It's the hap, happiest season of all...

As if you didn't already know, the Red Sox and Curt Schilling open their season tonight against The Kansas City Royals and Gil Meche. Personally I try to make it my rule in life to never trust anyone named Gil.

Obviously a ton of preview articles today. I'll list them out in order of my favorites, along with my favorite part, incase you don't have time to read all 23 like I do.

Beckett chills: Boston's ace-in-waiting has discovered a comfort zone following difficult 2006 season, by Rob Bradford. "I had been a part of a lot of different things, but that is totally different," said Beckett of the opener. "Fenway Park. First game of the season. Boston, Massachusetts. Everybody is pretty excited. I remember warming up and thinking this is right up there with Game 6 of the World Series. It had the same feeling" (hands down the best article out there today)

Kevin Gray on Baseball: Finally, the real thing, by Kevin Gray (obvioulsy) Winter came much earlier when the Red Sox didn't make the playoffs last fall, and it seemed to last forever as they painstakingly formed a team for 2007. So tell your boss quitting time is 4 p.m. because the season is finally here.

Really. Congratulations. You've made it.

Sit back and enjoy another 162 games (at least) of excitement, disappointment and unscripted drama that is Red Sox baseball.

Renewed optimism: After disappointing season, Sox rebuild in hopes to regain glory, by Jeff Horrigan. “If we stay healthy, I’m pretty sure this is going to be a hell of a year,” David Ortiz said. (weee!)

Kingpin: Ortiz is hoping to remain the Sox' main man, by Gordon Edes. He is coming off arguably the greatest season by a Red Sox slugger, but David Ortiz is not at a loss for words when asked what he possibly can do for an encore in 2007. "What I always do," he said, flashing an expanse of teeth that alerts his listener this would be no swing and a miss. "Kill the ball!"

Opening Day fever: As ancipation bubbles near and far, Sox set to bow in, Dan Shaughnessy. Enjoy the ride. Just remember that the Red Sox no longer belong to New England. They are North America's team. They are Japan's team. This is the year the Nation goes global.

On the doorstep of a new season, by Jon Couture. Baseball is a 162-game soap opera in New England. It's charming and beautiful, even if it does spawn the fake controversies of sports radio, dating reality shows and spangle-covered Sox hats that would make your grandpa cringe. And it's long, so very long.

A world apart: Red Sox’ popularity, influence has risen to global proportions, by Tony Massarotti. “People talk about Ohio State fans and Michigan fans, and I’ll put our fans up against any of ’em in college sports or professional sports,” Dee said. “There’s no greater affection that people have for their teams than our fans (have for the Red Sox). Red Sox fans want people to know they’re Red Sox fans.”

Matsuzaka, fans on learning curve, by Michael Silverman. “I know during the game, many fans will be cheering for me and supporting me 100 percent as a professional baseball player, it is natural,” Matsuzaka said. “It is important to take care of them. I know Boston fans are very passionate fans. I would like to feel their passion at the Fenway ballpark very soon.”

Manny: Enjoy 'em while you can, by Gerry Callahan. Manny is the lone Hall of Famer on your ’07 Sox. We know he’ll ask to be traded at some point, and we know the Red Sox won’t trade him. They’ll put up with him because he’ll put up the numbers, and then 19 months from now, they’ll say goodbye. And down the road, the Sox will put together an extravagant event to celebrate Manny Ramirez’ incredible career. And they’ll know, in their hearts, there will zero chance of Manny showing up.

All About The Setup, by Jeff Goldberg. "We know that Pap this year has more backup than he had last year. Now we've got a lot of different options. We've got a lot of good pitchers. I think we're OK with that," Brendan Donnelly

X-factors mark start, by Sean McAdam. The starting rotation is better and deeper. The prodigal closer has returned to his customary spot at the back end of the bullpen. The lineup features a new leadoff hitter and improved protection for the middle of the lineup.
But as the Red Sox begin their 2007 season here this afternoon, they’re not a perfect bunch. For the Sox to end the New York Yankees’ decade-long dominance at the top of the American League East, some questions will first have to be answered.

Change(up) of plans: New pitch, ’08 for Curt, by John Tomase. On the one hand Curt Schilling has absolutely nothing to prove. He’s a six-time All-Star, two-time World Series winner and one of the best big game pitchers of this or any other generation. On the other hand, Curt Schilling has absolutely everything to prove. He’s 40 years old, entering the final year of his contract, and a borderline Hall of Famer.

Royal Start: Play Ball! Schilling, Sox Ready, by Bill Ballou. Schilling will start, definitely, and if things go well enough, Papelbon will finish.

