Questions I am entitled answers to

#1 How inferior is the National League to the American League?

John Smoltz, Joel Pinero, and Brad Penny all struggled for the Sox and now are doing quite well in that other league. I know the Phillies are the defending champs but ...

#2 Will the Yankees be as dominant in a seven game playoff series as they have been in the regular season?

They are nearly forty games above .500. Outside of Sabathia, their starting pitching is suspect. Burnett, Joba, and Pettite should not strike fear in anyone.

#3 When will the Red Sox get an above average shortstop?

I know they won in 2004 and 2007 with average shortstops but that position has been a hole every since Nomar hurt his wrist. I do appreciate what Alex Gonzalez has done this year.

#4 Does a pitcher deserve a fine for not working fast enough?

Papelbon has been fined at least five times for taking too much time in between pitches and when he enters a game from the pen. If you were Papelbon would you accept the fine and continue your routine or change and risk being uncomfortable?

#5 Do the Sox have the wild card in hand?

Twenty-nine games left and a three game lead. Texas is without their best player Michael Young for about two weeks. Sox play twenty of their remaining games against teams with losing records.

#6 Are Josh Beckett's recent struggles a major concern?

Four straight poor outings. His velocity is still there but he is giving up an alarming amount of home runs.

#7 Should the Red Sox re-sign Jason Bay to a four year contract worth forty-four million dollars?

That is about how much it is going to cost to bring him back. Matt Holliday and Johnny Damon among others will become a free agents this winter.

Readers ... Feel free to offer your opinions to the questions above.