The bullpen is better because of Okajima, but it's still thin. Papelbon and Jima are the only two reliable guys for Tito to turn to. The guys in the pen are the same as last year, except for Piniero (a bag of puss) and Donnelly (DL). MDC wasn't doing so bad last year until later in the season. The bullpen is pretty much the same--- Timlin, Lopez, MDC. I posted a Pedroia/Loretta statistical comparison last week. To this point in the season, they are almost identical statistically. Please don't try to make Pedroia's speed a plus. It is the one skill area where he is well below average. I am not knocking Pedroia. I think he is doing an excellent job, but he is not much of an upgrade over Loretta, if he is an upgrade at all. At the ALL Star Break last year Beckett was 11-4. This year he is 12-2. He is pitching much better this year, so I'll give you that. At the All Star break last year, Youkilis was hitting around .300 and he had 10 HRs. After the All Star break he spiraled down and ended up with only 13 HRs. He has 9 Homers thus far this year. I am sorry, but I don't see the big improvement to this point of the season. He looks like the same guy pre-All Star break as last year. The question is will he finish strong or will he limp to the finish like last year. None of us know the answer. Also, you didn't mention that Manny and Ortiz are not producing anywhere near their levels from past years. I am not saying that this team is not better than last years team, but I am saying that it needs reinforcing to guard against the possibilities of second half injuries (including problems with Schilling) and to prepare it for playoff success.