It’s well past 3 a.m. on Sunday morning, and I’m just getting home from tonight’s Sox-Yankees game at Fenway. Only Boston and New York would play more than eight hours of baseball in one day. Two extra-inning games in a doubleheader, and they’re right back at it at 1:30 p.m. later today. Potentially, these teams will have about 11-12 hours of baseball played in a 24-hour span. Unreal.

Great win by the Sox in the nightcap. They may be out of the playoff picture, but when a team full of minor-league transplants prevents the defending world champs from taking control of the AL East, it’s a good night at the ballpark. Terry Francona deserves the AL Manager of the Year award. I don’t care that Boston isn’t going to the playoffs; he’s coached a team full of nobodies to 88 (or 89) victories. It’s remarkable. Just imagine what Boston would have done with Ellsbury, Pedroia and Youkilis in its lineup the entire season?  Or if Papelbon, Beckett or Lackey decided to earn their paychecks?

Also, I thought it was interesting to see “Thank You Mike” plastered on the Green Monster. I love Mike Lowell. He was the source of a lot of great memories here in Boston, most notably a World Series MVP performance in 2007. BUT… it seems a little odd for the Sox to honor him in such a blatant manner, just a few months after they relentlessly tried to trade him. Maybe it should have read “Thank You Mike For Not Being Mad at Us After We Treated You Like an Old Piece of Furniture We Couldn’t Get Rid of at a Tag Sale.”

So, here’s hoping the Sox snag the last game of the regular season and the Yanks have to open the playoffs at Minnesota. Although, I should mention that the Yanks can beat Boston and still finish second in the division if Tampa beats Kansas City.

By the way, my favorite moment of the game (by far) came in the fourth inning when Daniel Nava took home while A.J. Burnett was arguing with the first-base umpire. Epic fail by the Yankees. Talk about undisciplined baseball. No excuse for a mistake like that in Babe Ruth League, let alone the Majors. Couldn’t have been more thrilling to see it happen to the Yanks.

Enough about baseball.

WEEK 4 NFL PREDICTIONS

Some exciting storylines this weekend. Donovan McNabb returns to Philly, the Bears have a chance to remain undefeated by handing the Giants their third loss of the season, and two big divisional matchups with Pittsburgh-Baltimore and New England-Miami. I hate – absolutely HATE – picking against the Patriots, but I don’t have enough confidence in their defensive unit playing against a pretty solid Dolphins team on the road. I hope they prove me wrong.

SAN FRANCISCO AT ATLANTA: Pick – Falcons

CINCINNATI AT CLEVELAND: Pick – Browns

NEW YORK JETS AT BUFFALO: Pick – Jets

SEATTLE AT ST. LOUIS: Pick – Seahawks

DENVER AT TENNESEE: Pick – Titans

DETROIT AT GREEN BAY: Pick – Packers

BALTIMORE AT PITTSBURGH: Pick – Steelers

CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS: Pick – Saints

INDIANAPOLIS AT JACKSONVILLE: Pick – Colts

HOUSTON AT OAKLAND: Pick – Texans

WASHINGTON AT PHILADELPHIA: Pick – Eagles

ARIZONA AT SAN DIEGO: Pick – Chargers

CHICAGO AT NEW YORK GIANTS: Pick – Giants

NEW ENGLAND AT MIAMI: Pick - Dolphins

Last week: 8-8

Season Record: 27-21