the rule of thirds

photo from The Boston Herald

1. Cora for SS. Coco for lead off. Papi is back. all is right in the world. at least for this game.

2. Happy Birthday, O Enigmatic One. may the next year bring you many more adventures (just not in left field) and much good health & success (did that come across as a partially selfish birthday wish? because i think it kind of was).

3. AirCoco.


4. Youk Consecutive Hit Streak Watch: 22 - and speaking of our bearded wonder, Basegirl makes one of the funniest -- and most accurate! -- observations ever. YOOOUKon? =P

5. why is it that the one time MLBtv goofs up & plays NESN's commercials instead of that inane "commercials in progress" screen from the fifth inning on, there was not *one* Foxwoods commercial aired?

6. i am not sure what to say about that game. you can't really blame it on any one thing. pitching wasn't sharp for anyone. the bats were sleepy. bases loaded situations were wasted. everyone has said it now: you can't win 'em all. but you know what? i'm mighty content with 2.25 wins for every loss. what was it "they" say? you are pretty much guaranteed to win fifty games and lose fifty games, so it's what you do with the remaining 62 that matters? i would say we're using the remaining 62 wisely, at least so far. so if you look at this theory as a "rule of thirds" (1/3 you win, 1/3 you lose, and 1/3 decides your fate), the first third of the season as been a roaring success. we start the second third of the season tonight in Fenway against, who else, but the Yankees.

7. Mike Lowell's two-run homer in the eighth puts him in the lead on the Sox with ten on the season. he is also second on the team in batting average, with a strong .330, behind Kevin Youkilis, who is batting .354 through the first two months.

8. for the record: Indians 8 Sox 4

9. i swear to God, i am not laughing, especially because it would have been nice to have Greasy McSquarehead's floppy bat of late in the line up this weekend, but i have to admit, i find some kind of quiet amusement that he will be out at least three weeks after tearing the tissue in his foot, while rounding the bases on a home run no less. anyone think Roger is still thrilled to be coming back to New York next week?

10. Lucky 49 against Wang tonight. may all things knuckle be fluttery, and all bats be lit up with fire & fury.