You can't win a division title in April, but you certainly can lose one.

Let's assume for the sake of argument that Monday's 12-5 White Sox opening day debacle was just an anomaly and we give them a mulligan.  Wednesday is the game that may be the microcosm of the season to come.

First, the Sox get off to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  One of the cardinal sins in baseball is to allow your opponent to score in their next half inning after you scored.  But Judy Garland apparently didn't get the memo and gave up four runs in the top of the second.  Then, after the Indians expanded their lead to 5-3, the Sox tied it in the fourth and went ahead in the fifth, only to surrender a run in the top of the sixth and the decisive two run Grady Sizemore 2 run home run in the seventh.

Garland labored all afternoon.  Andrew Sisco, who I think will prove to be very inconsistent, couldn't find the plate.  Mike McDougal had nothing.  Matt Thornton had less.  Only David Aardsma, a guy who didn't make the team until the last cut, pitched effectively.

The offense wasn't completely to blame. Jermaine Dye struck out three times and left five teammates on base.

So, what's the takeaway from yesterday's game? 

1. Cleveland is a pretty good team.
2. The Sox starting pitching is shaky
3. The Sox bullpen is shaky
4. This could be a long year on the South Side.

While I understand the game was played in 30 degree temperatures with a wind chill of 17, I also know that it was that way for both teams.  And, while I agree that to panic after two games of a 162 game season is silly, the first two games may be a cause for concern.  I mean, even the Cubs won.

Lightning Round

• Stone Cold Steve Austin is qualified to be the Mayor of Cincinnati
• Hallelujah, praise John Kerry and pass the collection plate, baseball finally shows some common sense and releases the hostages.  Now I can watch the White Sox lose whenever I want.
• Why does Sam Zell want to sell the Cubs?  So he can keep his share of the Sox.  Sell the park too, Sam.
• Coaching bodies are flying all over the place.  Thirty year old assistant Brad Stevens gets the nod at Butler; John Beliein changes tax brackets by accepting the job in Michigan; Louis Orr moves up to Bowling Green; Jeff Bzdelik is mustered out of Air Force for the Colorado job; Bob Huggins is mulling an offer to return to his alma mater West Virginia; Dana Atlman says he'll retire at Creighton (and given the stunt he pulled with Arkansas, who would take a chance on him again?) and Larry Eustachy drinks up a two-year extension at Southern Mississippi.  The only guy who has nothing to say is Billy Donovan.
• Survey Says: Fans like hockey fights.  Even Gary Bettman is convinced.
• They must not show Bugs Bunny cartoons in Canada.
• Michael Ray Richardson wishes you and your family a Happy Passover.
• Time for the wearing of the green
• Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
• Buried in this release, you will notice that "Good Eats", hosted by Alton Brown on Food Network has won a Peabody Award.  The show is awesome and the award is well deserved.  Nicely played, A.B.
• Elvis wanted to be part of the dead parrot sketch. I wonder if he ate Spam and banana sandwiches, too.
  
• The Alabama House of Representatives voted down a bill raising the legal alcohol limit allowed in beer so that perhaps more upscale products could be sold in the state.  One legislator admitted that it was to keep out Colt 45 because "we don't want that kind around here."
• There is a new movie about Clifford Irving, the writer who fleeced his publisher penning a fictional autobiography of Howard Hughes.  Some actually believe that if it hadn't been for Irving's book deal, Watergate would have never happened.  In the end, both Nixon and Irving turned out to be crooks.
• Rudy Gulliani is tired of people judging him on his personal life and not his professional accomplishments.  I hope the Republicans can find a candidate that they can elect "choir boy in chief."
• You might be surprised what you are feeding your dog.  Butkus D. Dogg says beware of extremists who are trying to scare you by attempting to up sell you on designer dog food. 
  
• People that ride this roller coaster at a California amusement park are no longer allowed to scream.  You are still permitted to throw up on the shoes of the person settling next to you.