Wow, I just got use to the old format and MLBlogs changed everything.  It looks a little strange but I'm sure a couple of entries and I will get use to it.

It really didn't effect me much this weekend, usually I am too busy to post over the weekend.  I did check in to see who was posting and saw that we were down.

I wish that they had done this 2 months ago. But what the heck. Change is good.

Who ever though Mike Lowell could take a bad picture ; /

(photo's from yahoo.com)

That's more like it ; )

Noni

(photo from bostonherald.com)

Dice K is heading back to America, and looking pretty good.  Hope those bags are gifts for his wife who stayed behind with his 2 children. (one a newborn)

Back to Spring Training this weekend, but that's fine.  The guys need to get it all back together before Opening Day (in America).

Noni

Javier

Brandon

Manny (being Manny)

Wake!

Mikey

Big Papi

Mike (1st trip and 2nd trip to JapanHe has aged very nicely!

The Sox are coming home for a game Tuesday in Oakland.  That should be plenty of time to rest up and get down to business. Of course that means a late game. But I guess it's better than them playing in the cold. And this morning it is only 34 degrees.  A little cool for baseball.

Hope everyone enjoyed the trip.

Noni

(photo from boston.com)

Oh well, that's okay.  We're heading home!

(photos from bostonherald.com)

Dice K apologized for his game yesterday. No need, we won!  We all knew the nerves would probably get to him.  Playing the opener in Japan.  That's okay.  After the first inning he started to work out the kinks.  It's a long season and by the way did I mention, we won!

That would be Red Sox Chick and Kelly at Game On very early yesterday morning, enjoying the opener.

Brandon Moss hit his first major league home run on his first opening day. Word is that Mike Lowell called it.  The last time I remember a rookie hitting his first home run on opening day I was at the game at Fenway, that of course would have been Tony Conigliaro!  I'm sure there have been more since then, but none so memorable to me.

Okay, almost game time, could we win a little earlier in the game today, I have a staff meeting.

I am at work and it's almost game time ( 5:45) so I will just have to set my computer to MLB.com and watch it that way.  It worked yesterday.

noni

It took 10 innings, but that's okay. Pap got to pitch. Oki got to pitch in his homeland, and of course Dice K got to pitch! 

Bet they don't walk Big Papi to get to Manny again!

6-5 Red Sox in 10! Whoo Hoo!

Noni

It's 5:15a.m. on Tuesday March 25, 2008. It's only 29 degrees outside.  And It's Opening Day, okay they are in Japan, but sill doesn't it seem too early to be Starting the Season?  What happen to Spring Training? Seems like it was cut a little short this year.

I'm sure our guys are ready, and I think todays game is monumental for Dice K. 

I am so happy for him! Starting the Opening Day game in Japan.  Having a new Son! Maybe this is going to be his year.

I have some friends having breakfast and watching the game at a Pub near Fenway.  I'm a little envious. I am sitting at my computer, working (well I should be working). Hope they have a great time and bring the Sox luck!

Here's hoping Dice K wins this one big for himself, his team, his son and of course us, his fans!

Noni

J.D. is having a real good time in Japan.  At least in the first two games. Too bad they don't count.  J.D. has two home runs, one with three R.B.I.'s and the second a grand slam.  Here's hoping he keeps it up.  He only had eleven home runs the entire season last year, so perhaps this is the start of something good.

I am finally feeling better, and the Season opens tomorrow morning. Perhaps that black cloud is moving just a bit.

Noni

I know it's still March, and a little cool in New England, but it is Easter Sunday! And the sun is shinning.

The Sox are playing there second game in Japan. The Red Sox are losing 2 to 0 in the 5th, but that's okay. Tim is looking pretty good, and the game doesn't count.

Have a Happy, Healthy Easter.

Noni

No good deed goes unpunished.  The Red Sox Hen's reward for hanging out in an emergency room when SHE wasn't the sick one is a relapse of her flu (or just an entirely new strain of something).

Maybe she's having sympathy motion sickness for the team's 17 hour flight to Japan?

Regardless, she hates not posting here during the week, so I figured I'd fill in for her with a photo of her guy to brighten her day in the event she's able to crawl out of bed and hit the computer.

Hope you feel better soon, Noni!

Cyn

Photo from the Improper Bostonian website.

(photos from bostonherald.com)

Coco got word yesterday that he will be taking the trip to Japan with the team. : )

I read in the Boston Herald that Jacoby had not sealed the job.  I am happy about that.  I think the rookie needs a little more seasoning before he lands the job.  I am praying Coco has a really good hitting year and stays as healthy as possible.

