Broomin' the Bombers

Yes, I understand it's only April, but it feels a whole lot better saying "It's only April" after we've won three games from the Yankmees than if we'd lost them. And let's face it, the Sox really HAD to sweep the series considering the injury problems New York is struggling through. Which by the way reminds me, I don't remember hearing any qualifiers last August during "Boston Massacre II" when the Sox had to start the series with Jason Johnson and had to suffer through four games with Javy Lopez behind the plate with Tek on the shelf. As it was then, it is now. That's life. Suck it up. We won three games. Period.

So here are "Twenty Questions" to ponder as we "sweep" up the confetti from the glorious weekend.

1. Can the suckup national media New York apologists contort themselves any more than they did over the weekend looking for excuses for the Yankmee losses? Buster "I Love NY" Olney was talking on ESPN Radio this morning about how the Yankmee brass was concerned they would be crushed over the weekend but considering how close the scores were, Olney declared that the Yanks "had survived." Survived?!?!?! Buster, they lost ALL THREE GAMES!!! Did the Sox have to win four out of three to make it more definitive?

2. After watching Joe Torre panic this weekend, can we now agree that Terry Francona is the better manager? Pettitte on one day of rest? Rivera for five outs? Managing an April game like it was October?

3. With David Ortiz honoring Jackie Robinson Sunday night by wearing number 42, didn't you think for a fleeting instant as he crouched in the batter's box that the Sox had brought back Mo Vaughn for a cameo appearance?

4. Isn't it obvious that Josh Beckett has learned the hard lessons from last year and is now well on his way to harnessing his awesome stuff and becoming a devastating AL pitcher?

5. Even with a third of their starting lineup out with injuries, isn't the Yankmee lineup simply frightening? And with everyone healthy, doesn't the NY one through nine scare the bejesus out of you?

6. Which is the worse announcing team? Joe Buck/Tim McCarver or Jon Miller/Joe Morgan?
And the nominees are: Buck on Saturday "With Varitek struggling, many in Boston are clamoring for Doug Mirabelli to play more."
Morgan on Sunday night (With the Yanks putting the pressure on in the eighth down by a run and following a hit by Jorge Posada) "I just found out tonight I played with Posada's father in East Bumf***. He was quite a hitter."

7. Did you notice that after Dice K finally drilled ARod (what is Japanese for "the only Sox pitcher with stones"), Mr. April struck out his next two times up?

8. Even though the Yankmees lineup is still scary, wasn't it nice not seeing Gary Sheffield and his violent swings up there?

9. Despite the awesome New York lineup, don't you feel confident about a short post season series against them with the Sox pitching advantage? (Even with Mussina and Wang?)

10. Doesn't it look more and more like Roger Clemens will end up in the Bronx since he can more effectively pull off his "White Knight" routine with that joke of a staff?

11. Can we hope that Rivera has finally reached the tipping point and can no longer serve as the overrated Torre's binky and expose that staff once and for all?

12. Wouldn't you trade Manny ($20 mil), Mike Lowell ($9 mil) and Matt Clement ($9 mil) for ARod? They could do it next year, offer him $28 mil and still have $10 mil left over to take care of some other needs.

13. As Steve Buckley of the Herald pointed out Sunday morning, wouldn't you root for ARod to break Bonds single season homer run mark just to eliminate at least one Steroid Boy record from the books?

14. Aren't you getting the feeling that the Sox bullpen can be lights out this season?

15. Weren't you thrilled on Friday night when Tito went to Okijama in the ninth even though he had the putrid Joel Pinata warming up?

16. And speaking of Pinata, do you think he is really Matt Clement in disguise?

17. Aren't the Yankmees aggravating as they stand there at the plate and take pitch after pitch? Don't you love it when the Sox do that?

18. If Bobby Abreau is making $15 mil this year and $16 mil next year, what's wrong with J. D. Drew at $14 mil?

19. Do you think Wily Mo didn't make it five in a row Sunday night because he was using one of Coco Crisp's alleged bats?

20. What do you say, three more next weekend?

I can't wait.