Yesterday was Opening Day for Jose

Finally.

With last night's 4-1 win against Oakland, for the first time this season, it felt like the White Sox were here to play.

And surprisingly, they did it in one of the unfriendliest ball parks they play in. This was only the fifth win for the Sox in twenty-eight tries at McAfee Coliseum.

Jose Contreras, coming off of the one-inning debacle of opening day, held his own for six innings, and seemed to get sharper and stronger with each pitch.

And his team gave him help, using the long ball to take the lead against powerful Oakland right-hander Rich Harden.

Jim Thome led off the fourth with a home run. (Is there anything more satisfying than hearing the THWACK of his bat against a ball and knowing as you hear it, it's going outta there?) And Scott Podsednik added a solo home run in the fifth. You read it right. Podsednik. It was pretty funny watching Pods round the bases - he seemed more surprised than anyone. But after all, this is 2007 - and Fornelli reminded us in his pre-season analysis that Pods always does great in odd years. As if to prove Fornelli right, he also doubled and singled.

Pods and Thome finished 3-for-4, and Jermaine Dye added a sacrifice fly.

The one fly in the ointment was watching Oakland 3rd baseman Eric Chavez receive his sixth Gold Glove trophy. It kinda reopened the "Joe Crede was robbed" wound from last year.

And would it be a perfect White Sox game without an Ozzie Guillen quote? The White Sox manager reminded me yet again why I adore him.

White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen was relishing the rare victory in Oakland, though still frustrated with the A's alcohol-free clubhouse that has been dry since last season.

"We never do that," he said after coming out to the clubhouse to hang with his team. "It's weird to win here the first time in 20 years and not have a beer to celebrate. ... Jose definitely needed one like this."

We had one for you, Ozzie.