So what did we learn from the Red Sox’s thrilling 6-5 10-inning win over Oakland Tuesday morning?

First, baseball at 6 a.m. is bizarre. But, remember, in Oakland the game started at 3 a.m.

Second, the Japanese love baseball and the Red Sox. And the idea of blowing whistles when a foul ball is hit to alert the fans is a good one that could be implemented here.

Third, Manny Ramirez is still one of the best hitters in the game as he proved with his two two-run doubles.

Fourth, Ramirez still doesn’t run balls out. His game-deciding two-run double in the 10th would have been a triple if he had run as soon as he hit it instead of standing and admiring it. In addition to a hit to the outfield, an infield hit, a wild pitch, an error, a balk or a passed ball could have scored him from third. They wouldn’t have scored him from second.

If it wasn’t for Emil Brown’s base-running blunder in the bottom of the 10th, a seventh run could have been the game-winner for Oakland.

Johnny Pesky once benched Carl Yastrzemski for the next game for not running out a ground ball.

If today’s managers benched every player who didn’t run out a ground ball, his lineup card would look completely different the next day.

Fifth, it’s nail-biting time when Kyle Snyder comes into a close game. Snyder surrendered the two-run homer that enabled Oakland to regain the lead after the Red Sox had scored three times to erase a 2-0 deficit.

The middle relief corps makes me very nervous.

Bryan Corey and Mike Timlin are useable and Manny Delcarmen has the stuff to have a breakout season if he can ever become consistent.

But Snyder, Javier Lopez and Julian Tavarez are nerve-wracking and manager Terry Francona appears to have confidence in them.

Sixth, hopefully Daisuke Matsuzaka can avoid the nightmarish I-can’t-find-the-strike-zone innings that plagued him last year and again Tuesday morning.

Jon Lester’s start this morning will be revealing.

With Curt Schilling’s 60-day stint on the disabled list, that leaves the No. 3 spot in the rotation up for grabs.

If Lester can get ahead of hitters and limit his pitch count, he could be a solid No. 3 man.

If not, it could be knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has to do a better job holding runners on base and allowing his catcher the opportunity to throw out potential base stealers.

Youngsters Jacoby Ellsbury and Brandon Moss both made significant contributions on Tuesday and give Francona the luxury of being able to use different outfield combinations.

Ramirez has his spot in left, but Ellsbury and Coco Crisp give the Sox a speedy one-two combination in center with the one who isn’t starting being able to take over for Ramirez as a late-inning defensive replacement.

J.D. Drew in right could also be spelled by Crisp, Ellsbury or Moss.

This is a deeper team than last year’s when it comes to everyday players. Backup first baseman Sean Casey is a definite upgrade from Eric Hinske.

And designated hitter David Ortiz is healthy after playing last season on a bad knee.

You have to assume that shortstop Julio Lugo and Drew will have better seasons than they did a year, although both came through in the playoffs.

Ace Josh Beckett’s back ailment is a concern.

It doesn’t appear serious, but backs can act up at any time. It’s great to have baseball back, and it’s nice to see it begin in a country which has as much passion for it as we do.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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