After check out today, not one, not two, but at least Red Sox players did some shopping at Pink, a super-chic men's shop in the hotel. Papelbon and Baldelli did some fany window shopping, and even Brad Penny looked to drop a pretty penny in pink.

Looks like the new uniforms weren't enough for the boys in Beantown. A cheaper alternative would be just throwing those Red Sox in with a some whites... home made pink that doesn't cost $300 per shirt.

Everybody remembers the moment when they finally realized they wouldn't be a superstar slugger. The agonizing truth that you would never win a batting crown usually hits you right between the eyes right around puberty. But for some, it comes much later in life; when you're old, broken down, and so fat that you haven't seen your feet (or other extremities, for that matter) in months. Tonight was David Ortiz's night; when he was finally faced with the devastating realization that 99.9999999% of Massachusetts men have come to grips with: "I just can't hit in the no. 3 spot for the Boston Red Sox."

In a move that Terry Francona surely didn't want to have to make, he dropped Ortiz down to the six hole - the first time that Ortiz has batted out of the no. 3 spot since 2005. It was a move that has been several painful weeks in the making. While some say it was a few weeks too late, an even bigger concern with the move is the fact that Jason Bay - who has been absolutely untouchable - was not called up to bat third, and remained in the five spot. However, tonight's lineup of Ellsbury--> Pedroia--> Drew--> Youkilis--> Bay--> Ortiz, makes much more sense, both for the team's average runs scored, and for Ortiz himself, than the old model that Tito has been clinging to like George Clooney in the Perfect Storm.

However, Ortiz doesn't seem to be too thrilled about the demotion move. While this may be a shot to Papi's pride - which is as big as his belly - the move does have the potential to rejuvenate the slugger. With enormous pressure off his enormous shoulders - Ortiz will have more of a chance to focus on his mechanics, and not his miscues.

Terry Francona is a man who knows how to get the best from his players (case-in-point, Bartolo Colon's turnaround and Mike Lowell's one-eighty). In fact, Ortiz went 1-for-3 with a hustling double - a very welcome sign of life. Perhaps this recent shift in the lineup may just fix some of the holes in this old sock.

(Surprisingly, there is another thirty-something year old with a debilitating wrist injury, that "just can't do it anymore." Of course Ortiz is flashy, but this guy has some serious "pizzazz.")

Last night, David Ortiz snapped his homerless streak like a pair of sunglasses that the big guy sat on. There isn't a whole lot that can be said about the feat, other than it's hard to feel anything but relief for Papi.

His most enduring quality has been his charm and his character - and it's something that has kept fans in his corner through these tough of times (despite the fact that certain bloggers -- we shant name names -- have been slamming him as of late). #34 may have trotted the bases like last night was any other dinger, but it was hard not to feel a sense of vindication for the big boy.

However, we really can't get ahead of ourselves, a difficult urge to resists amongst the Fenway Faithful. A man of that size and power was bound to jack one eventually -- you give LeBron James a Louisville Slugger and after 138 at bats, he'd go yard too. It's just hard to ignore that .646 OPS. Ortiz is a career .929 OPS guy-- and had three seasons over 1.000 in his prime. A prime is a fragile thing, and despite last night's moment of rejuvination, it still looks like the 33-year-old is past his.

This is not to dismiss him totally. Sure, last night proved that he had power. But look at him... anyone with eyes can see he's got power. He's 6'4" and at least 270-pounds (although MLB.com lists him at 230 -- undoubtedly the funniest joke that Bud Selig has ever told). Anybody that size with his natural talent is bound to hit a few -- but to think that this was the first sign of a resurgence - propelling him back to his natural .500+ slugging is about as misleading as Orlando Hernandez's supposed age.

Hopefully, it is... hopefully, he's back in a big way and he starts dropping more bombs than Rahm Emmanuel. But hope doesn't put food on the table -- and everybody knows that David Ortiz is a man who likes to it.

You've got to hate it when your boss asks you to do one thing, then just as you get comfortable, he asks you to do something else. Now, when he comes back a few days later and tells you to go back to the original plan, he's just asking for an Ed-Norton-in-Fight-Club-style response. Somehow Justin Masterson has been taking it in stride, as the 24-year-old is emerging as one of the Red Sox's most malleable and indispensible players.

His 5.48 ERA going into last night's start didn't tell the whole story. Considering what Francona is asking of the youngster, he's earned every penny of his $415,500 contract. Very few pitchers can go out and get notch quality relief innings, and then, at the drop of a straight-brimmed hat, start a game - not to mention his age and the fact that he's doing this in the single most unforgiving baseball market in the world... you vultures. This is one of the reasons Red Sox nation should forever love Derek Lowe.

We need that Stretch Armstrong like flexibility this year more than ever. The 2009 team was built on the premise that everyone would be playing at 100%. The front office has been playing a dangerous game with their classic shortsighted optimism - and the lack of depth is starting to blow up in their faces like a hillbilly holding a fire-cracker. They mysteriously forgot to factor in the distinct possibility that Smoltz won't make it out alive, Penny will go down for the count, and the obligatory injuries to Beckett and Wakefield. No fear - at least Dice-K will... oh crap. Looks like their own smoke and mirrors act is starting to choke them.

And this naivety is starting to work its way into the line-up as well. For the past two years, the Sox have been surviving with D.L. Drew on the premise that Pedroia, Youkilis, and Lowell will hit consistently. With injuries to the first two (although admittedly not that bad) and Lowell hitting like Bob Barker, these injury prone players with big upsides are coming back to bite the Red Sox where it hurts. I liked the offseason low risk/high return signings individually - but when you compound all of the problem spots on one staff, you start playing with serious fire. With the current pool of prospects, there's not a whole lot that can be done about the holes in infield hitting, but a solid fourth outfielder, a la Nick Swisher or Juan Pierre, could be a difference maker.

And on the pitching side, Justin Masterson has emerged as that difference maker. Fantasy - no thanks; reality - yes please.