We were worse off a year ago, I dom't know if we'll make it to the playoffs this year w/ this hole but I know it's way too early to give up.

We have played 88 games so far:

2007: 44-44, 9 games out in L column for div, 7 games out in L column for WC
2008: 46-42, 10 games out in L column for div BUT only 4 out in the L column for the WC.

We are in better shape and as great as Tampa has played I'd rather be 10 games behind them than 9 behind Boston like we were a year ago. Tampa just might run away this division but this is the first time in a pennant race for most of these guys so I feel more comfortable chasing them than a Sox team that had won a Championship 3 years earlier.