OK, I’m better now. Y’know, for seven innings that was a helluva game.
Unless they add Tar ‘N’ Feather a Dolan Night to the promotional schedule, Opening Day is the only date on the calendar in which you can lose — even if the loss is of the suckerpunch-and-sit-down-quick variety — and still think, “Man, I love baseball.” Which really is what I’m thinking, honest.
This game was proof, to anyone still looking for it, that spring training really does mean nothing. Looper was the one reliever no one had conniptions about in St. Lucie, and now he can start running zeroes out there and still have a cruddy-looking ERA on Memorial Day. Not that I feel particularly sorry for him at the moment.
Time to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive: Pedro was magnificent; Beltran entered the orange-and-blue record books in style; Cornelius Clifford was slammin’; and Reyes ran with … why yes, I do believe he ran with abandon. All nice things. On the other hand, David Wright won’t remember this one fondly, and then there was the matter of that ninth inning.
Hey, at least it was quick. My Franco/Benitez-inspired ulcer had barely started burning when I was wondering why Ed Coleman was talking with Danny Graves.
Last year I listened to the FAN after the first game and Kaz Matsui was Sadaharu Oh and the Braves were toast. I didn’t listen this afternoon, but I bet the word is we’re doomed to finish looking up at the Nationals and the Ugie Watch is officially on. Whatever. Me, I’m just bummed there’s no game tomorrow.
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