The Rocket in Fenway Park pitching for the Yankees. It still doesn’t seem right.

Pedro Martinez got the Sox off to a great start with his 3-1 victory Thursday night against the Bronx Bombers.

Maybe Pedro is exorcising the Curse of the Bambino by challenging to drill The Babe in the butt if he faced him in a game.

Can Clemens get victory number 288 tonight?

Are the Yankees going to need more pitching help with David Wells and El Duque nursing back injuries?

Let’s see?

Clemens has pitched much better than I thought he would. The man is a marvel. He is still a dominating power pitcher.

He is still a groin pull away from disaster.

The fans in Fenway have never forgiven him for heading north to Toronto, when in reality GM Dan Duquette forced Roger’s hand by not negotiating in good fatih with him.

Sounds like the Jason Giambi story all over again.

If the ownership of the A’s would have handled the early talks with Giambi on a more positive level, reading the market correctly, Giambi would still be an Athletic today.

Boston is simply giddy over the start by the Sox.

Pitching is the name of the game. Both these teams are getting the job done right now.

Beware it’s only May 24th.

We haven’t gotten into the dog days of summer.

Heck, we haven’t even gotten into summer yet.

Baseball season’s take many curious twists between July first and September first.

Boston with its history of failure shouldn’t count their chickens before they hatch.

Derek Lowe is off to the greatest start of his life. He has never started for a complete season. Who knows what he will feel like in August after 25 starts?

John Burkett struggled through last September so badly, that the Braves wouldn’t consider resigning the righty.

Frank Castillo and Darren Oliver don’t conjure up thoughts of Early Wynn and Bob Feller.

Pedro is outstanding, but Boston holds its breath every time he goes to the mound, hoping his shoulder won’t act up.

The Red Sox are talking about bringing in struggling lefty Mike Hampton from Colorado for the summer.

Darren Oliver, the Yankee killer goes Sunday. If Oliver gets hit hard, the natives will be asking for Hampton and his 121 million dollar contract, pronto.

Good luck if they get him.

Point being: It ain’t over in May. There still is a lot that can happen.

The Yankees are looking for outfielders and pitching. Andy Pettitte is no lock to be healthy this year. Wells and El Duque make George Steinbrenner nervous.

Who knows where this race will end up?

One thing is for sure, there is no better baseball being played in the American League, than what is taking place in Fenway this weekend.

But it sure ain’t over just yet. Boston fans better buckle their seat belts, this flight has some bumps left in it.

Other news: Mark Mulder is still rehabbing. Anyone who says anything different, didn’t see the lifeless pitches he threw yesterday against the Orioles.

Cory Lidle sounds like his fifteen day vacation may be coming to an end, declaring himself 100% fit, both mentally and physically.

What does that mean?

One columnist specualted that A’s pitching coach Rick Peterson’s job may be in jepoardy.

Peterson developed this entire young staff in the major leagues, not an easy job.

Nothing is uglier in baseball, than fingerpointing when times are rough.

Some other games today:

Chan Ho park tries again for Texas. Where ever he calls home seems to be a tonic for his pitching, whether it be Texas or LA. He’s on the road tonight in Kansas City against Jeff Suppan. If you follow my logic, this could be another rough night for the 65 million dollar man.

Ramon Ortiz leads the Angels against the struggling Twins. The Angels are hitting and the Twins are a different team on the road. Junk baller Rick Reed could be in for a tough game.

The A’s have hit Paul Wilson very hard in the past. Can Tim Hudson have another poor outing? For Art Howe’s sake, I hope not.

Oriole Scott Erickson told me his velocity is slowing coming back after arm surgery in 2000. I know he wants to pitch well tonight because he anticipates a July trade to a contender and Seattle needs a veteran starter for the playoffs.

Mark Buerhle against Steve Sparks. Two good pitchers in Comiskey. A White Sox win and a Twins loss, puts the Sox in first. Could happen tonight.

The Mets Shawn Estes has pitched extremely well without results to show for it. The Marlins are in a free fall and I don’t think phenom Josh Beckett can get them out of it in the first game of the series in New york. This series is the end of a four city road trip for the Marlins, and they are ready to go home.

Take a deep breath, we haven’t hit summer yet.