Rakes!

Wasn't that beautiful? I mean, aside from Doc's 7th inning aberration (and let's assume that's a blip, shall we?). Lind and Snider look more than ready, I'd say. We said we wanted offense, and offense we got. Rakes!

There were nearly as many good vibes floating around snowy Toronto yesterday as there were during last month's US-Canada love-in, and the home team delivered with 4 (four!) two out runs in the first. Maybe it's a bit early to project a 162 win season, but that's kind of how it felt last night. It was all lovely until a few amateur fans decided to make themselves the story. Stay home, guys. The beer's cheaper.

In the lead up to the big event, I was all a-tingle, ready to celebrate the Secular Christmas Day (er, moreso) in fine fashion. Snacks, drinks, the proper attire... and I had in my head the words of the poet of the Jays blogging community, The Tao of Stieb:

Certainly, if you are focused on the the short term, and the wins and losses in the next six weeks or six months, you may be disappointed by the latest incarnation of the Blue Jays. But for those of us who have been following this narrative word for word, line by line and chapter after chapter, this is an incredibly exciting time.

Now, we watch the next heroes step out of the shadows and into the limelight. And if that is not the fodder for the fondest of dreams, then what is?

Beautiful.