Opening Day 2008!

Cait Higgins, Sox Superfan
Happy Opening Day, 2008! We are starting the season off with a bang! It felt so wonderful to be back at beautiful US Cellular Field today. Even if it was chilly, it was worth it! It was so great to see our boys battle back and forth with the Twins before nailing their coffin shut for the day. All things considered, I thought Javier pitched well. It seemed, at first, like he couldn’t find the strike zone, but there’s something about Ozzie getting tossed in the 3rd inning that tells me that it wasn’t 100% Javier’s fault.

It was great to see what looks like the return of Ozzie ball. I was listening to post game on the Score, and I believe they said that 12 out of 15 baserunners got on because of singles or walks. Nick Swisher batting lead-off could be a Godsend. He always seems to have a good at-bat, even if he gets an out. He started it off well for us today by getting on, getting over and getting in. Carlos Quentin had an outstanding game at the plate. Sometimes he scares me a little when he fields balls in left and drops them. He has one of the best arms I’ve ever seen (did you see that PERFECT throw to first base yesterday vs Detroit?!) so I guess the occasional slipping up, if it isn’t an error, isn’t going to kill us. I was pleasantly surprised that AJ’s first strikeout was today. 7 games and 1 strikeout? That’s pretty good. Especially since he’s been hitting like a monster in every game. I hope this continues, just because he can give it to all the haters out there. Thattaway, AJ! Let’s talk about Mr. Clutch, the hero of the day, Joe Crede. I am *SO* glad we didn’t decide to trade him. I think that was my favorite Kenny Williams decision this offseason. A grand slam on Opening Day? Can’t get much better than that! Thanks, Joe!

Finally, how fantastic was it to sweep the Tigers and have them go 0-6 in the first week of baseball? They’ve been the favorite to win the Central by all the bloggers, sports writers and reporters. What happens to them? They get swept in back to back series by teams that have already been written off; the KC Royals and us. Sweet victory. Then, the Royals and Sox end up in a tie for first place! Excellent. My brother reminded me of a very sweet time when we were in first in the Central, the Orioles were in first in the East, the Angels in the west, and the Cardinals in the NL central…. that beautiful time was none other than the 2005 season. Let’s keep that in the back of our minds as the season progresses. What a week!

Like I said before, it is so great to have real baseball back home in Chicago, on the Southside! We have an off day tomorrow. I hate those kinds of series, but understand the guys are tired. Bring on the Twins! Look for me at the Cell this weekend when DE-troit comes to town!

Until next time, Sox fans!