Odds and Sods

Mike Lowell's hip surgery was declared a success yesterday. He had a bone spur removed and a tendon in his right hip repaired. His rehab begins tomorrow, and it should last about 3 months. He should be fine for the start of spring training.

Daisuke Matsuzaka revealed to Japanese reporters that he would have been brought to close Game 7, and not Jonathan Papelbon, if the Red Sox had the lead in the ninth. Apparently, Pap's shoulder was sore to the point he would not have been available. And it would have been Dice-K's first relief appearance since 2004, when he was with the Seibu Lions. More on both stories at Extra Bases.

My friend Suldog had an interesting encounter with Kevin Youkilis and his family in a restaurant somewhere in New England recently. It's a good story. Check it out here.

And Professor Thom's, the number one place in New York City to watch the Red Sox, is also the number one place to watch NFL games in any bar in New York. The Village Voice says so.