[Ragin Cajun]

4/4
The offseason has flown by, it's hard to believe that Opening day is already here. Although we don't open up until tomorrow I will catch at least one of the games on TV today. Not much happened for us after the few trades we made. I'm not real comfortable still with the team as a whole but I think we acquired a few solid pieces. Ellie appears to like what we've pieced together as well and is anxious to make his own big league debut in the dugout.

The starting five is now Bill Singer, Nolan Ryan, Rudy May, Frank Tanana and J.R. Richard. Quintana is still the anchor in the bullpen. It's a question if we can get the ball to him in the ninth innings that worry me the most.

The batting order shapes up with Mickey Rivers leading off then Bruce Bochte and Tommy McCraw follwoing him. Joe Lahoud hits cleanup giving us four straight lefties to open the game. I wish one or two of them could switch hit at least. Frank Robinson will DH and bat fifth. Ellie Rodriguez is catching and in the sixth spot. Rudy Meoli, Bobby Valentine and Dave Chalk close out the order. Billy North is on the bench and can pinch hit or play a defensive reserve if needed. He'll get his share of starts as well, especially in left field behind Bochte.

4/5
Gene (Autry) called me up this morning to wish me luck. His heart is still in this team. I want to win for him almost as much as I want to win for me now. I spent the morning going over the books. Our payroll has gone up to $11.24 million with the moves we made. Tickets are printed up at $4.10 each and we are budgeted at $16.2 million for the year. While the season is just beginning, I am already beginning to think ahead. I like Frank Robinson alot, but is he worth being the highest paid player on the team at $1.74 million? That will be a big chunk of change to free up come seasons end. Maybe he'll retire and relieve me the burden of making that decision. Or maybe he'll have a great season and be a steal at that salary and make me re-up him for another year or two. We'll see.

(later that day)
It's a bit cold up here in Chicago as we face the Sox. Singer started for us tonight against Jim Kaat. The game started with Rivers doing a great job. He worked the count full before flying out but he got seven pitches for his teammates to see. I love that in a lead off man. Ellie decided at the last minute to pencil in Billy North who walked and then Joe Lahoud slapped a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right field for a 2-run homer and a 2-0 lead for my club. The game was tight as the Sox evened up the game in the bottom of the fourth, I was so nervous I started chewing on my nails. Bad habit, need to stop doing that. The clubs traded runs in the seventh before we pulled Singer after eight solid innings. Kaat was still in the game as we started the ninth. Bochte walked and Bobby (Valentine) doubled so we had two on with one out. Dave (Chalk) singled scoring both runners for a two run lead. Quintana came in to get the save, and he allowed Bucky Dent to score on a single before closing it out and we got the win 6-5.

Singer gave up three earned, four total, over eight innings and Quintana got the save. Joe Lahoud won player of the game honors with a 3-4 day at the plate and 2 RBIs with his home run. Chalk had a huge game, 2-4 with 3 RBIs including the game winner. I was so nervous I couldn't stand it. Hard to believe I have to sit through 161 more of these.