they came. they saw. we conquered.

let's start with Friday, shall we?

1. that was one really bad call by the umpires which robbed JD Drew of a home run. it was clearly above the home run mark on the Monster. bad. *bad* umpires. it *is* good to see Drew hitting again though.

2. at one point during the game, NESN showed Manny's family--his wife & kids--sitting in the Monster seats. i know that tickets to Fenway aren't cheap to come by these days, but you would think he could have gotten them better seats than *that*. even if they wanted to be near where he plays in left field, there must be *something* closer to than Monster seats.

3. i love the way Tek makes an awesome catch fielding a pop up in the fifth and then acts all nonchalant about it, like it's no big deal.

4. 10 Ks for Joshy. *ten*. maybe he & Matsuzaka need to start up a friendly competition...

5. karma on that first-inning terrible call is a bases-loaded triple by Coco. how do you like *them* apples?!

6. reason #4923 why Papi should not dive: he is such a massive presence that he gets stuck in the divot his enormous body makes when it hits the ground. that & the shoulder strain he suffered as a result. i was going to let it slide (ha!) at first, since it was so good to see my boys playing with some fire again & then they had to pull him out of the game.

7. Julio F Lugo still has Youk's bat. i will give him an atta-boy for the grand slam. but he's still not getting any love from this girl. appreciation, yes. love, no. at least he's doing something productive with Youk's bat. about time he returns though, i'm thinking.

8. Coco really has acclimated well to playing CF in Fenway. i love watching him zoom all over the place, reading the ball, catching it & getting rid of it quickly.

9. welcome back, Mike Timlin. it's good to finally have you back in 2004 form.

10. the Other Sox have a reliever named Ehren Wasserman. Ehren. i will never understand why parents feel the need to get creative with names. you know he's spent his whole life spelling it out for people when they write "Aaron."

11. ten hits. ten runs. now that's what i'm talking about!

now, Saturday.

1. so. how 'bout that Kason Gabbard, huh? who knew?? Mr Schilling? i hope you've got a back up plan, because the chances are looking more & more slim that you'll be getting the offer you want from Boston in 2008... you have our hearts for the way you pitched in 2004, but youth trumps age sometimes. unless you're willing to sign a deal like Wakey has, i'm thinking we'll be remembering you fondly, and giving you a hero's welcome when you make your first visiting trip back to the Fens.

2. Dan, my friend, i feel your bullpen woes. i watched your relievers kill you over & over, and all i could remember was how sick i felt last year when i saw someone reach for *our* bullpen phone. that seventh inning was brutal. seven Boston runs scored, but *three* of them were walked in. if i'm not mistaken, i think Ozzie might be popping antacids like Tito pops bubble gum and sunflower seeds.

3. the umpires really had a bad series. another bad call against the hometown boys. this time Mike Lowell was called out at home. turns out on replay, it was a phantom tag. AJ blocked the plate but he never made contact with Lowell to tag him out.

4. Youk has his ass-wiggle. Matsuzaka has his little hoppy-skippy step. Big Papi spits on his hands. Coco? for Coco, it's his cornrows. have cornrows, will hit. 3-for-4 with five RBI. keep 'em in this time Coco!

5. do you know the last time Youk had an error at first base? July 4th. of 2006. =O

6. 11 hits. 11 runs. they're finally getting it! dear God... please save something for Wakefield on Sunday...

and speaking of Sunday.

1. i have so missed Manny hitting home runs. confession: i actually enjoyed the sight of him admiring his three-run shot into the Boston bullpen.

2. haven't i mentioned how much i love the knuckleball? i do. and i love that the White Sox have a knuckler in their bullpen.

3. did they just say JON LESTER is starting Monday?? WTH...?

3. Papi is not playing for the second game in a row since he messed up his shoulder diving into 2B on Friday. they are saying we may not see him til Wednesday now. not cool, Big Man. get thee better soon! and stop trying to be Coco, diving around!

4. Youk took his bat back. i can tell.

5. another three-run blast into the Monster seats for Mike Lowell. got that contract ready yet, Theo? we're waiting...

6. i am hearing rumors of Javier Lopez getting shipped back to Pawtucket to make room for Lester tomorrow. i guess that means i heard right about Lester coming back. i am not sure sending Lopez down is the right move though (you know, with all my professional baseball managerial experience & all)... no offense Pineiro, but you've been out weakest link out there, thus far.

7. holy crap. the Yankees scored 45 runs over three games?! ::deep breaths:: they're only playing Tampa... they're only playing Tampa...

8. Mr Papelbon. you damn near stopped my heart in my chest giving up two singles and a walk to load the bases with Thome stepping up. i will thank you not to do *that* again.

9. Red Sox scored eight runs for Wakefield. hugs for everyone. except Lugo. just a pat on the back for him. sorry, just can't make myself like him.

so... Jon Lester gets the start on Monday in Cleveland. it was Joel Pineiro sent to the showers after all (i do feel bad for him...) and Julian, good little team player that he is, moves graciously to the bullpen. i hope they cheer him every time he gets a call into a game. i also hope Lester is ready for this. i want so badly for him to succeed. not that he hasn't already won the battle of his life just getting back this far after being diagnosed with cancer ten months ago. but i want him to go out there & be the Lester we watched last year, slack-jawed with surprise.

here's to Lester triumphant!!