Rise and Shine: Sox-A's Gamer I

Paul SF's Tuesday itinerary:

• 4 a.m. (Central): Wake up
• 4:15: Shower
• 4:30: Shave
• 4:45: Get dressed
• 5:00: Pour a bowl of cereal
• 5:07: Immerse myself in another glorious roller-coaster ride -- at times magnificent, at times hellish -- that will take me through the long, hot summer months, through the birth of my first child, and hopefully through October.

Do the Red Sox have a dynasty in the making? Do they have what it takes to defend their division, league and world titles? Will Daisuke Matsuzaka improve or devolve? Will the young guns and the young bat make us forget about the rotation the Sox could have had?

They are unanswered questions; they will remain so for the better part of six months. But the answers begin unfolding this morning, as the 108th season of Red Sox baseball opens in the Land of the Rising Sun -- while the sun rises on Boston, Texas and the rest of Red Sox Nation.

Baseball is here. Take solace, cheer and comment away, yet again!

Lineups! (with completely meaningless spring stats that unfortunately do not include the exhibitions in Japan)

Red Sox

1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B -- .179/.256/.282, 1 HR, 4 RBI
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B -- .297/.409/.568, 3 HR, 8 RBI
3. David Ortiz, DH -- .267/.400/.405, 0 HR, 1 RBI
4. Manny Ramirez, LF -- .300/.382/.533, 1 HR, 4 RBI
5. Mike Lowell, 3B -- .237/.262/.395, 2 HR, 5 RBI
6. J.D. Drew, RF -- .321/.429/.429, 1 HR, 5 RBI
7. Jason Varitek, C -- .320/.370/.720, 3 HR, 7 RBI
8. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF -- .209/.271/.349, 1 HR, 4 RBI
9. Julio Lugo, SS -- .278/.278/.333, 0 HR, 1 RBI

Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP -- 1-1, 4.50 ERA, 12 IP, 5 BB, 9 K

Athletics

1. Travis Buck, RF -- .257/.372/.343, 0 HR, 2 RBI
2. Mark Ellis, 2B -- .304/.319/.435, 0 HR, 1 RBI
3. Daric Barton, 1B -- .188/.341/.500, 3 HR, 10 RBI
4. Jack Cust, DH -- .278/.469/.611, 3 HR, 11 RBI
5. Emil Brown, LF -- .317/.341/.439, 0 HR, 6 RBI
6. Bobby Crosby, SS -- .268/.318/.537, 3 HR, 9 RBI
7. Jack Hannahan, 3B -- .283/.377/.370, 0 HR, 6 RBI
8. Kurt Suzuki, C -- .325/.386/.450, 0 HR, 3 RBI
9. Ryan Sweeney, CF -- .225/.340/.300, 0 HR, 5 RBI

Joe Blanton, RHP -- 0-1, 4.76 ERA, 17 IP, 3 BB, 15 K

Comments

[Dionysus]

Well, I'm home from work, time to head to bed, grab four hours of sleep, then - much liek you - get up and get ready for Openign Day!

I know its broadcast on ESPN.. will I still be able to get it on MLB.tv? I'd love to go watch it from the local cafe so I'll have ready access to caffiene.

After the game, its BACK to bed so I can be ok (with the help of copius Red Bull) to work at 3pm.

[Paul SF]

I believe it is on MLB.tv, Dio. The Red Sox homepage does not lie. ;-)

[Dionysus]

Thanks!

Also, Paul, first pitch its at 6:05, not 5:05!

[Dionysus]

Ok I JUST noticed you wrote central. I'm a moron. Im also tired

5:05 Am CST
My itinerary:
4:30 central wake up
4:35 take shower
4:45 get out of shower
4:50 start making scramby southwest eggs, oatmeals and a piece of wholewheat toast

5:05 Watch the game
5:08 call every one of my sleeping yankee/cub/mets fan friends and let them know it's opening freaking day...

then I am going to turn to the glory of HD baseball, and not worry about anything until I have to head into work at noon, were I will watch baseball on my laptop and so some work...yeah I love my job

[AndrewYF]

I suppose I should wake up at 6:00. I am a baseball fan after all. Doesn't mean I can't root for the 'scrappy underdog' Oakland A's though!

[Jim in Tokyo]

Hmm, I'm going to leave work at 6 p.m., grab a bowl of ramen and some gyoza, saunter into Tokyo Dome and give 800 yen to the first beer girl who wanders by.
Of course, for the rest of the season I'll be getting up at 7 every saturday/sunday to watch whatever game is on, but for now all I can say to you in the States is:
``Sac up, dudes, and enjoy the game.''

