shouldn't be too much of a challenge but they are known to pull out a few upsets so we must be wary.

Tampa (@ Fenway): Hopefully this will be the last time we face Tampa in 2009. This series could prove to be an important one in the wild card race however. The Sox should expect the Rays to play this one like it was last years ALCS.

LA Angels of Wherever (@ Fenway): The Angels lack of success recently could continue on until this series. With Texas breathing down their neck with only 1 game between taking the wild card and taking the division the Angels will be pushing hard to keep their head above the water. They also have newly aquired pitcher Scott Kazmir in their rotation who has some success against the Sox in the past.

Baltimore: By this point in the season Baltimore is all but done, well, mathematically I'd say all is lost. We cant expect them to just roll over and play dead but I wouldnt think you would see much in the way of a fight from them at this point.

Kansas City: Currently the AL team with the worst record. Need I say more?

NY Yankees: Now this will be the showdown of the regular season. If the Sox can gain a few games between now and this series it could be the pivotal point for the winner of the AL East. Unfortunately the Yankees have a pretty good schedule for September and look to continue their success. However lets say they bomb a few games and we can get within 3 games of the lead then this is our chance to take the lead. Now the Yankees will obviously be going for gold (again) and wont give an inch, in the Bronx the pinstripes are boss and we can expect to get no favours as shown by the last series.

Toronto (@ Fenway): Back to Fenway to finish the season the canucks are coming down and hopefully we can come into this series with some momentum from a good series in NY. While Toronto isnt moving backwards they have dropped to such a place where all but an act of god is going to doom them to another bottom 2 finish in the AL East. Like Baltimore before, dont expect too much from them.

Cleveland (@ Fenway): Whilst mathematically they have a better chance of getting into the playoffs, the Indians hold a worse record than Toronto for the year and have been flat out horrible this season. I see the broom coming out to end the season, unless of course the wild card is safe in hand where we will probably see the Pawtucket Red Sox on the field to finish the year out.

So, does it look bad? Not at all! Quite an optimistic outlook for Sox fans everywhere. Obviously we would love to win the Division but post-season baseball is where Boston shines and like a walk is as good as a hit, a wild card slot is as good as a division winner slot. So get your jackets, scarves and beanies out Sox fans, Soxtober draws nigh.