Daniel Bard turned in a pretty nice job in the Red Soxand#8217; 10-3 victory in Chicago Friday night, one appearance after turning in a pretty nice job in Bostonand#8217;s 6-5 victory in Minneapolis on Monday night.

Love or hate quot;Opening Weekquot; -- and I#39;m much more on the hate side -- baseball has started, which means the training room is filling up. The fans I saw in Anaheim were cheering for their team, hoping that a brand new first baseman will lead to a championship. That early season optimism is everywhere, from the gallows version of the 4-0 Mets to the quot;it#39;s earlyquot; version of the Red Sox and Yankees ...

Love or hate quot;Opening Weekquot; -- and I#39;m much more on the hate side -- baseball has started, which means the training room is filling up. The fans I saw in Anaheim were cheering for their team, hoping that a brand new first baseman will lead to a championship. That early season optimism is everywhere, from the gallows version of the 4-0 Mets to the quot;it#39;s earlyquot; version of the Red Sox and Yankees ...

Varitek, who will turn 40 on April 11, caught four no-hitters and is the third captain the Red Sox have had since 1923.

Tony La Russa#39;s exit opens door for Ozzie Smith at St. Louis Cardinals#39; camp