Thanks.

Thanks to the people who stop by this little corner of the Internet. I haven't written diligently this year but I do appreciate the space to air my most oddball tendencies. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Also, it's not Thanksgiving without Alice's Restaurant.

Important Dates.

Yesterday, the Sox released their spring training schedule.

Truck Day: Feb. 11
Pitchers and catchers: Feb. 19
First workout: Feb. 21
First full-squad workout: Feb. 25

March 3, vs. Northeastern, 2:35 p.m.
March 3, vs. Boston College, 7:05 p.m.
March 4, vs. Minnesota, 1:35 p.m.
March 5, at Minnesota, 7:05 p.m. (Fort Myers)
March 6, vs. Baltimore, 1:35 p.m.
March 7, at Toronto, 1:05 p.m. (Dunedin)
March 8, at St. Louis, 1:05 p.m. (Jupiter)
March 9, vs. Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m.
March 10, vs. Tampa Bay, 7:05 p.m.
March 11, at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m. (Sarasota)
March 12, vs. Miami, 1:35 p.m.
March 13, at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m. (Tampa)
March 14, Off-day
March 15, vs. St. Louis, 2:35 p.m.
March 16, vs. Minnesota, 7:05 p.m.
March 17, at Baltimore (ss), 1:05 p.m. (Sarasota); vs. Baltimore (ss), 1:35 p.m.
March 18, at Tampa Bay, 1:05 p.m. (Port Charlotte)
March 19, vs. Minnesota, 1:35 p.m.
March 20, vs. Toronto, 7:05 p.m.
March 21, at Pittsburgh, 1:35 p.m. (Bradenton)
March 22, vs. New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
March 23, at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m. (Sarasota)
March 24, at Miami (ss), 1:05 p.m. (Jupiter), vs. Philadelphia (ss), 1:35 p.m.
March 25, at Toronto, 1:05 p.m. (Dunedin)
March 26, at Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m. (Clearwater)
March 27, vs. Tampa Bay, 1:35 p.m.
March 28, Off-day
March 29, vs. Toronto, 1:35 p.m.
March 30, at Minnesota, 1:05 p.m. (Fort Myers)
April 1, vs. Minnesota, 1:35 p.m.
April 2, vs. Washington, 1:35 p.m.

April 3, at Washington, 6:05 p.m. (Nationals Park)

The Red Sox open the regular season on April 5 in Detroit.

Right now I'm having trouble mustering up excitement for next season but I really can't let that last post sit at the top for any amount of time.

Totally Inappropriate Post.

Here's what I figure: If it's all right to mourn the loss of the Watser and what she brought to the NESN broadcast, then it's perfectly fine for me to write this.

Ben Cherington may have terrible taste in clothing but he does have a really nice, um, pair of legs. I can't stop staring.

(AP Photo)

Easy Street.

I liked Jonathan Papelbon. He was an excellent pitcher for most of his time here and it's a shame that his last performance as a member of the Red Sox was such a dud. That said, it's no surprise that he's gone. He made it clear from the beginning that his number one goal in life was to grab as much money as he possibly could and there's no way any sane person would give any reliever fifty, possibly sixty, million dollars. Best of luck to him, though.

For the Troops.

If you happen to have nothing to do at 8 o'clock on November 11, Clay Buchholz will be appearing on a fundraising special on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The idea of the special is to raise money to support veterans and their families.

Doing Good.

Jacoby Ellsbury has always struck me as a nice polite young man; perhaps a little quiet but never as one of the self-centered divas who ran roughshod over Tito in September. As if to prove my assumptions of him: he has appeared in a PSA for the Center for Native American Youth. The Center works to bring awareness to the struggles of young Native Americans. Good for him.