Wow! Did the Sox look good or what in their four-game set with the Detroit Tigers? I mean, they outscored the cats 25-14 and were a Julio Lugo error away from taking out the brooms and sweeping the kitty litter under the tarp.

So yeah, our nice overpaid backup, I mean starting shortstop Julio Lugo stinks like a college student’s shower towel. This is the same guy that’s taking playing time away from Jed Lowrie, the same guy that has 10 errors as of May 9 and the same chap that needs to be demoted to Pawtucket’s equipment room.

Does anyone reading this agree that the signings of outfielder J.D. Drew and Lugo were two of the worst free-agent acquisitions that you can remember on this team? I know we win, I know that the front office knows how to construct a team through the draft, but they have no clue how to sign guys. I mean, Matt Clement anyone? We still could have starting pitcher Derek Lowe for that money. Oh, just so you know, over his three full seasons with the Dodgers, Lowe has recorded a combined 3.70 ERA in 639 1/3 innings of work.

Game 1: Red Sox 7 Angels 6
Game 2: Angels 6 Red Sox 4
Game 3: Angels 7 Red Sox 5

It’s tough for me to actually sit here and commend shortstop Julio Lugo on the .364 clip he hit against the Angels. But I have to, just continue it man, you’ve got a lot to prove.

The flu virus demolished a once poised and confident clubhouse, I’m not saying that the morale is diminished in any way, but the fact that catcher Jason Varitek, starting pitcher Josh Beckett and starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka were all out in the series, is a cause for concern. I did hear that the Sox took care of the problem, they supposedly sprayed down the clubhouse, we’ll see if their feeble attempt stifles the bug.

Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury flashed the brilliance that kept him in town during the Johan Santana trade talks. He hit .333 (5-for-15) with two long balls and four runs scored in the series. I was at the game on Tuesday night, and what he did on Dustin Pedroia’s tiebreaking double was unreal. To me, he is easily one of the most exciting individuals in the game of baseball; the future is bright for the flashy centerfielder. He is a leadoff hitter with a .423 OBP, now that’s production.

Take note of who I threw on this list. This is MY top-10, I’m sure some of you will have differing opinions, but we shall see what reality brings by the end of the season.

Of course, there are very talented pitchers outside my top-10. For instance, I think that Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez is in for a breakout season, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starting pitcher Jered Weaver will shine bright and Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano will finally throw consistently.

Once again, my apologies for the late rankings this season, it won’t happen again. But I was in pretty rough shape after I got my spine shaved and a herniated disc surgically repaired.

I know I’ve thanked you before Dr. B, but thanks again.

Good luck guys, here are MY rankings.

Home Cooking

Daisuke Matsuzaka (SP) Boston Red Sox

If Josh Beckett and Dice-K Matsuzaka are unable to make the opening-series trip to Tokyo to face the Oakland A’s, Boston should simply forfeit the two contests, since it’s becoming increasingly obvious the Red Sox have no chance of beating Jack Cust and Co. in the two-game set scheduled for March 25-26 at the Tokyo Dome.

Without the presence of Beckett, MLB’s lone 20-game winner last year, and Matsuzaka, whom the team was relying on for restaurant and bar suggestions while in Tokyo, the reigning World Champions are apt to get steamrolled by the A’s, a team whose opening-day lineup will likely include such notorious Red Sox killers as Jack Hannahan, Donnie Murphy, Kurt Suzuki and Ryan Sweeney. Even if Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield (the proposed replacements for Beckett and Dice K) can manage to work around these accomplished vets, they’ll still need to get past the likes of Bobby Crosby, Mike Sweeney and Mark Ellis. Lester and Wakefield are respectable pitchers, but that’s a tall order. And considering the Red Sox have to fly 18 hours to Japan, while the A’s only have to fly 13, Oakland has a nearly insurmountable advantage.