As usual, THEY have the better team. THEY have found ways to win. THEY have done the little things, won the close ones, responded to challenges and met expectations. THEY have earned their money.

The New York Yankees return to Fenway Park tonight, and rarely has there been a season that better demonstrated the difference between Boston and New York. The Red Sox and Yankees enter a three- game weekend series with virtually identical statistics in every significant category - in more cases than not, the Sox are actually better - yet the Yankees are running away with the American League East while the Red Sox are running in place.