there are 160 more to go. this is my mantra.

a handful of random Sox-related thoughts following tonight's game:

1. these idiots that announce the Rays games on tv make me long for a game covered by a team of Morgan-Buck.

2. i wish i were kidding about that.

3. at one point during the game, we were left staring at Joe Maddon in the dugout for a solid two minutes. while the game was being played. and the Rays morons were doing a phone interview with BJ Upton. who isn't even with the team right now.

4. they later mentioned that you could email them with questions.

5. i hunted down the link and asked: "What we would like to know is WHY must we look in the dugout between every pitch or stare at Maddon for five minutes while there is a game being played? Can't we please just watch the action on the field??"

6. i am absolutely serious about that.

7. what game was that umpire calling?? i want to know how the same exact pitch was called a ball & then a strike, back to back.

8. that was a particularly painful start for Lester.

9. i still ♥ Jon Lester.

10. i am kinda hoping that Saito was doing a spot-on 2007 Jeemer impression.

11. after that face-plant diving catch Rocco Baldelli made in right, i am safely convinced that he isn't Julio "E6" Lugo, The Embedded Ray, 2.0--welcome to Boston, Rocco! i think you'll fit in here just fine.

i can't believe i am about to say this but we can't get out of Boston quickly enough. the Rays cheerleaders announcers have actually made me look forward to a West Coast Sox trip. now if only the Sox would do a promo wherein they mail out complimentary Tums to Sox fans the night before a Matsuzaka start. my authentic replica Tito ulcer is getting stretched out & warmed up for its debut tomorrow. and now if you'll excuse me, i need to go brush the dust off my Terry Francona "i'm-so-stressed-out-i-need-to-rock-in-a-corner" move. i have a feeling i may need it several times whilst The Nibbler runs up his pitch count.

have i mentioned how much i love baseball season?