they keep me humble. yes, they do.

i was all ready to set up shop here & gush over the Sox sweep of the Giants over the weekend. things like Julian directing traffic yet again, this time Barroid's humungo foul ball that just missed being a home run thanks to Yo-yo's (Julian self-proclaimed nickname) wild gesticulating, encouraging the ball to stay foul. things like wee Pedroia Pocket hitting a ball into the Monster seats. things like Manny showing major hustle (rocket power in those high red socks??) to avoid being part of a double play. things like Matsuzaka holding down the fort & pulling off a 1-0 win in his start. things like major bats for Lucky Number 49.

and then i was going to talk about the craziness. Julian's homemade blister remedy of crushed aspirin mixed with Red Bull applied to the abrasion. and the fact that he, this time intentionally, bowled the ball to Youk for the third out of an inning -- a *brilliant* decision, in my opinion, since from his position on the ground on the first base line, the runner was blocking any possible throw he might have made. and Big Papi getting ejected from Friday's game in the first inning. and our lead off hitters going 3-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch, and 5-for-5 with a home run & five RBI, respectively. oh yeah & did i mention our one-two men were JD Drew & Dustin Pedroia??

and i was going to smile as i remembered the ovations Dave Roberts got from the Fenway Faithful.

oh yes. i had plenty of happy to spread around.

then yesterday, in a 9-3 game, that included a home run for JD Drew, and *two* for Coco, one would assume that the Sox took advantage of the Yankees' off day to pick up an easy half game in the dwindling lead they have in the AL East.

one would also assume wrong.

c'mon Schill. three runs scored by your offense? Wakey would have turned that into a win! sometimes it takes him two games to see that much offensive production!

::sigh::

with our Ace suffering a little two-start slippage, let's hope our Ace-in-Waiting can get back to winning after his little hiccup last week, as Joshy attempts for the second time to join John Lackey as the only two AL pitchers with ten wins. please...