If that's the reasoning, it doesn't exactly work. How'd the Sox fare against Minnesota last year? Not well, IIRC. This Sox team is doing a pretty good job against Minnesota in 2004. Things change.
Hell, I know some of you don't want to accept it, but maybe Frank has changed for the better too. Nah, that's not possible; Frank will forever be the crabby player he was a couple of years ago. Just because you don't want to believe it, doesn't mean it's not true.