A quick two with Boston starts tonight. Wang vs Bucholz start game one at the Stadium. Wang is coming off his masterful complete game two-hitter at Boston last Friday night. Mussina and Beckett are slated for the finale tomorrow night. It will be interesting to see how Mussina holds up going against the same high-octane Red Sox 2 times within a span of six days.

Anyone still making sense of Girardi's strategy of pitching to Manny last Saturday with a base open? That may have very well cost the Yankees that game. Would Joe Torre have pitched to Manny? Doubtful....

Who's tired of Michael Kay on the YES Network? Too egotistical and always right in his mind. I miss Bobby Murcer and Kim Kaat doing the games. I do like David Cone's perspective. Paul O'Neill does a nice job as well.

Jose Molina, Posada's backup who was forced out of Sunday's game with a tight left hamstring, is getting closer to returning. Chad Moeller started for the second straight game last night against the Rays. Molina threw and took BP but was held back from running.

Yankee players will have their lockers cleaned out by clubhouse staff after tomorrow night's game in order to prepare for Pope Benedict XVI's Sunday visit to Yankee Stadium. While the Pope will dress in the umpire's room, the church's cardinals will use the Yankees clubhouse.

Jeff Karstens, who is on the DL with a groin injury, plans to start throwing off a bullpen mound this week. Humberto Sanchez and Andrew Brackman, who are rehabbing with Karstens in Tampa, also are throwing on the mound. They are coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Still unsure when Jorge Posada will be able to play. Posada said Monday he was considering taking a cortisone shot and was suspected of getting a shot Saturday night in Boston when a Red Sox doctor visited him in the Fenway Park trainer's room. He made 40 long tosses yesterday and 13 from a distance that was about the same as from home plate to second base. Those throws had life on them.

Joba is still out with no return date while visiting his ailing father. According to Girardi, who spoke with Chamberlain yesterday, there was slight improvement with Harlan, who was struck with polio before he was a year old and uses a motorized scooter to get around.