I relished the opportunity to sit and watch the Sox with my son as my daughter took a late nap. Truth be told I was near nap mode myself, but I needed to Matsuzaka again.
Not the best outing. Is it time to panic? Not on your life.

I'm rather pleased he got roughed up. I'm sure the $50-million contract hints what we all know - he has talent. But to help focus he needed an outing like that.
Now, he'll learn from it.

I wish I could get the seats that Belichick and Pioli got. I'm sure it wasn't easy signing Dante Stallworth from the Sox dugout.

The VanDyke looks menacing enough but what is scarier - Kevin Youkilis looks like David Wells. I've been trying hard to change my thinking of Youk, but this isn't helping. His .429 average and attitude in the clubhouse sure do. Was I wrong? Perhaps. The jury is still out. I hope he continues to mock me.

Speaking of Youkilis...I checked out the "Daughters of Kevin Youkilis" Web site today. The takoff of "Sons of Sam Horn" did little to enlighten me. It lacked a friendly design and content to keep the casual user from coming back. Unless things change, they've lost me.

I'm pretty excited about this team's chances. For futures betters, the line on the Sox to win the division is 2.6:1. Not too shabby, though I wouldn't touch it.

The big news of the day: Yankees vs. Red Sox. Yes, I know it's spring, but there are some interesting story lines.

Carl Pavano starts tonight, and according to MLB.com he's eager for the chance to meet Sox. That is only part of the opera surrounding Pavano.
- takes mysterious leave of absence to tend to this girlfriend
- being sued for an accident that he tried to keep secret from his boss.
- Missed all of 2006 and half of 2005 due to injuries.

If I were the Yankees I'd be a little concerned about this guy. He hasn't been the same since he first donned pinstripes. Thank goodnees those doctor's bills didn't come at the Red Sox expense. And to think that I was bumbed when he signed with the Yanks.

Oh and there is more pitching news: Roger Clemens was at Pettitte's outing the other day causing quite a stir. Will he be returning? Yup. Mark my words Clemens will be back in a N.Y. jersey soon. Sorry Sox fans when the Rocket returns to Fenway he'll be wearing a grey uniform.

Tonight will give me a chance to see Tim Wakefield's curveball. I'm pretty excited about that. I would much rather see him throw a curve than a flat fastball to off-balance the knuckler.

I hope I also get a look at Wily Mo Pena. This guy should really be the everyday DH. He thinks that he'll get 400 at-bats. I hope so. But doing the math, it seems pretty unlikley. But hey, I'm no mathematician.

However, Yankees + Red Sox= Good spring baseball.

Go Sox!

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