The first series of the season is in the books and the Red Sox are on their way to Baltimore with a 2-1 record after last night's 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Of the last two games there were only a few bright spots to showcase, Jonathan Papelbon's performance being one, Josh Becket's being another. Monday's game was an all-around impressive display of offense - Mike Lowell's bat is slow...what? - and pitching. Thank the baseball gods that the Curt Schilling is pitching like Curt Schilling. We missed you last year, big guy.

Some items with regard to this season opening series against the Rangers ... Is it just us or are the voices of Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy the most soothing sounds on the face of the earth (As soothing as a thick Mass accent can possible be - "Franconer", "Mahk Loretter", "safety belts are the LAR in Massachusetts"). After a long winter of nationally televised football games and Tommy Heinsohn's shrill banshee "TOMMY POINT!!!!1!1!11" cries, it's beyond comforting to hear two local guys talk baseball for a couple of hours.

Also, it's nice to see the Sox players react with some intensity and really get into the games. Seeing Josh Beckett get fired up after K'ing one of the Rangers, and Papelbon exhult after blowing away the Texas line-up to earn the save - that's good stuff. Bostonist is officially psyched for this season. One suggestion? We propose that the Red Sox adopt the New Zealand All Blacks haka as a new tradition before home games at Fenway. Watch this clip at YouTube and you will, no doubt, agree that this needs to be fast-tracked to the front-office desk. Make it happen Larry. You know you want to.

In a somewhat related baseball note - yesterday Bronson Arroyo hit a friggin' home-run in his first at-bat as a Cincinatti Red. In other news, monkeys were seen flying out of peoples' butts. Not only do chicks dig Creed cover songs, and embarrasing porformances with Alter-Bridge, but they also dig the long ball. Way to go Bronson!