A few other things:

*Curt has a new Q & A.

*The New York Mets beat the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals last night. (my brother watched the game with me and goes, wait, the Cardinals won the WS? I thought the Tigers did. If no one remembers the World Series, did it really happen?
Jose Reyes is probably the most exciting player in MLB.
Carlos Beltran has a cannon of an arm.
I love Tom Glavine (and I once met him at the mall).
I don't trust Chris Carpenter one bit. Ace my ass.

*If you've got a billion dollars lying around you can buy the Cubs.

*Celts beat the Cavs last night. Honestly, they don't really get how this lottery works do they?

*D-Wade is going to try to practice today.

*The Patriots and Seahawks preseason game in China was cancelled. I'm glad, but probaby not as glad as Bill. (Peter King also has some other notes)

*Florida is trying to go back to back tonight.

So here we are, finally. After a season that ended with losing 5 games in one weekend to the MFY, with David having heart problems and Lester needing chemotherapy. Finally, after an offseason made too long by a 3rd place finish, a tease of an AFC Championship game, no 4 rings in 6 year talk, no parades, and Peyton Manning everywhere you freakin' turn. After all the Dice-K bidding, signing and plane tracking, J.D. Drew not really signed but signed contracts, Trot in an Indians uniform, Manny missing and showing, Curt talking (and learning Japanese), Todd Helton, Papelbon's shoulder, and closer-by-committee panic attacks. Finally, after a spring training that never seemed to end and that mattered a little too much because of another teams inability to get a first down when it counted. Finally after all the waiting, it's time for the games to count. Play Ball!

Here is what everyone has been waiting for: My Red Sox slanted, East Coast biased, Yankee hating MLB preview

American League East
Boston Red Sox (how could I pick any other way? My name isn’t Red Sox Gal for nothing)
New York Yankees (I don’t the Blue Jays have the arms to beat them)
Toronto Blue Jays (but they do have Burnett and Halladay)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Some solid bats, no pitching...Carl Crawford is nasty)
Baltimore Orioles (Hey, Kev. How’s the basement treating ya?)

American League Central
Detroit Tigers (got some nasty young arms)
Minnesota Twins (bummer about Liriano)
Cleveland Indians (they are 1 Keith Foulke short - probably going to cry )
Chicago White Sox (I don’t know much about them)
Kansas City Royals (55 mil for Gil?)

American League West
Los Angeles Angels (ORLANDO!)
Oakland Athletics (Can we wait till Billy Beane wins a WS before we call him genius?)
Texas Rangers (still no pitching)
Seattle Mariners (Ichiro, you’ll LOVE Boston!)

Divisional Playoffs
Boston over LAA, 3-1
MFY over Detroit, 3-2

American League Championship Series
Boston over MFY, 4-3

AL MVP: David Ortiz, Boston
AL Cy Young: Johan Santana, Minnesota
AL Rookie of the Year: Diasuke Matsuzaka, Boston (is he even eligible? I don’t care)

National League East
New York Mets (Carlos Beltran will hit 79 home runs)
Philadelphia Phillies (I love Ryan Howard)
Florida Marlins (and Miguel Cabrera)
Atlanta Braves (good young arms that aren’t quite ready yet. Andruw Jones would look very handsome in a Red Sox uniform. And Coco would look great in um, any other uniform)
Washington Nationals (they’ll be great in um, 2010?)

National League Central
Chicago Cubs (300 mil should buy you the division right?)
Milwaukee Brewers (Ben Sheets is going to have a huge year)
St. Louis Cardinals (they were never that good to begin with)
Cincinnati Reds (I hope Ken has an injury free year)
Houston Astros (R$o$g$e$r or no R$o$g$e$r)
Pittsburgh Pirates (um, they get to root for Jason Bay at least)

National League West
Los Angeles Dodgers (Hey Nomar)
San Diego Padres (Hi Dave, also to say I have a crush on Jake Peavy would be putting it mildly)
San Francisco Giants (I hope Barry Bonds tears an ACL or two)
Colorado Rockies (keep Todd Helton please)
Arizona Diamondbacks (Randy’s old)

Divisional Playoffs
Chicago over New York, 3-2
LA over Philadelphia, 3-1

National League Championship Series
Los Angeles over Chicago, 4-2 (the wait will have to continue. It’s worth it though Chicago)

NL MVP: Alfonso Soriano, Chicago
NL Cy Young: Jake Peavy, San Diego
NL Rookie of the Year: Chris Young, Arizona

World Series
Boston over Los Angeles, 4-2 (like I could pick it any other way)

I'll be back later with the links and some thoughts from last night Mets / Cards game.