Here We Go Fans!!!
Tonight is the U.S. baseball opener for the Miami Marlins in their new ballpark against the LaRussa-less, Albert-less World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. Yes, that’s right, the U.S. opener. This is exciting as every opener should be. However, the opener should have already happened. A Wednesday night single-game opener for baseball? Come on, that’s terrible. Plus, it’s a RE-opener anyways. The Mariners and Athletics already clinched not going 162 and oh as they split two games last week in Japan while most of us in America were still sleeping or at least wishing we still were. They were well pitched and well played games by the scores of 3-1 and 4-1 as Oakland evened up the series in Game 2. These games should have been an exhibition though and played one or two days later. Then, Japanese fans of MLB would still get a great look at some of the best players in the world and the teams wouldn’t have to bother going back to the Spring Training complexes.
I’m all for the expansion and promotion of the game, but the real games need to at least take place in one of our four continental time zones and preferably played on U.S. soil of any sort. Why not let another U.S. city host a game? Perhaps San Juan, Puerto Rico? Like Omaha, Nebraska maybe? That’s where the College World Series is held. The stadium holds 24,000, which isn’t too bad. And I’m sure seating expansion would be in the very near future at the mere thought of MLB games being played there. And don’t worry, I already checked the fence dimensions, and they easily meet MLB requirements. Besides, I don’t think Oakland or Seattle were going to draw 43,000 plus for the first game back home like they did in Japan with Ichiro in the lineups. And as far as the Wednesday night thing? Scrap that idea. Start the season again like they had until recently with a lone Sunday night game (when everyone is home watching t.v. anyway) on ESPN. Then, on Monday, at least half of the other 28 teams would play followed by the rest on Tuesday. This one week gap of Spring Training games after the first real games were played just waters down the start of the season, and not to mention the awkwardness of practice games being played on the SAME days as the real ones.
As the season kicks into high gear, here’s a quick look at some facts of note….For tonight’s game, we have the dominant right arm of Josh Johnson for Miami against the solid Kyle Lohse of St. Louis. The Cards’ Mike Matheny, a former St. Louis catcher, manages his first game at any level against the Marlins and their new manager, Ozzie Guillen in a new ballpark with acquariams for backstops. Now that’s a bit different, but if Arizona can have a swimming pool behind the fence, why not, right?…..St. Louis begins defense of their title just as they did 80 years ago after taking out Connie Mack’s Philly A’s four games to three in 1931…..Speaking of anniversaries, we all know of Fenway Park’s 100th birthday this year and it’s also the 50th for Dodger Stadium and the 20th for Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the leader of the retro-feel stadiums. Amazing. I like it that three of the greatest parks enter new decades together, but that’s just me……and finally, PLAY BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Later Fans.