As mlb.com points out, a win against the Tigers today clinches the Central for the Sox. The best Cleveland could then do is tie, and the tiebreaker goes to Chicago. (It would be impossible for BOTH the Red Sox and the Yankees to catch Chicago after a White Sox win today.)

If Chicago does clinch today, the games in Cleveland turn meaningless for them. They're still plenty meaningful for Cleveland, though. Would the White Sox play their regulars, as St. Louis did against Houston? Hm.

Pull Small early? And replace him with what? ;-)

Casey,

Chicago would clinch the division, but not home field throughout the playoffs. So Chicago is playing for that.

Rbj, the answer is something bigger. :-)

True on home field advantage. But after all the choke stories of the past few weeks, I have to believe the Sox will party hearty if they win this afternoon.

If they do win, it's hard to believe that Chicago would just roll over in Cleveland and play a bunch of scrubs. But they'll probably try to protect their staff as much as possible and set things up for the postseason. Which could give an advantage to the Indians as they try for the wild card.

Or the Indians may just be playing so tight now - a 1-0 loss to one of the worst pitchers in the league? - that it won't make much difference what Chicago does.

Guillen sits Iguchi and Crede - his #3 and #4 OPS guys after Konerko and Dye. But it doesn't seem to matter much as the Sox jump out to a 3-0 lead in the second. Everett doubles home two and Podsednik hits a sac fly for the third.

Apologies to Carl: he hit a triple, not a double. Garcia is not having too many problems with the Tigers, 3-0 after three.

Konerko launches his 40th to make it, appropriately enough, 4-0. The Sox can see the promised land as Garcia continues to roll with the shoutout through six.

Well, there might well be some shouting out after the game. But that should be "shutout."

The Red Sox just acquired Mike Stanton for the sole purpose of having him face the Yankees this weekend. I'm not really sure why the Sox would give up two arms for Stanton. He can't pitch that effectively, and the Yanks are neutralized if a lefty comes in. Giambi and Cano aren't awful against lefties (.250/.260 respectively), and Matsui is hitting over .300 vs. lefties.

"The Red Sox just acquired Mike Stanton"

Is there an official anouncement somewhere?

YOU FORGOT THE ASTROS/CUBS GAME!!!!!

there is more to baseball than the **** AL!!!!!!!!!

David, bigger isn't always better.

Jason: Try ESPN.com. I hear they're pretty good with official announcements.

How often to people get traded this late in the season? I guess I can see why they want him, but isn't it a little extreme to trade for a guy for one weekend of games? Or are they gonna pick his brain for a bunch of insider info?