Empyreal Environs

Game 1: April 3, 2005
Red Sox (0-1), 2
Yankees (1-0), 9
L: David Wells (0-1)
W: Randy Johnson (1-0)

The Red Sox lost the season opener to the New York Yankees, 9-2. Being the champions takes the sting out of defeat, so there is much less rending of garments this year. Insert pithy comment about marathons, sprints, and long seasons here as well. Some observations based on this extremely minuscule sampling of data:

• Hideki Matsui can rake. He went 3 for 5 with one home run. He continued where he left off before Pedro Martinez buzzed him in Game 5 of the ALCS. Matt Clement will have to step up and brush Matsui back on Tuesday, as Matsui is looking too comfortable at the plate. He also did a Ramirez at the wall in the second inning. No, not throwing out a ball into the stands with only two outs; he made a terrific catch of a ball hit by Kevin Millar.
• The hair triggered amongst us are probably already labeling David Wells as an embedded Yankee. He was awful, going 4.1 innings, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, culminating in a 8.31 ERA. And don’t forget the balk. Recent evidence to the contrary, I’m more concerned about him in Fenway Park. Wells said, “As I was stepping back, I thought I saw a different finger down.” Will he come back with a finger to the fans if he gets booed?
• Let’s keep an eye on A Red Sox Fan in Pinstripe Territory. Jere was at this game, of course decked out in full Red Sox champgalia, and with a sign no less (“A Ruthian Collapse”). In the right field bleachers. I’m hoping he made it out alive.

First game is over and we got the jitters out. The series is still winnable. Baseball is back.