That's One in the Books: Boston 1-0, Oakland 0-1

(Win Probability graphing from Fangraphs)

What a way to start the season! Lots of drama for the fans in Tokyo, a good dose of Dice-K (who looked terrible in the first inning, but improved from there), Hideki Okajima, extra innings, a blown save from Huston Street and a shaky save from Jonathan Papelbon.

The best story coming out of this is the ninth inning heroics of Brandon Moss - a late addition to the lineup to fill in for an ailing JD Drew - tying everything up with a solo shot. I'm skeptical of Drew's perpetual "ailing" status. He has a lot of natural talent, but has he ever logged in more than 140 - 145 games in a single season? Usually less. It's nice to see Moss step it up in his stead.

The other blast from a relative unknown was the two run shot by Jack Hannahan. That was an impressive cut and a taste of the surprises in store with this year's young Oakland staff.

Dice-K on Day One

Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-0)(BOS) vs. Joe Blanton (0-0)(OAK)

It seems fitting that the starting pitcher that became an obsession over the 2007 season would get the nod in the first official game of the 2008 campaign - as a defending world champion no less. He clearly wore down over the long season last year. And he had an ERA you could tune orchestras to (4.40, as in A 440 Hz), which is not overly impressive. But there's that mystique of the fabled "gyro ball." And when he's on his game, he can be a lot of fun to watch in action.
Matsuzaka's 2008 projection: 4.01 ERA/1.280 WHIP/200.0 IP/16-10

Blanton, on the other hand, is a better pitcher than most people realize. I don't know if he's "opening day" ace material. But his 2007 ERA was 3.95 and with that 1.217 WHIP he was effective at keeping the bases clear. And he does get to throw the first official pitch of the year.

The A's starting rotation is interesting - if somewhat less than what we've seen in Oakland in past years:
Joe Blanton - 2008 projection: 4.14 ERA/1.315 WHIP/213.0 IP/15-11
Rich Harden - 2008 projection: 3.26 ERA/1.174 WHIP/69.0 IP/5-2
Chad Gaudin - 2008 projection: 4.14 ERA/1.460 WHIP/150.0 IP/8-11
Justin Duchscherer (reprising his starting role) - 2008 projection: 3.12 ERA/1.163 WHIP/49.0 IP/4-3
Lenny DiNardo - 2008 projection: 4.36 ERA/1.495 WHIP/99.0 IP/5-7

If those projections hold out, the A's will be looking for spot starters and hurlers capable of eating innings. But the prospect - and the gamble - of a healthy Rich Hardin has to be tantalizing.