It's already been an amusing morning. Probably has something to do with all of us being stir crazy -- too many Yankees-Red Sox games in too short a period, I'd guess.

The session with Terry Francona was scheduled for 10 a.m., but when we arrived we were told by media relations guru John Blake that it had been postponed because mass was being held in the room in which he usually does his media meetings in New York. That, of course, begged certain questions that likely would get me in trouble here.

Suffice it to say that Mike Lowell was asked if God should take precedence over Francona, he replied, "Yes. At least for half an hour."

Around 10:30 a.m. or so, Francona walked into the clubhouse, looked around for Blake and, when he couldn't find him, decided to call the media session himself.

But when he walked into the interview room, there was an altar -- would that be the correct terminology, forgive me if it's not -- in the place where a table normally is. Deciding that it wouldn't be appropriate, nor particularly comfortable, Francona helped pull his normal table over from the corner.

"I've sat in a lot of chairs," he said. "That's one I never thought I would."

He then answered all three questions from the probing -- and a bit weary -- Boston media.

Hard-hitting session today, clearly.

Two notable changes to the lineup, which Francona addressed, in Eric Hinske and Alex Cora.

"I talked to J.D. the other day about two in a row," Francona said. "Does it do you good? Does it not help you? He goes, 'That's what they did last year in LA. It really got my legs under me. These last couple days have been rough swinging the bat anyway. I wanted to find a place for Hinske to play today. It doesn't ensure a guy's going to get hits but there's a good track record there."

Hinske has some incredible numbers against Yankees start Chien-Ming Wang, plus right field in Yankee Stadium isn't an overwhelming defensive assignment, so Francona felt comfortable giving the struggling J.D. Drew (hitless in his last 11 at bats, 4-for-31 over the last eight games) two straight days off, with the off-day tomorrow. Hinske is hitting .625 (10-for-16 with two homers) off Wang. Other Sox with good numbers off him? David Ortiz is 8-for-17 for a .471 average with 5 RBI. Manny Ramirez, who is mired in quite a slump himself, has hit .692 (9-for-13) with 2 home runs and 5 RBI.

And, with that, the lineups...

Red Sox

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Eric Hinske, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Alex Cora, 2B

SP - Julian Tavarez

Yankees

1. Johnny Damon, CF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jason Giambi, DH
6. Hideki Matsui, LF
7. Jorge Posada, C
8. Robinson Cano, 2B
9. Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B

SP - Chien-Ming Wang