The game was a good one from the start. Tim Wakefield pitched brilliantly only allowing two hits and out-lasting Mike Mussina.

I was in the office working catching glimpses of the game, probably a bit more than I should have. My boss understands my insane passion for the game and the team.

But come the ninth, I was pretty disruptive. As my excitement and anticipation grew, so did my voice. At times I forgot that I was in a professional setting.

Then the president of the company came out of a sales meeting and asked incredulously, "What is going on out here?"

I went into a tear...hurriedly giving him a rundown of the ninth between breaths. I then apologized for my performance or lack of good work ethic.

He just smiled and said he understood. During times like this, I have to thank my lucky stars that I work in a forgiving environmennt. Because from April to October, I can have an occassional outburst.

The Boston Red Sox by all accounts should have lost Wednesday's game. But just when you think the end is near, the unthinkable happens.

"I've never seen a third-baseman get a blown save," a co-worker said as I burst into laughter.

I'm sending a thank you card to A-Rod. His blunder was almost as good as seeing him run to first with a purse hanging from his arm during the ALCS.

The New York Times also placed the blame on the All-Star third-baseman stating "A Possible Double Play Becomes a Definite Debacle."

Others in New York like the Post are questioning whether Mo, Mariano Rivera, is the same pitcher who's dominated opposing hitters for the last decade.

The New York Daily News writes the Red Sox say they do not own Rivera. And I agree. Still the Chicago Tribune says fans are worried.

Jeez, New Yorkers are beginning to sound like Red Sox fans, if they are questioning his ability this early in the season.

That being said, I think it is simply good timing. It's early in the season. Rivera's pitches were all up in the zone. His cutter didn't stay low. But it really comes down to A-Rod blowing a routine grounder.

Sure the Yankees still had their ups in the bottom of the ninth but we had Keith Foulke. There is no way that a closer will blow two in a row. Whoops, I mean, there is no way a Red Sox closer will blow two in a row.

The Red Sox saved face and recorded its first game of the season. For Boston, it's all down hill from here. Curt Schilling will be returning soon as will Wade Miller then the fun will begin.

The New York Daily News reports that Mariano Rivera may not be the only Yankee worry. Derek Jeter was hit by a pitch and is now listed as day-to-day. In the Boston Globe Timlin offers inside take on inside pitch.

In the article Timlin calls Jeter a class-guy. I don't know anything about that, but Timlin sure is.

So as MSNBC reports, "three games into it and it's already started between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees."

No World Series ring is going to change that.

E-mail this entry to a friend