I realize this is the worst idea ever, getting up at 5am to live blog anything (getting up at 5 am just to fall back asleep is bad idea enough), but after I saw this picture last night I wasn't going to be sleeping anyway.

Plus, I really feel like Joe Blanton needs his fantasy owner's support this morning.

So here we are, and by we I mean myself and the one or two of you that may show up before the 6th inning.

That picture disturbs me.

OK, so it's Daisuke Matsuzaka vs Joe Blanton in front of some very loud Japanese fans. We hope Dustin Pedroia can deal with all this. Apparently the only loud noise that's tolerable is that of the obnoxious Sawx fan variety.

1st Inning

Here's some good news, there appears to be some difficulties with the ESPN2 feed and satellite TV. [technical difficulties]

I'd be curious to know how many beers were drank after that opening single by Dustin Pedroia in Boston. Actually, I'd rather not know.

David Ortiz pops out to third. What a slump he's in to start the year! And Manny ends the top half with a fly to right.

Apparently, this Matsuzaka guy is pretty big in Japan. Wow.

Haha, Mark Ellis sends the Japanese fans a Matsuzaka souvenir. I doubt they care it was just a home run. That's right, your MLB HR Leader right now ... Mark Ellis.



Daisuke may be a little too jacked up this morning, and I wouldn't blame him. Daric Barton walks ... Jack Cust is hit by a pitch. Both move up a base on a wild pitch. Then he sends Emil Brown to first on another walk. That's 24 pitches so far in this first inning.

Bobby Crosby (who I finally did reach for in fantasy baseball, which means this will be his good year) grounds out, but drives in Barton. 2-0 A's

2nd Inning

Mike Lowell gets right on base, following Pedroia's lead in the 1st.

Blanton gets Jason Varitek (he's the captain, you know) to ground into a double play. That's just 20 pitches for Blanton thus far. My fantasy team takes a commanding opening week lead.

Dice-K throw the first pitch of the second right down the middle. Kurt Suzuki sends it right up through the center.

Nice at-bat by Travis Buck despite going down 0-2 in the count. Held off on three straight low and outside pitches with a lot of movement. Unfortunately went swinging high and missed for a Dice-K.

Suzuki steals second.

Mark Ellis is now following this up with a 7-pitch at bat. Looks like we're going to test that rubber arm of Dice-K right away. Make that 8 pitches and a walk. 49 pitches for Matsuzaka ... yes, it's still the bottom of the 2nd and I'm still wondering why I'm awake.

Yet another walk, that's four now in two innings. And yet another bases loaded disaster avoided as Cust strikes out. Get uses to the those three words Oakland fans.

3rd Inning

We've already got bullpen action in the Red Sox pen. Ouch.

Jacoby Ellsbury strikes out. What are the Boston fans going to do the rest of the day that went to bars at 5:30 am? OK, that's an easy answer. Just staying there until the game tomorrow.

Just clicked over to Mike & Mike. I like how they are running the scrolling fantasy baseball rankings today. Yo, the season just started. Most, if not ALL fantasy leagues have already drafted.

Youuuuuuuuk reaches on an infield single. Yes, Youk the blazer that he is. I should point out Julio Lugo singled. Enjoy that 1.000 batting average for now Boston.

Daisuke is out of control. Gets through the bottom of the third without a bases loaded jam, which is a step u, but still walked Hannahan, and threw another 26 pitches. That 75 now and likely near the end of his outing. Nothing like abusing those pitcher points on day 1.

4th Inning

Ooh, I thought we were going to have our first Manny 25-minute trot around the bases. Just a deep fly to right.

Make that a quick 1-2-3 inning for Blanton. Considering that nearly everyone in attendance is rooting for Boston, this is a very, very solid start for Joe and the A's. Unfortunately there are 5 more innings and 161 more games.

Pretty sure we can attribute the cold bats of Boston to absolutely no one on the roster outside of Dice-K wanting to be here.

