By: Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor

Three games is nothing in baseball. Especially the first three. But, after a close opening series against the Yankees in which the Red Sox gave up 1-2, there are some things we can take away.

Five things we can take away from the first series:

1. Even if our offense doesn’t come out all the time, it is there. In the third game, we scored one lone run. This was a showing of the reality we knew was coming. Sometimes, we’re just not going to score. We’ve built a defensive team and we know it. But, in game one we scored nine runs, and in the second, four. Four runs shows what we might expect on average, and nine shows that we definitely do have it in us when everything falls into place. We had it in us enough to out-power the Yankees on Sunday, so I’d guess there are a majority of other MLB teams that we can out-hit on a regular basis. Kansas City this weekend will give us more insight, of course. With that, and the fact that our pitching rotation looks to about only have to compete with the Yankees, I’d say we’re looking pretty good.

2. John Lackey will be awesome. We were all awaiting Lackey’s debut as a Red Sox. And despite a 3-1 loss in extra innings, Lackey sent Red Sox home sorta smiling anyway. In fact, he gave Beckett (8 hits in 4.2 and 5 ER and 2 HR) and Lester (5 hits in 5 and 4 ER) a run for their money, posting the best performance of the week. He only gave up 3 hits over 6 innings for no earned runs, and is posting a sweet 0.00 ERA.

Lackey has also proven that he is a true team player. Youk was hit in the helmet by a pitch earlier in the game, and as soon as Lackey got back on the mound, he suckered one at Derek Jeter’s arm. That’s having your teammate’s back.

3. Adrien Beltre was a great pick-up, and the other new guys too. All the new Sox additions were brought in to build up the defense. But, it doesn’t hurt to have the contribute offensively too. It was hard not to notice Beltre’s presence right off the bat. He went 4 for 11 for the second highest batting average on the Sox thus far. But, not too far behind, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron both went 3 for 10 each with three hits and two runs, better than some of the Sox veterans.

The best indicator that you’re part of the Red Sox family? When the fans already have a gimmick for you: Marco? Scutaro! Marco? Scutaro!

4. Youkillis could be stepping into that hole left by Bay. I’m not sure Youk has ever let us down. He’s always been solid on both sides of the plate. But this opening series, Youk was just awesome, going 4-9 with three runs, three RBI, to make a .444 average right now. He’s clearly ready to step into some big shoes of Sox players since lost.

5. Our bullpen was probably the weakest. In both game 2 and 3 the Sox looked to win it, ahead at points in both. But, as soon as we took out our shining aces, the tables turned. Papelbon showed two sides, saving Beckett’s shaky start in the first game, but letting the game slip in the tenth in the third by giving up a homerun to Curtis Granderson. Pap doesn’t give up home runs often, hardly ever, and it’s worrisome to see it happen to soon. Before that, Daniel Bard’s entrance into the game immediately gave the Yankees the tying run on his first batter, although he regained his composure, keeping it tied ’til the ninth. Hideki Okajima is a similar story to Papelbon, keeping the Sox in the game on Sunday, and blowing it on Tuesday when the Sox were tied 4-4. Although a Scutaro error loaded the bases, in .2 innings, he let up two hits and a run.  Then Scott Atchison made it a 2 run lead for a final score of 6-4.

What you can’t take away from the first series:

Big Papi is long gone: Yes, he went 1 for 11, the worst for the Sox batting line-up. Yes, we already have our doubts from last season. But, it’s really unnecessary to toss him to the wind and rally for Mike Lowell at DH. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mikey. But we have to give Papi more than three games worth of a chance. His preseason performance was pretty hopeful, and you have to admit he looks to have shed many of his lovable, cuddle-able pounds. I have no doubt that he not only worked very hard in the offseason (it shows) but that he wants more than anything to prove everyone wrong. So, put down the torches for a second, ay?

If the Starting Rotation will stay the same: Everyone was surprised at the way the first series rotation panned out. Order: Beckett, Lester, Lackey. Order of best performance? Lackey, Lester, Beckett. Francona isn’t about to make any rash moves. Again, it was the first start for each. But, it will be interesting to see over the season how the three might challenge each other for that first, or even second, spot. It almost happened in playoffs last year, where Lester was absolutely on fire, and Beckett wasn’t quite cutting it. Francona has absolute faith in his number 1, demonstrated when he resigned him the day after his rocky start. Either way, you can’t complain about having a 1, 2, and 3, that could be a number 1 on just about any other team.

Most things: Three games in is almost too early to tell anything in baseball. Two weeks from now, I could be completely wrong on all of these things. But isn’t that the fun of a six-month season? Things can shift over and over and over again.

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