Well, time for some thoughts again. Considering some of the dumb things that I thought on Opening Day last year, especially, "Tony Clark will be a monster at Fenway", I can't be worse this year.

Just as we were ready to put a W in the win column, an ugly 9th inning and a good Opening Day is now down the tubes. Of course, the airwaves will be filled with people criticizing Grady for his pitching moves and the "closer by committee" idea. Face it though, Grady didn't screw up, Embree and Fox did not get the job done, plain and simple. 3 lefties due up and Embree goes hit, then a dinger to a righty PH. and boom another single to a lefty. Bring on Fox who manages to get 2 outs (nearly 3 if a possible DP gets turned), followed by 2 strikes and then boom, a 21 year old kid is hero for a day in Tampa. Quickly Sox fans replay the 9th inning and the consensus is, "That didn't really happen, right???, RIGHT??????????" and finally ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Anyhow, some observations and thoughts.........

That line-up Grady had is terrible. LL RRRR LL S. Let's just invite those matchups from the other teams,huh? Mix it up a little, Little. Will you for crying out loud!! I like Shea, but put him down around 8, huh. How about a more reasonable lineup vs. a lefty like Damon, Nomar, Manny, Millar, Giambi, Shea, Nixon, Varitek, Walker. And something more reasonable vs. right like Damon, Walker, Nomar, Manny, Trot, Millar, Giambi/Ortiz, Shea, Varitek.

12 pitchers and a crap bench of Ortiz/Giambi, Jackson, Mirabelli, and Muellar. I just do not like it. How about a decent RH bat????? How do you use 7 relievers consistently? I go for another bat off the bench, sorry. Isn't Canseco available????????? (Just kidding.)

Quick,name those last 2 pitchers on the staff.. Wodard, or is it Woodred, Wooderd,........... Dang, I give up.

Where was the Sox offense? Giambi looked pathetic, get Ortiz in there pronto.

Talk about blowing a win for Pedro.

Doesn't Grady's monotone Southern Accent really bother you?

That guy cannot be the GM, he looks like he is 16!!!

Hey, the had won 10 in a row in Tropicana, they did have to lose 1.

I just have this feeling that Burkett will start the year on a roll.

I got Embree and Fox for my Fantasy Team. I'm dumping one of them tomorrow. Who should it be? My other relievers are Mantei and Smoltz, Thankfully.

It is a good thing that there are 161 games to go.

Let's check the record after 20 games before anyone hits a panic button.

SRYD out