Math exercise: Boston is now 90-60. Oakland, 87-63. Anaheim, 85-66. Anaheim and Oakland have six games against each other remaining. How many games must Boston win to be assured the AL wild-card berth?

Let's see ... if Boston wins just four more games and goes 94-68 ... Anaheim would have to go 9-2 to tie at 94-68. But that'd mean winning at least four of its six remaining with Oakland. If Oakland only loses those four games and goes 8-4 it'd finish 95-67, still winning the division, and Boston and Anaheim would (I think) play a tiebreaker.

If Boston wins five more games, and finishes 95-67 ... Anaheim would have to go 10-1 to tie. That means winning five of six with Oakland ... those five loses mean the A's end up, at best, 94-68. So Anaheim would win the division, and Boston would get the wild card.

Hmm... but what if Texas goes 12-0, to finish 95-67? That'd mean taking two from Oakland ... but Oakland could still win the division. (Oakland and Texas have two games remaining against each other, tonight and tomorrow).

So as of this afternoon, Sox need to win six to clinch. ... The Boston Globe was right after all.