[Dionysus]

Awake. Showered. Realized the cafe that is actually worht spending 4 hours in isn't open until 6:30am. Deciding to just go to Sheetz and retreive a delicious breakfast sammich or two and bring them back.

If you arent pumped yet, try goign to www.outincenterfield.com and watching the video Texas Gal has posted. Instant Pumpation!

Ok that sounded kinda dirty.

[Paul SF]

I'm up. Had a TERRIBLE night sleeping. Partly excitement, partly being sick. Yuck. Off to shower, then I'll post lineups.

[Dionysus]

I'm back. Food is good. Latte is TERRIBLE.

[Dionysus]

WHY IS ESPN2 SCARING ME? The pregame stuff isnt on yet!!! MLB.tv wont start either! PANIC

[Paul SF]

They never start until the top of the hour, yes?

[Dionysus]

True. I wasn't thinkign rationally, Paul. Im all wound up. I got maybe an hour of sleep.

[Paul SF]

I love that XM has a 24/7 baseball channel, but they get need some better analysts...

Aaand the pregame is on!!

[LocklandSF]

Here we go. So fired up it doesn't even matter that I had to get up early, I was so excited I couldn't sleep anyway.

[Paul SF]

Man, no joke, Lock. I woke up at least once every hour...

This is the first time I've listened to a full Sox game on the radio since the 2000 season. How fun! (We forewent cable this year for an XM subscription). I've missed Joe Castiglione...

[LocklandSF]

Must not crack a beer, must not crack a beer, must not crack a beer....

[Paul SF]

Curt Schilling predicted 7 IP, 1 ER, 8 Ks from Matsuzaka today. I'll join by predicting a solo HR from Ortiz, a 2-run shot by Drew, and a 5-1 win.

[Dionysus]

You lose Paul. Drew scratched with back tightness.

[Paul SF]

Arrgggh

I guess bowling didn't work out this offseason...

[Paul SF]

So it's Brandon Moss batting sixth, instead of Drew. Not the best start to the season...

[Dionysus]

Here. We. Go.

[Paul SF]

Very late scratch. No one seems to know what happened. EEI saying Drew was warming up with no apparent trouble just before the lineups were announced.

[Dionysus]

I'm betting its only a 'for a day or two' thing, Paul. Drew will be in the lineup April 1st, if not tommorrow

[Paul SF]

First pitch of 2008:

A strike to Pedroia.

[Dionysus]

BASE HIT DUSTIN!

[Paul SF]

Hey hey, single to open the season for Pedey!

[LocklandSF]

Yeah Dusty, that infield looks FAST!

[Paul SF]

A's botch a double play ball and barely get Youks. Papi is up!

[Dionysus]

First pitch David? Dammit

[Paul SF]

Phooey. Pop up.

Time for the new, improved Manny!

[Paul SF]

Red Sox are swinging early against Blanton. Only eight pitches, even with giving up the single...

[Dionysus]

"it just means he's due" Shut up, Phillips. You don't understand stats.

[Paul SF]

Manny drives it, but foul.

[Dionysus]

What a crappy series of at bats. This is gonna SUCK.

[Paul SF]

I'm kind of glad I don't have to hear the ESPN commentary, as much as I miss the pretty pictures.

That's the inning. :-P

[Paul SF]

Heh, XM is airing the Japanese radio feed of the game, as well as feeds from both the Red Sox and A's networks. That's pretty cool!

Big cheers for Daisuke...

[Paul SF]

One pitch, one out.

27-pitch perfect game, here we come!

[Dionysus]

First pitch ground out for Daisuke

[Paul SF]

Orrrr not. 1-0 A's. Crap.

[Dionysus]

SON OF A BITCH!

And punch the god damn ESPN guy for using 'Sayonara'

[Paul SF]

On the bright side, the Sox have lost six of their last seven openers -- including 2004 and 2007.

[LocklandSF]

Oops.

Looks like the Japanese media that predicted a perfect game for Matsuzaka lost their bets pretty quick.

[Paul SF]

Now behind Barton 3-1.

[Dionysus]

OH for craps sake

[Paul SF]

And he walks him. Not looking good thus far.

[Paul SF]

Ten pitches, seven balls, one home run.

[Paul SF]

There we go, two straight strikes.

[Dionysus]

Now a HBP. This is a NIGHTMARE

[Paul SF]

HBP. #@$%^&#$%$@

[LocklandSF]

This is ugly, I have better control.

