One down, 161 to go

Not a bad way to open the season, boys. Not bad at all.

The Sox officially kicked off the 2006 baseball season today, beating the Texas Rangers 7-3. It was hard to stomach the 2:00 start for their first game, especially on a Monday. Its difficult enough trying to watch all 162 games a season, much less when they stick 'em on in the middle of a workday. I understand its impossible to schedule games that are convenient to every fan, but how can you put the opening game for the Red Sox on in the middle of a Monday? That should be a Federal Offense! You can't tell me they couldn't swap a night game with the Rockies or someone. I mean, who watches the Rockies anymore? After they traded Walker, didn't they automatically reclassify as a Double-A team? Yer killin' me, Smalls!

Ahem. Excuse the rant.

So anyway, Schilling pitched a gem, going 7 strong innings for the win. He certainly looked like he managed to get back into his 2004 shape, hitting close to 95 on the radar gun. He hit a little trouble in his last two innings, giving up a couple long fly-ball outs and an eventual two-run homer to Blalock, but battled out of a jam and came back for a 1-2-3 seventh. When the dust cleared, Schilling logged a 118-pitch, 5 strikeout day. That roar you hear in the background is cheering from Red Sox Nation.

Then Foulke steps in. Unfortunately, our trouble closer did not follow in the footsteps of Schilling and find the stride he so triumphantly strutted in 2004. Foulke reminded us once again why we were calling for his head on a platter last season, giving up a single, double and a run in the bottom of the ninth before recording the final out. That roar you hear in the background is a collective groan from the Red Sox Nation.

But even Foulke couldn’t ruin this day for Sox fans. Not only did Boston win its first season opener since 2000, the new faces on the field stepped up and contributed right away. Lowell showed some pop, Gonzalez had a 2 for 4 day, and Crisp put on a defensive clinic in center.

Speaking of Crisp, that bugger is FAST. Boston’s had a speedy center fielder the past four years, but Crisp made him look more like Bernie Williams with a bum leg. I’d put my money on Crisp in a straight-up sprint any day. Sox announcers stated that Francona has given Crisp the green light on the basepath all season long, and I couldn’t be happier. The Sox have never really been known as a running team, but with all the new blood around this season, what not a better time to buck the trend.

Big Papi got a helluva start to another MVP-type season, despite what voters decided last year. He delivered what proved to be the knockout blow in the game, absolutely CRUSHING a Kevin Millwood pitch in the fifth for a two-run homer that put the Sox up 5-0. This ball hit the top of the right-field foul pole it was hammered so hard. There was no doubt it was gone as soon as he hit it, just whether or not it would stay fair. I just love seeing that guy lumber around the bases after launching one like that. I sincerely hope Sox management get that rumored deal for him tied up soon. Big Papi has turned into a key player that any team would be lucky to have.

The big question still remains: can this new group of Red Sox pull together and play some quality ball all season long? Sports analysts have picked them everywhere from taking the AL East crown to a lowly 3rd place finish behind New York and Baltimore.

Me? I’m holding off on judgment for now. One game hardly a whole season makes, or some Yoda saying like that. Its just one game, no matter how impressive.

But what a game it was.

A fan in San Diego chucked a syringe at Giant’s slugger Barry Bonds during the game yesterday. No needle attached, but the sentiment was perfect. Surprisingly, Barry actually picked it up and took it off the field. Maybe he thought it was a special delivery from his trainer. Either way, I’m sure his PR rep had a heart attack seeing him even CONSIDER handling a syringe considering the scandal he’s stuck in right now.

The Yankees absolutely crushed the A’s in their opener last night. ARod launched a grand slam to give the Yanks an early 7-0 lead. Does anyone else notice how ARod seems to get the big hits when they are least needed? The Yankees were already up 3-0 on a clearly struggling Barry Zito, and THEN ARod gets offensive. Where is he in the close games? Clutch hits from this guy? MVP my left … well, you get the idea.

Theo Epstein is awesome. With Roger Clemens visiting both the Rangers and Red Sox prior to yesterday’s game, Theo maintained the integrity of both himself and the club when he spoke to the former Boston ace. Instead of groveling for his services this season as some teams have resorted to, Theo kept it short and sweet: The door is open when you decide to make up your mind. Nicely done, Theo.