The dog days of August are here.

There are seven weeks left in the baseball season, a little more than a quarter of the 162-game marathon remaining. It’s not quite the final stretch run, but the last leg is in sight.

Regardless of the final outcome, it has been another remarkable season for the Red Sox. After sweeping Texas to start the week, they had built their biggest lead in the A.L. East since 1995. There’s a lot of baseball to play, but the defending champs have positioned themselves well.

Remember this past winter? The heady days after we could finally say the Red Sox were World Champions? It was an uncertain time for Sox fans, who wondered if the team would keep its same hold on the region once it shed its “loveable loser” reputation.

One hundred, fifteen games into the campaign, it appears safe to say the Sox have done more than keep their hold on the region, they’ve tightened that vicelike grip.

Has there ever been a team that provides more nightly drama than the 2005 Red Sox? How can we stay away from the irresistible pull of this team? They’ve forged a stranglehold on the division, while the Yankees’ pitching staff continues to crumble (physically, at least.)

If there were ever any doubts we’d still obsess over this team, they can now be put to rest. This isn’t just a first-place team, it’s a compelling division leader. It’s not just that they’re on top of the heap, it’s how they’ve gotten there.

In 2005, the daily news and notes on the Sox have been as remarkable as the box scores. We’ve watched as the closer went down, the ace became the closer, and the reigning World Series MVP almost get traded. We’ve followed along as players have arrived and helped (Tony Graffanino, Gabe Kapler.) We’ve seen other players come and go without making an impact (Jose Cruz, Jr.) We watched in horror while a motionless Matt Clement went down. We marveled at his quick return.

And if that weren’t enough, we’ve seen the Yankees continually struggle through injuries and an underperforming roster. We’ve seen George Steinbrenner call his team – and its manager – out on the carpet.

Could the best still be yet to come? Yes, it could. Obviously, the end couldn’t be any better than what we experienced last fall, but this year’s trip to the post-season could be even better than the 2004 run. All year long, we’ve been waiting for the Yankees to get going. It still hasn’t happened. Not only are they trailing the Sox in the East, but they also have fallen well back in the Wild Card Standings. In case you didn’t notice, Cleveland just came back from an unbeaten road trip, and began the weekend with a better record than New York.

For the first time in three years, the Wild Card is not the automatic consolation prize for the loser of the Sox/Yankees feud. This year, the loser of the AL East horse race might be watching the playoffs at home.

Yes, we’re “all in” once again. The Sox are more compelling than ever, and it promises to be another wild ride from now through the start of October. With a little bit of luck, the ride could again go even longer.

Lewiston native Tom Caron covers the Red Sox for NESN.