Here's what we were looking for, 8 pitch, 1-2-3 inning for Matsuzaka. I have to be honest, not exactly the most thrilling game, but that could be because I'm still asleep.

5th Inning

Joe Blanton is sharp. Varitek strikeout. Battled Ellsbury to a groundout and kept Lugo to a typical grounder to short. 5 IP, 4 H, 2 K and 0 BB thus far. His fantasy owner approves.

You're not going to believe this, but Jack Cust struck out again following Barton-K. Reminiscent of many starts last year, Matsuzaka is getting comfortable after many walks and entering the 90 pitch plateau. Another 1-2-3.

6th Inning

If you were to show me Dice-K's line so far without showing me any names, I'd ask why Danny Cabrera was traded to the Sox.

Dustin Pedroia leads off with a big double and the Red Sox are in business. Youk walks, but unfortunately Big Poppi pops out. Best chance to the Sox to rattle Blanton if Manny can deliver.

And he does. Japan goes wild. Wait they already were, but anyway, big double for Man Ram and we're all tied up a 2-2.

Brandon Moss, who's starting for J.D. Drew who would have already been injured by now, drives in Manny with a single of his own (went to second on the over throw). JAGER BOMBS in Beantown!

Somehow it's going to be Joe Blanton leaving the game before Matsuzaka. This changed quickly. Alan Embree makes his debut. Oh, how exciting.

Embree, former SAWX, gets the Captain to strike out for the second time today.

Bobby Crosby leads off  with a hit ... one more than he had all of last season.

Kyle Snyder is in for Dice-K and has no just become enemy #1 in Japan. Jack Hannahomerun puts the A's up 4-3. Much rejoicing in the Bay Area! Wait, they probably don't even care.

Sweeney and Buck go down quickly and it's the 7th Inning morning nap. A's up 4-3. By the way, there's zero chance of me doing this again tomorrow. There's a better chance of JD Drew being healthy.

7th Inning

Ellsbury singles to start the inning, but Julio Lugo does what he does best to end any chance of a tying the game. Double play #1 for Lugo. Off to sleep the 7th.

Bottom of the inning ends appropriately: Jack Cust strikes out swinging. That would be #3 on the day ... Adam Dunn quietly applauds in Florida and promises to do his best to catch on opening day. Still 4-3 A's.

8th Inning

We've got a Keith Foulke sighting, and unfortunately that's taken place on the mound to start the inning. It would only be appropriate that he give the lead back to the Red Sox.

Two batters faced (Youk and Ortiz) and no disaster yet for Foulke. Can we be sure this is actually him?

Manny goes down on strikes. Keith Foulke, you da man.

Somebody named Bryan Corey in the Red Sox bullpen works a solid bottom half. No damage done. 4-3 A's. Houston Street time.

9th Inning

1 down. Lowell flies out.

Houston we have ... no I won't do that to you. Brandon Moss may forever fill in for JD Drew. It's a big home run to right. We're all tied 4-4.

Street gets Varitek to go down swinging (a theme for the day) and Ellsbury on a liner. Is there any coincidence this game got interesting just when the rest of the country is waking up.

Hideki Okajimi is now in for Boston and once again the fans greatly approve. His first batter, Kurt Suzuki, another countryman. This is going well for those in attendance, but not for those who were up at 5 am.

Suzuki strikes out.

Sweeney will bat for Sweeney. No relation.

No walk off goodness just yet for the Oakland A's. Mark Ellis grounds out and it's free baseball time for Japan.

10th Inning

9 hits for Boston and just 4 for Oakland, yet it seems like the A's have blown far too many chances this morning.

Lugo reaches on an infield single. Pedroia sacrifices him over ... good fundamental baseball, right there. Just making sure to get every cliché in as possible.

Houston Street is going to go the full two innings and that's a good thing with Youk and Ortiz up next. Youk goes down swinging. Clutch time for Pappi.

Good call, Street intentionally walks Ortiz.

OK, maybe that wasn't a good call. Manny Ramirez has decided to play today, a couple months earlier than normal, and doubles in another two runs. Red Sox 6-4.