the glass: it is half full? or half empty?

some quick takes on the Sox:

**i am encouraged by what i saw from the Sox during this 2-week road trip. going 6-3, winning all three series.

**also encouraging: Tek has remembered he really likes to hit the ball.

**i'm loving the new guys. Jason Bay has not been disappointing in the slightest. Byrd has been a stand-up Number Five. and newest addition Mark Kotsay debuted with a double today.

**how insufferable do you suppose Pedroia was in the dugout & in the clubhouse & in the hotel last night & at batting practice this morning about that grand slam last night? LOL!

**filed under scary: Beckett has been scratched for tomorrow. again. and now we're hearing Dr Andrew James' name. ::gulp::

**trying to focus on *good* news, like Casey, Lowell & Drew are on the mend.

**i'm pretty much ready to see Lester get another win.

**it's awfully good to see Wakefield back on the hill again on Tuesday. it was even better to see him get a win in New York.

**with Beckett out of the rotation (hold me please), David Pauley will find himself pitching against Mark Buehrle on Saturday (Matsuzaka was moved up to Friday). what *really* scares me is that Baltimore will make their way to the abysmal Trop while we face the Other Sox. we need Rays losses so i am really hoping the Os can summon up some beat down this weekend.

**i was all set to root for AJ Burnett vs the Sunbeams tonight, as i had originally heard... and now the Jays have gone & switched him with Litsch in the rotation. or i was misinformed by my local media sportsholes. either way: crap.

**i am praying that Beckett is ok because... well... if you're a Sox fan, i don't need to explain why.

**while we're praying for things, i am going to end quoting myself from a comment i left on Spider's Web regarding our Cap'n & his contract situation: All I have to say is he better retire with a B on his cap, a C over his heart and red socks worn high & proud.