Hollywood it's not

There was a moment of clarity a few weeks back that told me Terry Francona was substantially more prepared to defend a World Series title in '08 as opposed to '05. During the April 20 game, the one where the Sox upended the Rangers bullpen when Dustin Pedroia clobbered a triple into the triangle, Tito made a stand he refused to make during the last title defense.

Jacoby Ellsbury strode to the plate in the first inning wearing a sly grin, coifed hair and a pair of see-through orange sunglasses. Not the kind that actually protect you from the sun, no-no. The kind Bono wears when he's standing on a soapbox somewhere informing the world about great he is. The kind you drop a few hundred bucks on at a designer store in the north end of Boston. Jacoby grounded out, jogged back to the dugout, got a nasty stare from Tito, then came back out to the field his next at bat minus the shades.

In 2005, the Sox were like the Cleveland Indians in Major League II. Coming off an improbable run, only two or three guys were actually prepared to play baseball again while the rest were appearing at televised functions reliving the season past. You're going to tell me Johnny Damon wasn't doing his best "reformed" Ricky Vaughn impression? Or that our signing of Deplorable Human Being Edgar Renteria didn't mirror the trade for the wiggling hips of cocky slugger Jack Parkman? At think at one point, we even replaced Kevin Millar with Omar Epps just to see if anybody was paying attention.

Just a month into the season, the Sox already looked ready to cash in and just take in the memories of 2007. Of course, they made it tough for fans to call them on it, what with the disastrous Japan trip and a Spring Training that read more like a promotional tour for the Rolling Stones. Some guys came ready to wipe away some personal faults, like J.D. Drew playing like he actually has a pulse, Coco Crisp proving that he's nobody's backup, and Manny Ramirez telling the world he doesn't know the meaning of "Down Season." As for the rest, it was a steady diet of "I'm not going to use the Japan trip as an excuse.but.the Japan trip is totally why we're struggling." Again, a completely valid point. If the company I worked for gave me a vacation, then halfway through shipped me to another country to do my job, then gave me back my vacation time, I'd be ticked off too. But for someone like David Ortiz or Jason Varitek, you can only ride that pony for so long.

That's why Tito's symbolic "Take Off Those Goofy Sunglasses" stare meant so much. He is going to do his best to not let any of his guys go Hollywood on him, like he did in '05. Especially with a crop of kids younger than the cast of "High School Musical." Think about it. First Jacoby is wearing his shades so a few extra ladies in the bleachers will faun over him, then what next? He shows up to a game wearing a flipped collar, frosted tips and a handbag with HOLLISTER plastered all over it?

This is Boston baseball, dude! Can you imagine Trot Nixon or Dewey Evans or Yaz showing up to a game with more make-up on than their wives? No way! Trot Nixon would have broken Ellsbury in two pieces if he saw those sunglasses. What Francona is trying to do is beat his guys up, get them mad and keep them playing like they haven't accomplished anything yet. In other words, now that the championship rings have been passed out, it's time to go Bill Belichick on this team.

Watching how Francona keeps his guys in check for a Series defense is just one storyline to watch this summer. Here's some more. Beware the Baby Backs - Here's the bad news: the Sox are not the next great dynasty in Major League Baseball. Here's the good news: The D-Backs are, and they're in another league. The amounts of talent the Diamondbacks have borders on the unfair. Brandon Webb, the best pitcher in the league, plus Dan Haren, a top five pitcher in baseball last year, makes for a dominant 1-2 playoff punch. Justin Upton, Max Scherzer, Chris Young, Conor Jackson, Mark Reynolds, etc. Just remember this when October comes around and everyone goes "Where did they come from?" Barry Zito, Meet Kevin Brown - Congratulations Barry, you are officially the worst investment since Mike Hampton bankrupted the Colorado Rockies! Actually, in my mind, Zito is already the worst investment ever. The largest contract in pitching history (at the time) now lives in the bullpen because he can't even get the pitcher out. Even Kevin Brown occasionally made an effort to not suck so loudly. Yankee Problems - Look, next year is the year to fear New York. Once they go out and spend gazillion dollars on Mark Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia. This year, they are waiting on Abreu and Giambi's contracts to dry up, and maybe get some experience for the young pitchers. If they still manage to slide into the playoffs, then the AL East is going to get blown away next year. I'd say watch out for Tampa too, but I've been saying that for years and always wind up looking stupid. The Detroit Kitties - Justin Verlander has suffered the illusive "Junior Slump," people realized that Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen are old, and Miguel Cabrera still needs league adjustment. Can the team that was supposed to score 1,000 runs even win their own division? Can a team with no pitching succeed in the AL? Can anything actually be predicted over a long summer of baseball? Well.um.maybe?