Yeah, okay.  It's the Cubs again.  It's AL rules.  It's U.S. Commiskey Park.  Whatever.  I'm not really jacked because the Cubs are coming in.  The stakes are far higher this weekend than just bragging rights and civic pride.

What I am concerned about is a series going on to the north in Minnesota between the Twinkies and the Milwaukee Brewers.  The Twinkies have been red hot, winning nine in a row.  The Brewers have also been hot, going 17-6 in the month of June.  Both teams have some great young hitters and some exciting players.  The difference between the two is pitching.  While the Twins have some solid young starters as well as Joe Nathan at the back end of the bullpen, the Brewers have Ben Sheets and little else.  I know Seth McClung has been a nice story and Manny Parra and Jeff Suppan have been okay, but with the exception of Sheets, none of the starters scare you.  Especially Dave Bush, who has alternated between brilliant on some days and batting practice pitcher on others.

The Sox need the Brewers help this weekend to stave off a hostile takeover.

While Cubs and Sox fans renew their rivalry, the real drama is in the Roller Dome.  If the Twinkies sweep the Brewers (Minnesota won two of three last weekend) and the Sox can't hold serve, the Sox will be looking up at the Twinkies in the standings.  Add to that the resurgent Tigers, who are just two games below .500 and only five games out and suddenly you can feel the hot breath on the Sox necks.  Yes, I know the Sox control their own destiny, but after last weekends Cub domination, my confidence in them paying the Cubs back isn't all that high.  Can they win two of three, sure.  But a sweep?  I wouldn't bet on it.  And how joyful would Cub nation be if they swept the Sox again and knocked them out of first place to boot?  The thought sickens me.

Say what you want about the AL Central, it's going to be a bumpy ride between now and the end of September. 

It's not the Cubs this weekend, it's the next opponent.  The Sox must continue to win series if they plan to stay off the golf course in October.  And it's not just this one.  Before the All-Star break, the Sox must play the Indians, A's. Royals and Rangers and while the back half of that schedule looks good, the Indians are always tough and the A's are a legitimate wildcard contender. 

So, before you stick pins in a teddy bear, realize this series is bigger than the Cubs.  At the end of the weekend, the realistic possibility exists that this will not be a series between two first place teams anymore.