I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Winning against the Chowdas matters.

No, as Derek Jeter will be quick to point out, it doesn’t count more if we win these games than it does if we win against, say, the Royals.  Moreover, while they may pose our greatest threat for the division, we don’t necessarily need to beat them in order to remain ahead in the standings. (Though our current 2 and ½ game lead is dependent on our ability to do so.)

However, at a certain point, it’s a matter of pride.

Derek Jeter may not care about bragging rights, but Derek Jeter also makes tens of millions of dollars a year to do what he loves for a living.  For the rest of us plebs, the bragging rights are all we have to hold onto.

I could talk about how nice it would be to sweep this series, to win this series, hell, even to tie this series. However, given our current track record against the Chowdas for 2009, let’s just start with a game and take it from there.

Tonight’s match-up is Chamberlain vs. Smoltz.  Chamberlain is 7-2 for the season with a 3.58 ERA. Smoltz is 2-4 with a 7.12 ERA. Smoltz has been, well, struggling – to put it sympathetically.  Joba has only been getting better. (Don’t get Tim McCarver started on the Yanks’ plans to limit his innings for the seasons. According to Tim, “I could go on for a half day about it.”  He means it, too. Tim McCarver is a very literal person.) Moreover, we go into the series with the very momentum that the Chowdas are so sorely lacking after two crash and burn games against the Devs. Translation: If not tonight, then — good Lord — tell me when.

While I don’t doubt our ability to make it to the postseason whether or not we make good this coming weekend, it’s inevitable that the Chowdas will be around to haunt us come October. I, for one, would like to meet them in the fall with the assurance of at least a couple Ws under our belt.

Not to mention the fact that I have these misguided cousins who cheer for Boston, and my ability to keep in contact with them hinges on how the Bombers make out during this series. And I like my cousins. After all, blood is thicker than mud.

But not quite as thick as chowda.