Sox Looking Good - But Does It Matter?

OK, I watched my first full five innings of a Red Sox Spring Training game yesterday—Ho Hum.

Brad Penny got off to a rusty start, gave up a few runs in the first and then pitched three more scoreless innings. Not bad for a guy who is vying for the No 5. starter's roll.

On the other side of the field, we had surgically repaired superstar Fracisco Liriano for the Twins, who looked un-hittable, until he wasn't, and then he looked like, well, a normal guy getting killed by the Red Sox batters.

Does it matter?

Well, yes and no.

At this point, we do not have any key injuries or holes, so that does matter in the sense that we have no "built- in" negatives going into the season. I still want to see how The Big Sashimi (Dice K) bounces back from his WBC work.

I am not sure if Lowell is going to be his same old—er young—self at third base after his offseason surgery. He did, however, make a play at third yesterday that erased any doubt about his fielding prowess. He just needs to get the hitting back.

The "If Come bet" we placed on Smoltz is looking very good, so good that we can take him back very very slow.

Man, can you imagine a healthy and firing-on-all-cylinders John Smoltz to pull out of the bag in June or July? I can see it now:

One of our starters needs a little rest, I guess we'll just have to make due with this guy. I wonder how the rest of the AL East will feel about that.

Papi looks good, but with a bit less pop; however, I do think his best attribute thus far, his clutch hitting, is still there.

OK, I am looking at the Sox and they look really, really, really Good. In fact, they look great, but they don't look like a lock, which to tell the truth, is a good thing.

Last year's lock was the Detroit Tigers—and we all saw how that worked out.

It is a long season, so lets take a look at it again come the All Star Break. But with that said, you have to say with the way things look now, there is a fairly large gape between the top three teams in this division—Sox, Rays, Spankees—and the rest of the AL.

The pressure, you have to think, is on the Spankees; they spent so much money—a considerable amount with Clients of the Great Satan Uber Agent Scott Borass—that you can't help but think they have extreme expectations to live up to. CC usually chokes in the postseason, so if the Spanks do make it to the postseason, we have that to look forward to.

Anyway,it is just too early to tell, but one this is for sure: it is going to be great to watch the race. Now if I could only find a good chair...

CURT SCHILLING RETIRES

Bloody Sock and all - Curt Schilling Announced his retirement today. Should be a first ballot Hall of Famer. This would be the case for me if he didn't do anything except pitch and win those 2 games in the 2004 playoffs against the Yankees and the Cardinals to bring Boston their first World Series in 86 years. The guy made 2 starts - each with about 55 stitches in his ankle, and proceeded to only allow 8 hits and one run in 13 innings.

A much better pitcher than public relations manager, Curt never missed an opportunity to speak his mind, most of the time he held his own, but some of the time his passions got the better of him, usually when he just spoke his mind. He at times alienated teammates, but much more often than not the guy was dead on right. He took on many subjects which most people shied away from discussing.

For me it was refreshing - agree with him or not at least you know where he stands. As people in general go he was much more well spoken than average - as a Base Ball Player it makes him the "Grand Puba" of the Toast Masters. I mean lets face it the combination of speaking ability and athletic prowess are not often matched together. Guys like Johnny Damon have difficulty discussing the weather let alone some of the issues that Curt tackled.

TEAM USA GOES DOWN IN FLAMES

Short and to the point. They won games when they had the Red Sox Players on their team - as soon as Lil Dusty and The Youk left the team with injuries they lost. How they let Oswalt stay in the Game to give up 5 Runs in the 3rd Inning is be-frigging-yond me.

Also a side note - is it just me or did Dice K Put on 40 lbs in the off season?

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig! FROM THE DOODLE

Hope everyone ate their Lucky Charms This Morning, and if you happen to be an Arsenal Player who is taking on Hull this afternoon (Chicago / Milwaukee Time) in the FA Cup - then stick with the Wheaties.

Ah, St Patrick's Day, and what a lovely day it is going to be weather wise - apparently both here in the MKE (70 Fahrenheit) and in Dublin - at least it looked like a great day on the Today show this morning, although I have a bit of difficulty believing Al Rooker is really Irish - but today we all are.

A Special St. Patrick's Day Greeting to the Arseblogger the Irish Patron St. of Football- who hales from the fine city of Dublin and writes a most excellent blog. Also a special St. Patrick's Day Greeting to my Brother-in-Law - David H. Now Dave is an American, but he works with a number of Europeans and he has been trying to convince me that everyone he meets in Europe hates Arsenal. I keep telling him he is doing business with the wrong people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today it is Hull in the FA cup. Not going to say much about the match - I am getting mixed reports on whether Arshavin will be able to play with the injury he got during the Blackburn game, which required about 5 stitches on his ankle to close a cut. I would recommend he take a look at this Curt Schilling article from back in 2004 and act accordingly.

And Finally this morning an interesting article and photos from a charity event in London. First pointed out to us by SpanishFry from Arsenal FC Blog

Another Poor Choice. - But one we are Happy About.... And that is Change we can live with - or at least stand in the Cheese line with.

Portuguese will become First Dog at the White House

.........Michelle Obama reveals the choice in an interview with People magazine. There had been talk of a Labradoodle, but no longer. Part of the attraction of both breeds is they shed only sparingly, helping Malia, who is prone to allergies. "From the size perspective, they're sort of the middle of the road," Mrs Obama said. "It's not too small, but it's not a huge dog. And the folks we know who own them have raved about them."..............................

For a While there it looked like we were going to have to Change from the Arsenal Labradoodle to the Arsenal Poodadore.

THE DOODLE WATCHES THE NEWS

WITH MUCH RELIEF

MLB 09: The Show "Dustin vs. Playstation"