EASTERN DIVISION TROUBLES

The Red Sox dropped a 7-3 decision to the Baltimore Orioles this evening. Now most will look at this game and say the Red Sox missed an opportunity to pick up another game on division leading Tampa Bay. They could have pulled to within a half game of the lead. But let's keep this is a positive light on the surface. The Sox have won four of their last five to pick up 3 1/2 games. Tonight's loss was of the "nothing hurt" variety in that sense. Least we forget the All-Star break is still two days away.

But a look below the surface paints a different picture that needs to be airbrushed in a hurry!

The loss against the Orioles dropped the Red Sox record against eastern division foes to 18-19. That's right, the Red Sox who currently own the third best record in the American League has a losing record in their own division. Last season Boston finished with a 42-30 record in the division. The Rays by comparison are currently 24-17. Taking that comparison further, each team in MLB that is leading their respective divisions or within at least five games of the lead, only Boston has a losing record against its division rivals.

We need a recent history lesson to put this in perspective. Starting with the 2000 mlb season only one team in all of baseball has qualified for the post-season while posting a losing record within their own division. That lone team was the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, who won the World Series that season. However, that makes the count 1 of 72 teams to qualify for the post-season in that time frame while posting a losing record in its division. The odds are against Boston currently.

With two games left in this three-game series with Baltimore the Red Sox have 35 games left to play against their division rivals. That's 35 division games left in their 67 games yet to be played. The Red Sox play 20 of those 35 in Fenway Park.

So, the mission is fairly simple. Whether they are playing on the road or at Fenway Park the Red Sox have to start taking control of their division games if they hope to have a good shot at qualifying for the post-season. That seems like a pretty fair deal. Are the Sox up for it?