In the first inning against Daisuke Matsuzaka, the final I hitter I chose in a key draft this past weekend walked. Then the rookie did it again in the second inning. And then in extra innings, with imposing closer Jonathan Papelbon on the mound, Oakland's No. 3 hitter took two early strikes, fouled off a few pitches and still coaxed a walk.
It's going to be a fine season for young Daric Barton.
OK, so it's one game down, some 2,400 more to go in the 2008 baseball season, and I have a number of thoughts from Boston's 6-5, 10-inning win over the A's in Japan. Mark Ellis didn't wait long to show his power is legit (he's gonna hit more than 20 homers this season!). Manny Ramirez didn't wait long to knock in runs (how about 120 RBIs?). Jack Cust didn't wait long to whiff (he will break the single-season major league record for strikeouts). And the scratched J.D. Drew didn't wait long for Red Sox fans and fantasy owners alike to remember why they aren't fond of him.
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Eric Karabell