[Dionysus]

CURSE WORDS!!!!!!!!

[Paul SF]

Heh. GameDay is ahead of the radio.

Good God, wild pitch.

[LocklandSF]

JESUS!!! Come on.

[Paul SF]

You don't get the calls when you show no ability to call strikes...

[Dionysus]

ANOTHER walk?

Holy cow. Someone pimpslap Curt Schilling for jinxing Dice-K

[Paul SF]

Or throw them. Whatever...

And he walks him.

So what happens when you try to get a pitcher to throw more off-speed stuff when he can't throw any of it for strikes? This is not good.

[Paul SF]

20 pitches. 13 balls.

Hey, a strike! Why are A's hitters swinging at all?

[Dionysus]

Wow. Now he's being squeezed. Had you actually thrown, y'know, more strikes, you'd have got that call.

*sigh* run in, but we got an out.

[AndrewYF]

Wow, that was a close play at first.

[Paul SF]

Well, groundout scores the run after Matsuzaka gets robbed of Strike 3. Couldn't throw home for the force?

[Paul SF]

THROW A STRIKE!!!!!!!!

[Dionysus]

Just throw strikes, Daisuke. Trust your defense.

[Paul SF]

Again, why are the A's swinging at anything he throws? Not that I mind...

[LocklandSF]

We need somebody up that just doesn't give a crap, Snyder?

[Dionysus]

GOT HIM!

Thank GOD thats over

[LocklandSF]

THANK GOD!!!

Now, get them back boys.

Not only that, but I needed quick innings so I can watch as much as possible before work.

[Paul SF]

Finally! Strikeout!

So instead of a 27-pitch perfect game, it takes 30 pitches just to get out of the first. Not good at all. This was end-of-2007 Daisuke, and I was hoping we could avoid that.

[CHEA SON]

As a Yankee fan, I'm enjoying the game thus far, not necessarily because Dice-K is struggling, but hell, it's a meaningful 2008 baseball game. How great is this?

*goes back to hating the Red Sox*

[Dionysus]

Ugh. I dont think I can do this again tommorrow. I need some sleep.

[AndrewYF]

Well hey, that was Dice's patented "one bad inning". He'll likely be lights-out the rest of the game.

[Paul SF]

Base hit Lowell, tying home run by Moss. Make it happen, boys!

[Dionysus]

MIKEY!

[LocklandSF]

There we go Mikey!!! Nice base hit.

[Paul SF]

Hey, Lowell comes through! Let's go, Moss!

[Dionysus]

I know what your doing, Andrew. Don't make me come over there. ;-)

[CHEA SON]

Joe Blanton is terrible when pitching on the road, and considering how far from home he is, I think he'll get rocked.

[Paul SF]

Heh, bet no one would have predicted Brandon Moss would get the Opening Day start.

[AndrewYF]

Heh, caught me Dio. Any news on why Drew isn't playing?

[CHEA SON]

tightness in his back.

[Paul SF]

Forceout. :-P Up to Varitek...

[LocklandSF]

Drew has back stiffness.

[Dionysus]

DAMMIT Tek

[LocklandSF]

Man, Tek just looks old and tired.

[Paul SF]

Double play. Gargh.

[CHEA SON]

haha, great aquafina commercial

[Paul SF]

So Blanton has 20 pitches through two innings, while Matsuzaka has 30 through one.

This feels too much like early September for me.

[Dionysus]

Yeah, that commercial was awesome.

As for the game, it looks like LOB nightmare is returning again. We really needed to stretch that inning to give Daisuke time to get his head together.

[CHEA SON]

At this rate, he'll be done by the third or fourth inning. I'm assuming they'll limit his count.

[Paul SF]

Or, rather, mid September.

[Paul SF]

Single on the first pitch. *sigh*

[AndrewYF]

Wow, Matsuzaka's getting zero calls.

[LocklandSF]

You could play an entire separate baseball game in that foul territory.

[Dionysus]

hey! an out! Neat!

[Paul SF]

Phew. One down.

[Dionysus]

Holy crap! Breaking ball for a strike! *jaw drop*

[CHEA SON]

yea that pitch around the knees isn't getting any umpire love.

[Paul SF]

DP would be excellent here.

[Dionysus]

Billy Beane! I have such a man crush on him

Not again.. starts out 0-2 and now its 3-2.

[Paul SF]

My head hurts. Of course, my head's been hurting all night, but this isn't helping...