Phillies are hot so far in April - how nice! (and more photos from Opening Day)

One of my favorite shirts I saw in DC on Monday proclaiming love for Doc.

The first week of the 2010 season wrapped up this afternoon with a battle between two Roys down in Houston.  And what a week it has been.  The Phillies are off to their hottest start in 17 years - yes you have to go all the way back to 1993 to find the last time the Phills started the season 5-1! I'm not used to the "hot start in April" thing we have going on here this year, but I have enjoyed watching it unfold so far, mainly due to the following things:

• RYAN HOWARD before today, Ryan had only struck out ONCE in 5 games. Sure today he added 3 more K's, and, sure, he's left the bases loaded like 4 times already, but he also is currently tied for the NL lead in RBIs with 10 - my favorite of those came when he came back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk with bases loaded and two outs on Saturday night.
• PLACIDO POLANCO - WOW!! just wow.  Though it is kind of sad to see Pete Happy playing on the lackluster Astros after being a part of the WFC's, you forget all about that when his replacement is getting hit after hit after hit.  He's not only leading the team with 13 hits, but that's good enough to be leading the NL at this point too.
• THE REST OF THE OFFENSE - I know it's early, but the Phillies are leading the league in runs (43), hits (69), and walks (34).  Seriously - we are going to score a gazillion runs this year.
• ROY ROY ROY ROY ROY!!!! - Sure, everyone kind of gasped and held their breath as he gave up a hit on his first pitch Monday against the Nats, but he settled down and is performing as advertised.  We have the best pitcher in baseball.  The Phillies do.  Crazy.  Even today, without double digit run support, Roy shined, getting out of not one, but two men-on, no-out jams in the 6th and 7th.  The bullpen didn't stir even once, it was Roy's game to win.  And even though he had thrown over 100 pitches when he came out to pitch the 9th, with the Phillies only up by a run, I had no fear that Roy wouldn't get the job done.  What an awesome feeling that is.

Sure, the first two series that the Phills have played have been against terrible teams, and there are still many many games to go, but I've got a real good feeling that this season will be awesome and memorable yet again.  

Is it 3:05 Monday yet??

After the jump - more photos from Opening Day in DC!!