boston did it last year when they were pretty much a lock for the playoffs, even though everyone was crapping their pants when the yankees made a run and got within 3 games of the sox. they went to a 6-man rotation to give daisuke, schilling and beckett more rest, and okajima pitched only half as many innings as he did in most other months. plus they started giving manny, ortiz and varitek more days off. it's a forward-thinking plan that can pay big dividends down the road.