I am happy to say Don and Jerry will be announcing from Japan.  I hate listening to anyone else announce the games.  Guess I'm spoiled.

Bobby Kielty is also going along.  I like Bobby, and would love to see him do well this year. I think they are going to compete for the fullest afro!

noni

Daisuke Matsuzaka will get to start the season opener in his homeland.  Thanks to Mrs Matsuzaka speeding things up with the newest member of the family.  The Japanese do not have the same customs as we do, and it would have been okay for him to go to Japan even if his son had not been born yet.  But, he did not want to leave his wife in that condition alone in Boston.  What a guy : )

He is making it easy for me to like him.  And with Beckett staying home and resting, and Dice K's son being born, he can go to Japan and pitch without worrying about anything except the game.

So next Tuesday the season will open with Dice K on the mound in Tokyo, against the Oakland A's.  The 2008 baseball season is almost here!

I love the Mike Lowell thing he has going on his chin.

(photo from bostonherald.com)

Noni

Okajima is going to Japan and looks pretty happy about it.

Thanks to Mrs Matsuzaka having their son on Saturday March 15, Dice K will be going to Japan also.

Becket will be staying home, which sounds like a good idea.  I think the plane trip is too long. I'm glad he's staying home and resting.

Dice K is starting the first game of the season.  And Lester is starting the second game.

Wakefield and Buchholz are pitching two exhibition games.  I hope it's over quick and they get home with no injuries.

Tek finally spoke out about Dougie leaving.  He was surprised and not too pleased, but like all good Red Sox players, he won't talk bad about the front office.  And of course he is more than willing to give Cash a chance.

Me, I'm still not to happy Dougie is gone, but I am hoping someone picks him up.

Colon is suppose to be starting against the Yankees today. That should be interesting.

Noni

(photo from boston.herald.com)

I am probably one of the few fans disappointed in the Sox releasing of Doug.  I do not think that Kevin Cash can catch Tim Wakefield the way Dougie could. 

From all I read Kevin can't hit any better than Doug so why sign him over Doug?   Because he's young? Because Tek needs a young backup catcher? Maybe so, but why not leave things alone for Wake's (probably) last season? Wake and Doug could have retired together at the end of the season.

Word yesterday was that Wakefield was asked about the release before it happen.  Today's Herald says he was brought in and told before it was released to the press. 

On a happier note, Colon pitched pretty good yesterday, not great, but pretty good, 93mph. not to shabby for an older out of shape pitcher.

Noni

Thank you Boston.com for these great photo's! Just looking at them made me feel good, and I thought I would share!  Do our guys have so much fun? No anger, no fighting, no tempers.  Just have fun and play ball.

Looks like Wake might open in Japan.  That's okay. He will do fine, and Beckett can use the extra rest.

Noni

If someone could just push this dark cloud away from me for a while, I would be oh so grateful.  Just starting to feel a little better and then once again a bit of a family crisis.  It is getting better as I post, but non the less unnerving.(photo from flickr.com)

Back to a happier subject, Baseball!  Looks like Josh will not be flying to Japan.  That's fine.  Let him rest for the opener in the States.  I wouldn't think that long ride to Japan and back would help his back.  I know he isn't to happy, but he will be when everyone comes back exausted and he is ready to play ball.

Nice picture of Mike, just because I need something nice right now.

(photo from Boston.com)

Noni

And I am feeling fine, thank you all for asking!

Dice K seems to be very happy this year! That's a good thing.  I think he is in a different frame of mind.  Hopefully it will show in his pitching.

Something I read over the past weeks in the local newspaper was that Coco was not happy competing for his job, again this year.  I happen to feel the same way.  He earned his job last year.  There should be no questions asked this year.  He looks great, is playing great.  The job should be his with a rookie sitting on the bench just in case something happens.  Not the other way around.(photo's from boston.com)

Love the face. Coco has always been a favorite of mine.  I want to see him playing this year.

Noni

Cyn here - the Red Sox Hen has been in bed with the flu and she asked me to check in for those who had been asking about her. She's on her way back to normal, but it still might be a few days before she's able to get back to blogging.

Thanks to everyone for their kindness and concerns. :)

Here's a photo of Mike Lowell so she has something nice to look at when she gets back!

(Courtesy of Kelly O'Connor!)

Dancing with the stars for Charity!

Of course Mike won, look at those moves, look at that face. 

Someone should have a talk with Jonathan about his taste in clothing.  It was all for fun and charity. 

Back to reality, This is the way we like to see Mike.

Noni

Photo of Mike dancing by Brita Meng Outzen of mlb.com.  Photo of Mike running out his home run on Sunday by  J. Meric of Getty Images.