Strength of schedule doesn't really apply in baseball. What does apply is the unfairness of an unbalanced schedule when you've got teams competing with other divisions for 2 wild card spots but only play them 6 times.
Some of us still remember the "Who's your Daddy?" chants. Yeah, 2004 made up for some of it, but I don't know many Sox fans who would say they don't see a difference in losing to the Yankees or another team.