POLL: Pulse Check; Are the Red Sox Playoff-bound?

In the latest edition of the Firebrand poll, we asked: As a Red Sox fan, I think an NFL-style salary cap:

• would be good for MLB as a whole but might hurt the Red Sox

  70% of all votes

• would be bad for both MLB and the Red Sox

  22% of all votes

• would be good for MLB as a whole and the Red Sox in particular

  8% of all votes

Pretty consistent and in my opinion accurate assessment of how a Salary Cap would impact the MLB landscape and the Red Sox specifically.
New Poll (to the right): Cool Standings has the Red Sox with an 83.8% chance at making a postseason appearance (as of 8/12) with a 42.5% likelihood of overtaking the Rays in the A.L. East. Call it now, how will this pennant race play out?

• Watch out Rays, here we come and we’re taking the A.L. East title with us
• The Wild Card has treated us well in the past, bring on the Angels
• Close but no cigar, no playoffs (but at least we beat the Yankees)
• 3rd place in the A.L. East, what is this 2006?