While harsh, that's what everyone was thinking.

Friday: Wang vs. Jason Johnson
Friday night: Ponson (?) vs. Jon Lester
Saturday: The Big Unit vs. Upper-Deck Beck
Sunday: Moose vs. Schilling
Monday: Lidle vs. Wells

Ponson is still tentative. It looks like Andy Phillips is headed for the DL, which means the Yanks get to call up yet another pitcher. Karstens?

It won't be Aaron Small. He started tonight in Columbus...and got lit up.

MiLB doesn't do pitch counts. I hope he didn't throw too many.

As far as the more worrisome present, I would feel fine with winning 2 or 3 out of 5. If we could win 2 out of the first 4, I wouldn't even mind losing the last game if it's a blowout and we don't destroy our bullpen. Enduring another Wright start against the Mariners and Meche with a bombed out bullpen is not any Yankee fan's idea of fun.

If there's a silver lining to the way the schedule shakes out for us this month, we potentially get more of a "reprieve" with the Mariners after the weekend, while the Sox have to go to Anaheim and face the Halos. Then again, we just don't seem to be able to blow out opponents these days, so none of our games seem to provide a real breather.

If Wang loses and it could be scary with the Aruban Ace pitching the 2nd and then Randy and Mussina matched against Beckett and Schilling....

So yeah, I'm mainly concerned about getting away from Fenway with 2-3 wins and arms still attached to our pitchers. Last time I checked, we still have 14 games in 15 days after five games in Fenway.

I'll panic if we lose 5 this weekend, and celebrate (maybe) if we win 4 or 5. Otherwise, I prefer to focus long term. This weekend is for the fans and media...the division isn't going to be decided by Monday afternoon.

(Line stolen from "The Karate Kid".)

I see that everyone is saying they would be OK with 2 or 3 out of 5, but for me, anything less than 4 is a disappointment, and I think this is the right time for the Yanks to serve notice and sweep. I believe the Yanks are the better team, but they need to go out and prove it. The pitching has been pretty solid, especially if you compare us with Boston, and the lineup is pretty much stocked from top to bottom, even with Bernie at DH. The Yanks just need to put it all together.

The team can go out this weekend and let Boston hang around a little longer, or they can step on their necks and put the AL East essentially out of reach. The Yanks have had chances in the last week or so to put some distance between them and the Sox, and they have failed to do it. Now is the time for the bats to wake up and get timely hits, and for all of the pitchers to step up and produce like they can. I want to see Boston fans crying come Tuesday.

More Karate Kid:

"Strike first, strike hard, no mercy!"

You do realize that you are quoting the bad guys who end up losing. How about "Breathe in nose, breath out mouth." or "Wax on, Wax off"? Ok, maybe stick with the other quotes...

I'm greedy. I want to see the Yanks take the Red Sox apart and completely demoralize them. Have David Ortiz strike out 4 or 5 times in a big situation. See Curt Schilling and Papelbon get lit up for lots of runs. Even have Sir Ponson throw a CG shutout. I think this Red Sox team is ready to fall apart, and the Yanks just need to give them a good shove off the cliff.