I think my daughter is a bit of a savant when it comes to the Red Sox. During the late innings of Sunday's game she started to sing "Clean Up, Clean Up Everybody Everywhere..." a popular children's song from Barney. Not yet two, she understood the meaning of sweep.

Indeed, everybody did their share. The starting pitchers kept the team in every game. And the offense is alive.

I wonder what people are saying about the Bronson Arroyo/Wily Mo Pena trade now. Pena is batting .319 with three home runs and 13 rbis. He looked magnificent in center - a position where one can get a better jump on the ball.

Don't be thinking that Pena is an everyday outfielder. Once Coco Crisp returns, Pena is back in a platoon role with Trot Nixon in right. There really is no debating it. In fact, Nixon has been hitting so well lately Terry Francona decided to use him against lefty Eric Bedard this weekend. This season, Nixon is hitting .313 against southpaws.

But for now, and at least the next week, we'll see a lot mo' of Wily Mo.

The pen also has been stepping up, aside from Julian Tavarez, who seems to give up at least one run every time he takes the mound.

I wish we could play Baltimore everyday. Their lineup does have some star power and threats to be sure, but there are many holes throughout the roster that will enable any team to exploit the weaknesses.

If you are an Oriole fan, you have got to be a bit upset with the way things have changed. Last year at this time the Orioles were in first place with a 20-9 record, looking down on the rest of the field. A few injuries and a steriod user later, the team finished just ahead of Tampa Bay for the worst record in the East. I'd be surprised if Baltimore could hold off the Devil Rays this year.

The pitching is atrocious. Before the game even started on Sunday, Kris Benson looked as though he was kicked in the stomach. Then he started to pitch. Before the fifth inning was over, the Red Sox had posted nine runs - all earned.

Bedard met a similar fate on Saturday. Only Rodrigo Lopez gave his team a fighting chance, but he couldn't keep the momentum running into some major problems in the sixth.

The Red Sox are finally hitting like I expect them to.

The timing couldn't be more perfect

as the team travels to the Bronx for a three-game series against the Yankees.

This should be something special. Both teams are in a dead heat for first place. And after some minor tweaking to the rotation, the Sox are putting their best arms forward.

Josh Beckett will finally get his chance versus the Yankees on Tuesday night. Curt Schilling gets the call on Wednesday and Tim Wakefield, who seems to pitch particularly well in Yankee Stadium, goes on Thursday.

The Beckett outing is the one I'm especially interested in. He goes up against Randy Johnson. Johnson has pitched well. His WHIP is 1.16, but his ERA is an unlucky 5.02.

The Red Sox traditionally do not hit well against the power pitcher. Jason Varitek leads the regulars with a .278 batting average. Manny has had some success. Of his seven hits, three have been long balls. Still, he only has those seven hits for a .194 average against with 11 rbis. Could be a long night.

The good news, the Yankees haven't hit Beckett well either. Beckett could have had two wins during the 2003 Series if the pen could have held on. As it was, he struck out 19 in 16.1 innings, only allowing two runs in those two starts. He pitched a complete, decisive Game 6.

Oh this will be good; I can't wait.

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