The Red Sox (minus Josh Beckett and Craig Breslow) have officially left the building. They're winging their way towards Japan tonight, scheduled to land at around 10 a.m. (our time) tomorrow morning. They made a pit stop in my fair city of Chicago earlier this evening, before heading out on the near-12 hour flight to Tokyo.

The quote of the day has to go to Japan game 1 starter Daisuke Matsuzaka - who left the City of Palms Park this afternoon during the boycott delay and headed out to pitch at the minor league complex. When Japanese reporters asked Dice-K why he was leaving, he responded: "I was cut." Look at Dice, busting out the jokes. I think he's just giddy he's leaving for Japan and won't have to change poopy diapers for a couple of weeks.

And in the "worth 1000 words" department, the photo of the day has to go to Manny Ramirez - it's the frowny face that makes it art.