The Sawxophile

   A few thoughts while waiting for the ceremonies to end and hostilities to resume:

   * Those world championship rings aren't paste.

   * Thanks, Dodgers and Padres, for letting Derek Lowe and Dave Roberts come out - it would've been difficult to see the three series-clinching victories and the biggest stolen base in Red Sox history go unrepresented. But I have the feeling that even if the Mets didn't have their home opener today, Pedro wouldn't have shown face.

   * Speaking of Prima Donna Petey, he threw a complete-game two-hitter at Atlanta yesterday. We'll think about it the next time David Wells takes the mound.

   * Perhaps the definition of a quality start is six innings with three or fewer runs, but watching Matt Clement yesterday makes me wonder if the term should be redefined.

   * Edgar Renteria had four hits the first week - two of them 2-RBI singles in the ninth inning. Mr. Clutch goes slumming below the Mendoza line.

   * Have you seen any uglier scoreboard than that Gatorade green pair on the outfield walls at the Skydome (oh, excuuuuuuuuse me, Rogers Centre)? Johnny Damon picked up six stitches in his elbow Friday night after running into one, and Vernon Wells complained that the color blinded him - no home field advantage there.

   * Mariano Rivera got the biggest cheers in the introductions - Red Sox included. You have to admire his mental equilibrium, tipping his cap to the enemy fans - boy, is he gonna hear about it in the New York media, though.

   * And Carl Pavano gets another cap tip - he didn't even drop after taking that line drive to the head yesterday. Granted, he didn't take it full in the grill like Bryce Florie did a few years ago, but you don't expect to see him jogging out of the dugout 24 hours later, either.

   * The Sox need to take advantage of some scoring opportunities - they'd be 4-2 instead of 2-4 ifthey'd done a little better job of it.

   * As for retaliation from Mike Timlin plunking Derek Jeter in the eighth inning last Wednesday, it probably waits until Wednesday night. The Sox and Jaret Wright have had some heat dating back to his Cleveland days. Manny Ramirez may have been an old teammate, but he might be the guy picking a Wright fastball out of his earflap (I would've thought Tanyon Sturtze throwing at Trot Nixon the more likely beanball scenario, but with Sturtze coming on to replace Pavano yesterday, he probably gets today off). 

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