This week the Red Sox called up prospect Jed Lowrie, and the kid responded in his first major league start; notching 3 RBIs. Lowrie started the season at Triple AAA Pawtucket, where he’s had a rather slow start (0 HRs/1 RBI/.160 AVG/7 Runs/0 SBs). Lowrie won’t be in the lineup everyday, but he should get a nice taste of the bigs until everyday third baseman Mike Lowell returns from his thumb injury.

In their two game set with the Yankees, the Red Sox managed to come up with a split. After dropping the first game 15-9, the boys bounced back the next night winning 7-5. The Red Sox currently hold first place in the AL East with a 10-7 record, and will look to build upon their lead as they play host to the Texas Rangers this weekend.

As April winds down, here is a list of some things to watch over the next few weeks:
Can David Ortiz find his stroke? He’s currently batting a dismal .111 and only has 1 tater thus far.

Will Clay Buchholz bounce back from that shellacking he took against the Yankees? There is no doubt in my mind that the kid will see his fair share of ups and downs all season long, but the thing I will be watching for is how he responses in his starts after he gets rocked.

In a rather tight AL East, will the Red Sox be able to pull away from the crowd like they did early last season and establish themselves as one of the top teams in the majors?

One of the greatest rivalries in sports is between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. When these two teams get together, they battle like gladiators in a ring of fire. Every game has more intensity and determination then the previous one, and no game is ever done until that final out is made.

I’ve seen some miraculous comebacks in sports, many of them by both of these teams. However, none is more memorable then the 2004 ALCS, when the Red Sox trailed 3 games to none, and everybody counted them out. From Dave Roberts steal, to Papi’s big hits, to Damon’s slam, every play in those games were essential in order for the Red Sox to defeat Mariano Rivera and the Yankees. To this day, the Red Sox are the only team in major league history to overcome an 0-3 deficit; that my friends, is special.

Aside from the close games and astounding comebacks, what about the brawls? A brawl in baseball ignites the fans, and sends everyone in the park to their feet. So when these two teams go up against each other, everybody watching is prepared for what may be another epic brawl. Like when Don Zimmer charged Pedro on the mound, and Pedro threw him down like a bear would a pinecone. Or how about when Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek got into a little scrum by home plate. There are endless memories and battles between these teams and I can’t wait to see the next.

Round one between these two teams began this past weekend, and it went as follows. The Red Sox were stymied in game one, by the movement and changes of speed thrown to them by Chien-Ming Wang. Nevertheless, it was Josh Beckett’s turn on Saturday to return the favour to the Yankees, and boy did he ever. Throwing 39 pitches through the first 5 innings, Beckett looked masterful. However, a little blip in the 6th cost him a quality start, but the performance was definitely there for those who witnessed it.

Then the series came down to the rubber match on Sunday night; Matsuzaka v.s. Hughes. The Red Sox took advantage of Hughes early struggles and never looked back. Matsuzaka did the job, but was not overly spectacular. It was a team effort that earned them the final win in that series, and the bragging rights to round one. Round two will kick back up again this Wednesday, when the two teams meet for a rare 2 game set.

Thus, when these two teams prepare for battle, I am on the edge of my seat, regardless of the time of year. October is sweeter, but when I see the Red Sox win, I feel joy. When I see the Yankees lose, I feel extreme jubilation. There is nothing I enjoy more, than watching the Red Sox beat the Yankees.

As much as the classic 1970s rock band Boston tried to describe it in their hit song in 1976, there are no words to describe the feelings people experience when they receive a Championship ring.

Your body is over-whelmed with personal joy and pride, and your heart skips every second beat. In my short life, I have won 2 Junior Hockey titles, and even though it doesn’t stack up anywhere close to a World Series title, it was a pretty amazing feeling.

The feeling of being a Champion, and a member of the best team at the level you played at, is one that nobody can take away from you. Your name is engraved on that trophy and will be remembered forever.

This afternoon, the Boston Red Sox played their Home Opener in front of 36,567 fans at Fenway Park against the Detroit Tigers. Before the game, the Red Sox were given their World Series rings for the Championship they earned in 2007.

Every time I witness one of these ceremonies, my heart sways like a swing, and nostalgic feelings rush through my body, as I remember how I felt when I received such a great prize. Being a Champion is the greatest feeling in the world.