it finally feels like it's really baseball season

i only watched one of the three games in Toronto this past weekend. from everything i have read, i pretty much caught the gist of the series in one game. a couple of quick thoughts before we move on to bigger & better (and more current) things:

1. Lugo continued his bid to be named Most Useless SS in Major League Baseball. he managed to rack up *three* errors in one game. yeah yeah, i *know* Mike Lowell did the same thing last season but BUT!! Mike Lowell is also a Gold Glove infielder, something JFL most certainly is *not*, so when it happened to reliable Number 25, we were all stunned. i am thinking not so much with the stunned when Lugo did it Sunday. it was just another slap-yourself-in-the-forehead moment in his lackluster presence on the Sox. i have come to the conclusion that JFL has good games like other people have bad ones: every once in a while he has a game where he is out of character.

2. Frank Thomas at the plate with bases loaded makes me feel ill.

3. getting swept in Toronto stinks. being outscored 23-9 in three games stinks. three-week road trips stink. but better now than in August.

two other random thoughts:

1. i am going to miss Kyle Snyder. i don't think DFA-ing him was the way to go. i can think of several other relievers who might have taken a trip down to AAA instead of just releasing Snyder. in my opinion, you can never have too many pitchers, and he's come through for us on more than one occasion.

2. on the topic of never having too many pitchers, Bartolo Colon takes a seat with a strained right oblique. that didn't take long, now did it.

but none of that matters right now. ya know why? because yesterday was the home opener. and the Sox brought bats. and the pitchers brought Ks (11!!). and JD Drew proves he was the correct recipient of the 2008 Julian Tavarez Second Chance Award, what with his hits in all five games, two home runs in Japan, and yesterday's stellar catch covering Coco when he lost the ball in the sunny sky and patiently waiting out a bases-loaded at-bat to walk Youk in for a run.

yes, i know, Papi is suffering a silent bat. but just like the sputtering that took place in Toronto, the season is young. things will slowly settle into place. i am of the notion that a little home-sweet-home and the reminder of some World Series sparkle for the hand will awaken the slumbering beast. my only true complaint of the day is whatever that is going on on MDC's chin. =P

(Boston Globe)

as Johnny Pesky said to start yesterday's home opener: play ball!