We’re actually looking at a lineup!

Courtesy of today’s boston.com, the projected lineup for the 2006 Boston Red Sox:

Okay, Mike Lowell’s average last year is a little scary…but in spite of that…this is definitely a lineup I can live with.  Lowell has a good glove (despite his lousy BA last year, Mike was honored with his first gold glove in 2005) and being on third, that could turn out to be a lot more important than having him hit .300 (although I am one of the members of the Nation holding out hope that playing in Fenway might snap Lowell out of any hitting slump he might have been in last year).

I’m also pretty excited about seeing Youk with more playing time.  I read an interview where Terry Francona said that he was going to platoon Youkilis with JT Snow, and I’m hoping by "platoon" he means "let Youk start and put Snow in as a defensive replacement in late innings", but with Francona’s history, you never know.

Still trying to bounce back from the misery of last week (thanks to all for your support, it is much appreciated) so I’m a bit off my game – I’m working on it. 

Man, I can’t wait for pitchers and catchers to report.

(Gratuitous beefcake shot of the week that really isn’t a beefcake shot.  I took this at the Hot Stove, Cool Music show last month and it is inexplicably my favorite picture of Bronson…so enjoy!)