HeadOfSoxNation

There's no way Lester throws 96... Was the reading seen on a chalkboard held by Jon's mom? I love Lester...but he doesn't throw 96.

I'm doing every single thing I can do not get myself too excited over this whole thing. This is the Royals in April, not the Yankees in October. I was more impressed by his poise and composure on the mound than I was with his actual stuff. Not that his stuff wasn't impressive, it surely was...but the fact that he was able to look relaxed and calm knowing full well that an entire country back home and an entire Nation here was nitpicking his every single move was just unbelievable. The guy was out there and didn't even look to be breathing hard...he was just doing his thing. He has the same expression on his face going to pitch in front of eleventy-billion people as I do when I go into work every day. It was awesome. I forget who was at bat, but there was a high fly ball hit with 2 outs and Daisuke was almost to the dugout before the fielder even caught the ball. I love that kind of cockieness and charisma in a pitcher. I feel like Matsuzaka might have a bit of a high walk total this year...and I'm totally OK with that. I know he only walked one today, but the Royals chased a lot of bad pitches. I'm hoping that Daisuke (and actually, Beckett showed me a lot of this yesterday, too...) refuse to give into hitters. A Carlos Zambrano style approach...subscribing to the thinking that, "hey, if I've got 3 balls on a guy, I'm going to throw him some nasty breaking stuff and try to get him to chase...if he doesn't chase, that's fine, I'll walk him and go after the next. I'm not giving him a fastball down broadway." I think that's why Beckett gave up so many HRs last year...he's always felt that his FB is his best pitch, and it's what he automatically went to on 3 ball counts. I'd be very curious as to what percentage of his HRs were given up with 3 balls. Beckett is regaining his naaaaasty curveball, and Daisuke has 3987 breaking pitches...I love the idea of throwing them when they need a strike.

Just a heads up for everyone... I just signed onto RedSox.com and saw that they just released a bunch of tickets for the new bleacher seats in right. I bought tickets to a couple of games...not bad, $25 for face. If any of you were looking to get some seats to any games but got locked out, this is probably your best chance.

I'm pleased. Drew stayed hot, Manny's always cold at the onset of the season, Ortiz will avenge a bad game...and Daisuke was money. 'Pen held the lead, Paps got the save...just the way it should always go. Nice work, boys.

Let's not get carried away here...Manny is one of the top 10 best hitters of the past 30 years.

Overall a decent game... It was nice to see Beckett work some of his breaking stuff rather than throwing all heat. Maybe he learned last year that hanging curves and straight gas just won't cut it in the AL. He's gotta get some more control, but that will come as he gets back into the swing of things. I was happy with what I saw. I'm wicked excited about Drew...he managed to track down a ball or two that I could swear were falling and had some good at bats. Is it just me, or does everyone else get EXTREMELY paranoid whenever he breaks into even a half-stride jog? Man I just don't want him falling apart. I'm surprised Hinske didn't hit for him in the 9th.

Man, Lowell is going to be glad when this one's over.

Odie Perez looks like a fat slob in his press photo... That said, freaking COME ON Josh...turn this s*** around. Prediction: Josh comes up big....W, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 2 BB

This sums up EXACTLY how I feel...anyone who says that MLB.tv is an adequate substitute for Extra Innings (which is the arguement that MLB is trying to make) is crazy. That's like saying a Kia Sephia is an acceptable substitute for a BMW 5-series. I have a laptop that set me back 3K and a desktop that was only slightly less than that, and MLB.tv looks like s*** on both of them. I want to say, out of principle, that I won't get Extra Innings even if it DOES become available just because MLB tried to sell us all out. I want to say that...but I won't say that...

Anyone know Manny Goes Boom's AIM name? I want to talk trade with him.

I motion to delete this thread and consider tomorrow Opening Day. All in favor?

Another sweet at-bat for Lugo.

Cecil Fielder with a refridgerator on his back would have had a double on that ball even if Manny sprinted to it.

Tek going to the plate has become somewhat of a formality...

Man...Tek just looks lost in the box now.

He's still working real hard for his outs...nice work by the Royals not giving him any freebies.

Is there an echo?

Schill rebounds and goes 5+ and doesn't allow another run.

That's not a bad play...there was 2 outs, he was trying to get himself into scoring position. Give the kid some credit for his hustle. On the other hand: Dear Dustin, Carl Crawford you are not. Love, Me

Is Helen Keller operating the cameras for ESPN today? My goodness...

Jackso...ARod is on pace to hit .400 with 162 errors and 162 HRs. Will that please the fans in NY?

There's really no proper place for this so I'll just post it here because I'm reading this now...but how about freaking HANRAM today? 4-4 so far, a couple steals, a couple runs, an RBI...unstoppable right now. Man, Beckett better turn it around this year...