Ichiro CF Lugo SS Beltre 3B Youkilis 1B Vidro "DH" Ortiz DH Ibanez LF Ramirez LF Sexson 1B Drew RF Guillen RF Lowell 3B Johjima C Varitek C Betancourt SS Crisp CF Lopez 2B Pedroia 2B ---------- ----------
King Felix (1-0, 0.00) Matsuzaka (1-0, 1.29)
If you've got any friends or family who have yet to be indoctrinated into the King Felix religion, be sure to sit them down in front of a TV tonight so they can witness his incredible power for themselves. It may not work out as well as we want it to, but the chance is definitely there, and repeating his Opening Day performance today could make Felix an instant legend. Don't miss this. While a loss could be devastating, an impressive win might just turn out to be the high point of the season, and years from now we might all meet up and reflect on where we were the night that Felix dominated the Red Sox in their own dilapidated house on national television.
Thanks to the unparalleled generosity and awesomeness of phil333 - who I hear practically has to beat supermodels away with sticks - I'm going to be watching this one in person (observations and Win Expectancy stuff'll go up tomorrow after I'm back), so no one's hoping for a pleasant outcome more than me. Just know that, if the Mariners win, I'm going to be the happiest guy on the planet, and if the Mariners lose, I might end up going to jail for multiple homicide. Keep on your toes, Deanna, because as of ~7pm PDT tonight this blog may need a new main author for the next 20-to-life.
What I wouldn't give for a first-pitch Ichiro homer.
LET'S GO MARINERS!!