A few things to chew on while searching for a sushi place that does breakfast:

Can’t wait to see television ratings for the Red Sox-A’s season opener in Japan. I have a hunch most of America will choose sleep or work over baseball, but here in Red Sox Nation, I’m guessing the numbers will be quite good. Productivity in the workplace, however, will suffer more than the parents of a teenager.

Regardless of how they make out in the Far East, expect Boston’s Boys of Summer to rule the American League East. Just don’t expect a World Series repeat. Sox management decided to stand pat and let the youngsters develop, a decision the fan base is more likely to tolerate because they’ve won two of the last four championships instead of none of the last eighty-six.

While that choice may pay dividends down the line, there’s no guarantee, particularly for the pitching rotation. Those waiting for Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz to blossom in such a high-stakes environment are likely to be disappointed. You have to go all the way back to Roger Clemens and Bruce Hurst to find a successful, homegrown starter who cut his teeth on the Fenway mound.

The intense glare of the media spotlight, coupled with the almost obsessive devotion of a fan base becoming more pink hat than blue collar makes it difficult for youngsters to stay on an even keel through all the highs and lows a young pitcher must endure. Far better for that roller-coaster ride to occur where people don’t care as much. Think Josh Beckett in Florida.

For my money, the 2008 World Series goes through Motown. As for the Tigers opponent in the Fall Classic, it’s a three-way battle between the Mets, Cubs and Brewers.

If all this baseball talk has you primed, check out SportsTalk over at thesunblog.com. The Sun’s baseball boys, Chaz Scoggins and Dave Pevear, have begun blogging on a regular basis, and they promise to do even more of it once the season begins.

Due to space limitations, there are all sorts of interesting pre and post game notes you won’t find in print. Those will be available on TheSunBlog, along with notes on Terry Francona’s pre-game press conferences from Fenway. My fellow fantasy geeks with daily roster changes might be particularly interested in knowing the starting lineup well before game-time, information the early arriving Pevear will gather from the ballpark.

Madness Update: Things are getting mighty interesting in our Hoops Hysteria contest. Before giving props to the early round leaders, let me thank everyone who entered for making the SunBlog Madness group the largest contingent, by far, in the national contest. Who knew the Merrimack Valley was such a hotbed of college basketball?

Our leader heading into the Sweet Sixteen is Tewksbury’s Joe Petros with 48-points. Apparently, they know their hoops in the Petros household, because Joe’s wife Joan finished second in last year’s SunBlog Madness. Only a point behind Joe right now is Elaine Heighington of Dracut, while Litchfield, New Hampshire’s Rob Fay is two points out of the lead in third. A group of three entrants is tied for fourth, including defending champ, Ken Scarber of Chelmsford.

Your favorite blogger? Well, after a rough first couple of days, yours truly is tied for 11th place, only 5-points back, with my entire Elite Eight still alive and kicking. Fear not. I’m not eligible for any of the prizes, just bragging rights. If you think I’m obnoxious now…

Finally on this day before March 25th, let me wish my fellow Hellenes a Happy Greek Independence Day tomorrow!