Sports Redux: Let's Fret About Dustin

They're telling us not to. But we can't help it. We hear the words "reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia" and "lower abdominal strain", we head for the bunkers. It's our nature. But whatever is keeping Dustin out for a couple of games, the Sox insist it's nothing to be alarmed about. And they warn us not to blame it Dustin going all-out for the World Baseball Classic. That's what they're saying, anyway. You have our blessing to get exactly as freaked out as you feel is necessary. And with Julio Lugo under the knife, the Globe has learned that Jed Lowrie is more than ready to keep the infield afloat.

It probably wasn't Pedroia's absence, but something sure went spectacularly wrong for the US entry in the WBC, which got shellacked by Puerto Rico to the point where they had to invoke the Mercy Rule. Really. If only PR had some electoral votes we could strip in protest.

Ugly? Scary? At this point, the Bruins will take it without complaint, as long as it comes with a W. Which is what happened yesterday at the Garden matinee, as the B's jumped to a superquick 2-0 lead on the Islanders and spent the last 55 minutes holding on for dear life. "The inability to play [well] for a full game continues to be our issue right now," said Coach Julien, though he has to be pleased with the way the boys bucked up and killed 42 seconds of a 5-on-3.

The Patriots have been busy, signing WR Joey Galloway to be another option for (please let it really be) Tom Brady. Galloway put up some fantastic seasons, mostly in Seattle and Tampa Bay, but was limited by injuries last season.

Photo by Flickr's Eric Kilby, and used under a Creative Commons license.