Uuuuugggggghhhhhhh.

It's way too early and way too cold to get upset about a winnable game, but there's a good chance that when Minnesota is clinching during late September, we'll regret blowing a three-run lead to a moribund Cleveland team without wagering a fight.

I didn't think the Sox would actually go 13-0 in the games I attended.  However, sometime after Paulie lifted a line drive into the left field bullpen, I had a strong feeling that Peavy could shut down a utterly bankrupt Cleveland offense.  Yet Jake struggled through five innings, tossing more than a hundred pitches and never at any point looking like a guy who wasn't freezing his gibblets off. 

And who can be surprised?  It dipped below 40 degrees regularly tonight, and misted throughout the last four innings.  As unrelentingly derelict the offense was tonight (the Konerko home run and a Pierzynski infield singles were the ONLY hits), as completely out of whack that Peavy looked (over 11 million dollars a season!  Great value!), and as unrelentingly cold as I was even with four layers on (my sister and I had legitimate conversations as to the merits of peeing ourselves for momentary warmth), it's hard to begrudge the Sox for not having the maximum effort tonight.  They faced an exceedingly tough pitcher in Fausto Carmona.  Though Carmona had serious control issues (six walks), at no point was he very hittable, even if the Sox hit a handful of line drives right at people (Their specialty!).  One lifeless night won't dictate how this offense performs through the year, even if there are a few warning signs.  Teahen has looked completely useless in two games, as has Ramirez.  Mark Kotsay might as well wear a 'I'm 34 and have never posted and OPS over .830 in my career' sign around his neck.  It is April, so maybe we're waiting till Andruw Jones thaws.  While Pierre has yet to register a hit thus far this year (something to file under 'troubling'), his one entrance to the basepaths displayed what kind of effect he could have on this team, as he stole two based and scored on a sac fly.

The biggest issue is that Peavy looked like refried shit.  This was the prevailing theme to me and most of the other fans dying a slow death in section 161.  Yet, who could blame him?  The guy who grew up in Alabama and pitched his whole career in San Diego looks sluggish during an early April start in Chicago?  Surely this belongs in the catalogue of news flashes along with "Hitler Wouldn't Have Enjoyed Living in Greenwich Village" or "Mayor Daley Struggles to Pronounce a Three-Syllable Word".

Anyone who heard all the things that I said near the close of tonight's game (Sorry, kids), would probably be surprised that I'm taking the 'Aw, who cares' approach to this loss.  To that I counter three things.  One, I refer thee to this article about alcohol's effect on the brain (hopefully they touch on cold and fatigue as well).  Two, I previously elaborated about how hard it was to really predict how any team will behave in the opening weekend, especially if they have to face a top-flight pitcher in the progress.  Third, as eager as I am to jump on the 'Wait-for-Mark-Teahen-in-the-parking-lot-then suggest-his-children-will-have-developmental-problems' bandwagon, we have to wait at least a week.  So far the best insult I've thought of is "Teahen is a She-hen".  Yes, of course I'm taking suggestions!

Relax, take a deep breath, and know that Kenny Williams will mortgage our farm system for middle relief help by mid-June.  Cleveland's starting rotation takes a turn to the truly horrible tomorrow with Justin Masterson., and 2 out of 3 games ain't bad.


P.S.  Cleveland's logo is extremely racist.