A few observations...

The Sox split the series with the A's this morning in a 5-1 loss that saw the team unable to overcome many of the same problems that were apparent yesterday. But why not start on the positive first:

The Good

Manny Ramirez appears to have completely skipped his annual slow start to the season. It's a wonder what showing up on time for Spring Training can do for a player! Even more so what working out hard in the offseason can do for a player! There is no doubt in my mind that despite how aloof Manny seems, he knew coming into this season that he could be playing for a new contract. Why else would he randomly hire Scott Boras with two team options left on his contract? Regardless of all of this, Manny appears to be in mid-season form, as he admired a home run this morning to deep left-centerfield. I am also wondering if Manny is attempting to one-up Barry Bonds, who is infamous for his slow exit from the batters box and even slower trot around the bases. Humorous? Kind of. Dangerous? Yes. Manny isn't going to get away with this kind of showboating all season and eventually he's going to take a ball in the ear.

The Bad

David Ortiz appears to be willing to swing at anything and everything a pitcher throws at him so far this season. The usually very disciplined Ortiz is off on his timing and doesn't seem to be seeing the ball very well. When he misses the ball, he's missing badly and when he makes contact, he's getting under the ball. He hasn't made solid contact yet in the two games to start the season. This is an even bigger concern seeing as how he doesn't get to go out and field a position where he can forget about his last at bat. He has to sit in the dugout and pine over what happened out there at home plate. Even worse, now he has an 18 hour trip back to America where he can think at length about his play on the field. I worry that Papi could be putting himself into a slump already this season. Hopefully, a few exhibition games before the next Opening Day (Monday) will do him some good.

The Disconcerting

In two games this season the Red Sox bullpen has pitched 10 innings. The starters have pitched 9 innings. That is not a very good ratio to start the season. For a team that entered spring training as being heralded for their deep starting pitching, fans have yet to see the rotation live up to the hype. The bullpen simply cannot be worn down this early in the season. The hype has slowly withered away since camp began, with Beckett hitting the 15-day DL, Schilling on the shelf until July and Wunderkid Clay Buchholz having a terrible showing in his spring training starts. Add in Matsuzaka's shaky two innings yesterday and Lester's inability to go more than 4 innings today and there are plenty of potential problems ahead. With that said, the bullpen has looked sharp, which is always comforting.

Final note...

Two days in a row now, Keith Foulke has cut through the heart of the Red Sox lineup like a buzzsaw. Twice striking out red-hot Manny Ramirez and never surrendering a run. Octavio Dotel couldn't even get Brandon Moss (who?) out. Though it may be too soon to say, Foulke appears to have revitalized himself and primed himself for a second wind in his career. Dotel should already feel Foulkey breathing down his neck ...