Heavyweight Title Fight all weekend long

If you're a baseball fan it doesn't get any better than this: After 159 games each we have Yankees v. Red Sox at Fenway for the final three. Up for grabs: The American League East Championship and possible Wild Card berth. One team definitely goes to the playoffs, both might even make it and possibly one team won't. Make no mistake, these teams respect each other but hate each other as much as the fans of each city do. They've been rivals since 1903.

Entering the weekend, the Yankees (94-65) have a one game lead in the standings over the Red Sox (93-66). Here are the scenarios, courtesy of espn.com.

Tiebreaker scenarios • Based on the outcomes of two weekend series:

AL

-- New York (94-65) at Boston (93-66)
-- Chicago (96-63) at Cleveland (93-66)

MONDAY

AL East title: Boston at New York

• If there's a three-way tie: Boston wins 2 of 3 over New York; Cleveland wins 2 of 3 over Chicago AL wild card: New York at Cleveland
• Boston sweeps New York
• Cleveland wins 1 of 3 over Chicago AL wild card: Cleveland at Boston
• Boston, Cleveland both get swept
• Boston, Cleveland both win 1 of 3 NL wild card: Houston at Philadelphia

TUESDAY

AL wild card: New York at Cleveland

• Boston wins 2 of 3 over New York; Cleveland wins 2 of 3 over Chicago; New York loses AL East tiebreaker Monday AL wild card: Cleveland at Boston
• Boston wins 2 of 3 over New York; Cleveland wins 2 of 3 over Chicago; Boston loses AL East tiebreaker to New York

NO TIEBREAKERS

• New York sweeps Boston; Cleveland wins 1 or more vs. Chicago
NY wins AL East; Cleveland wins AL wild card
• Boston wins 2 of 3 over New York; Cleveland wins 1 of 3 vs. Chicago
NY wins AL East; Boston wins AL wild card
• New York wins 2 of 3 in Boston; Cleveland sweeps Chicago
NY wins AL East; Cleveland wins AL wild card
• Boston sweeps New York; Cleveland wins at least 2 of 3 vs. Chicago
Boston wins AL East; Cleveland wins AL wild card
• Boston sweeps New York; Chicago sweeps Cleveland
Boston wins AL East; New York wins AL wild card

Of course, the scenario I'm hoping for is that the Red Sox win the AL East and Cleveland wins the Wild Card, which means the Yankees go home. Red Sox nation exorcised all of the Yankee Demons last year by winning the AL Championship Series in New York, after being down 3 games to none.

As I conclude this writing, the Red Sox have taken Round one, 5-3. See you tomorrow afternoon.