0-2... eight straight times.

The first Saturday baseball game on Fox was fantastic. Red Sox just beat the Angels 5-4. The last out of the game was a classic. With bases loaded and two outs Papelbon and Howie Kendrick embarked on a classic battle. Any base hit would win the game for the Angels, any out and the game would go to the Sox. Papelbon started Kendrick with two consecutive sliders which put Kendrick in a quick 0-2 hole. Kendrick then proceeded to foul off the next seven 0-2 offerings. That's right seven. This was great drama for a game in April.

I have put some thought into this from Papelbon's side, and I think I like it. (Kendrick did all he could fouling of seven tough pitches before stroking a ball right to end the game).

I know you never want to give the hitter anything to hit when you have them 0-2. Especially with the bases load. Especially with 2-outs in the ninth with a one run lead. However, I like the mentality from a closer - here is comes - bet you can't hit it. Ok, you fouled it off, here it comes again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. Game over.

Other thoughts as we wrap up the first week of the season:

- The Blue Jays may be a bit better than people have given them credit for. Also, the Indians may be a bit worse.

- I was talking to my friend, who is a Braves fan. We were discussing the Braves giving up 8 seventh inning runs turning a 10-3 lead into an 11-10 deficit and eventual 12-11 loss. I think he had the right mentality: Every bullpen is going to blow some games. You might as well get all of the kinks out in one night. Think of the Seinfeld episode when George wants to get fired from the Yankees. He not only wants to get fired, He wants to go out with a bang, with people proclaiming, "Wow, now that guy got canned." Same mentality from Philly earlier this week, "Wow that bullpen blew a lead!" Anything worth doing is worth doing right.

- Currently, I watching Kawakami's first major league start for Atlanta. He is down 1-0 going into the bottom of the second. The game should be 0-0. Jeff Francoeur had Ryan Zimmerman thrown out at the plate, but Brian McCann moved too far in front of the plate to receive the throw. There should be a stat for this. The other stat I want: Hitters batting 8th in the order in the NL. The situation - they come to bat with two-out and nobody on base. If they reach base they allow the pitcher to bat and turn the order over for the next inning. This is quietly a big deal through the season. Willie Harris just did this for the Nationals, who will now have the top of their order up in the third, instead of Lannan leading off. Its always the little things.