It’s like Christmas except it’s warmer
Even as a new follower of baseball, I’ve been excited by the buzz of Opening Day. The opening clash between the ‘new’ Miami Marlins and St Louis Cardinals was filled with anticipation.
The newly built Marlins Park looked resplendent and fitting for a game of such magnitude. However, the Cardinals put in a ruthlessly efficient performance. Pitcher Kyle Lohse was hitless for the 6 innings. I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything less from the reigning World Champions.
The Opening Day matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians threatened to be a torpid affair until the 9th inning. The Tribe were 4-1 up when Edwin Encarnacion’s double drove two Blue Jays in to score and tied the game. After this, both teams contrived to create the longest match in Opening Day history: 5 hours 21 minutes, 16 innings. The Blue Jays won it at the top of the 16th when JP Arrencibia smashed a home run over left field with two men on bases.
Tropicana Field was the site of the opening game for my newly adopted team, Tampa Bay Rays. Their opening series is against reigning American League East champions, and divisional rivals, New York Yankees. This was a great opportunity to see the Rays in action against the main threat to post season baseball. It got off to a great start in the 1st inning when Carlos Peña, who was at bat due to an intentional walk, smashed the ball out of the park for a Grand Slam home run. At this point, I was hopeful! However, over the next eight innings, the Yankees picked off starting pitcher James Shields and eked out a 6-5 lead. However, it was the returning Peña who managed to get a cutter away and Ben Zobrist scored to ensure a 7-6 victory and a winning start to my following of the Rays. In game 2 of the series, the Rays won again and are on the verge of a 3-0 series sweep against the Yankees. I’m hopeful!
Over the first few days of the regular season, I’ve been watching MLB.TV and ESPN America to view as many teams as I can. I could eulogize over MLB.TV for hours, and probably will in one post, but it allows me to watch any game I choose. So far, I’ve made myself aware of some of the big names and characters of the game such as Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols. I’m particularly intrigued by Detroit Tigers’ first baseman Prince Fielder as I imagined him to be some lean, athletic type. However, he’s a huge, ursine man who looks like he eats Philly Cheesesteaks for an hors d’oeuvre. I’m also fascinated by Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants. I can only describe his pitching style as ‘busy’ as he’s all arms, legs and hair. With hair that length, I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t wear a Metallica t-shirt under his jersey.
Am I hooked on baseball yet? Not sure but I did find myself practicing a fastball whilst waiting for the kettle to boil when making a cup of tea today. “Strike one!”
