All right, so we jumped the gun a little. Last week this column predicted the imminent demise of the Free-World-leading Red Sox at the hands of none other than the Yankees and Brewers. Well, Somebody up there clearly has a bone to pick with us (it could have something to do with missing Mass last week), 'cause the locals turned right around to sweep the New Yorkers and take two of three from the bloated beer-swillers from the Great Midwest. And all you Don Zimmer fans out there had a chance to chuckle and shine up your magnetic baseball caps and write us nasty letters about how maybe we should take lessons from the Amazing Kreskin. Well, you could be right, but don't go out and mortgage the family farm so you can buy World Series tickets, because the Bosox aren't running away with anything just yet.

The Brewers will be back in town after being pummeled by the now-second-place Yankees (seven games back at this writing), and it's only a matter of time before they break out of their current slump. Time and, just maybe, another look at that big green beauty in left field, which seems made to order for the likes of Stormin' Gorman Thomas (no relation to tennis star Tom Gorman), who is only two behind hot-dog-and-bacon czar Jim Rice in the race for the league home run title. Thomas's teammate, Larry Hisle, is only one tater behinf Rice, so look for the long ball in this series.

Also look for at least a couple of Beirmeister wins. The way the Bosox struggled against the formerly major-league Cleveland Indians this week indicates some real softness in their pitching staff, and the tribulations of former hitter George Scott look like they could be contagious.

When you look for all these things, though, you'll probably be looking at them from over the airwaves, because spacious Fenway Park (the only American League park that doubles as a glove compartment in the off-season) is sure to be sold out. Saturday's and Sunday's games--both afternoon affairs--will come to you courtesy of Dick Stockton, Hawk Harrelson and the rest of the T.V. 38 crew, but the night games tonight and Monday are blacked out. Of course, you could get there early and gamble for bleacher seats, but only if you remember to bring along a pair of boxing gloves and an attack dog.

The going should be easier on Tuesday, when the fallen California Angels fly into town for a three-game set. Despite the labors of star hurlers Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana, as well as the financially bewildering batting heroics of transfer student Lyman Bostock, the Angels look as if they'd have trouble selling out Science Center B this year. They also look like they'll lose to the Red Sox a lot this week.

Boston's other teams haven't been burning up the turf either. The New England Tea Men took it on the chin (or is it shin?) twice this week: first striker Mike Flanagan lost the league scoring title to New Yorker Giorgio Chinaglia, and then the Fort Lauderdale Strikers struck the team from the playoffs. We're not sure which is sadder, but it still means an end to pro soccer around these parts for quite a few months.