Opening Day Baseball Season! Woo Hoo! Who's psyched?!

[Mitchell]

Yes, I know that technically the White Sox and Indians played last night, but for most teams, including my Braves, today is opening day. Atlanta starts at 4pm ET. I am psyched! Who's ready? I know I am! Wooo Hoo! Bring it on, baby!

Mitch

 

[luvgirlsfeet]

I've been looking forward to this since the end of the World Series in 2005

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Let`s Go Rangers!!!

 

[Goodieluver]

white sox continue the lead

Started the season last year in first, ended the season in first, it begins again!

 

[milagros317]

All I've got to say is ....

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Boy, I guess the Monty Python foot really came down on the Phillies today!

 

[Mitchell]

Milagros, my good friend, I have one thing to say to you. Braves 11, Dodgers 10! MAAAAAAUH!
(Just kidding. I'm happy the Braves won, obviously, but I know it's only one of 162) It was a good game, and the Braves almost lost, they nearly blew an 8-1 lead, and I was holding my breath in the ninth.

Mitch

 

[Angel_2]

All I have to say is METS 3 Nats 2 🙂

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Metsfan what you take out of the 3-2 win is this: Glavine threw 100 pitches and gave up just one run. Was in complete control. David Wright gets off to the good start with a 2 for 4 day including an opposite field line shot homerun. Xavier Nady was 4 for 4 including 2 doubles and an RBI. Both Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran had outfield assists in this game. Aaron Heilman wasn't great but got the ball to Wagner. Then Billy Wagner did what the Mets got him to do: Save games. At this time last year, Braden Looper help the Mets snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as he blew a 3 run lead and the Reds beat the Mets 7-6. So plenty to be excited about. It wasn't just a 3-2 win. There are lots of questions being answered before they are even asked. That is good news. 😎

Tom Glavine 1-0 1.50 ERA 6IP 6H 1R 1ER 3BB 5K's 100PT

That is Tom's line which also includes getting 2 hits off of Livan Hernandez and his 276th career win. Mets Win!!! Mets Win!!!

 

[Mitchell]

Glavine pitched very well. The way he pitched yesterday is like the Glavine of old. I truly believe that if everyone on both teams stays healthy, it will be Mets and Braves down to the wire in September, with one team probably getting the NL East, and the other the wild card. The real difference in these teams are the closers, and the bullpens. I think the Braves have the edge in starting pitching, while the offenses are probably about even, but the Mets have the top notch closer in Wagner, and we have Chris Reitsma, and a bullpen by committee. As he always does, I think Atlanta GM John Scherholtz will make a big move before the trade deadline to get someone to close games for us, if Chris falters. I look forward to Mets vs Braves this year, there should be some very interesting games there.

Mitch

 

[german]

OK I know little about baseball but does the Yankee win mean much now or is it to early?

Kust

 

[Warheart]

Yankees destroyed the darlings of the media the Oakland Athletics. The Big Unit mowed em down and A-Rod and Godzilla supplied the firepower. Prepare the World Series trophy cuz its coming back here to the Bronx!!!

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

OK I know little about baseball but does the Yankee win mean much now or is it to early?

Kust

Let me throw this out there german since you asked. Does it mean anything to the Tigers who won 3-1 or the White Sox who won 10-4 or the Red Sox who won 7-3 or the Braves who won 11-10 or the Mets who won 3-2 or the Padres who won 6-1 or the Brewers who won 5-2 or the Rockies who won 3-2 or the Cubs who won 16-7? This is 162 games everyone. Injuries could happen. Or players don't pan out in certain areas. Or slump occur. There are still 161 games to be played by most teams. Settle in. Sit back. Relax. Break open an icy cold Coca-Cola or whatever your favorite beverage might be and enjoy the ride. It's a LONG way until October 1st.

 

[german]

lol coca-cola, but I see what your saying. Thanks for replying. Also I like to watch baseball but as I said know little; what is a record teams looking for? Like NFL 10-6, 11-5, 12-4 you got a got record and playoff bound what would it be in baseball.

Kust

 

[Warheart]

No matter who wins its gonna be a fun season so let enjoy it! 🙂

 

[Mitchell]

German, most teams in baseball who get to the playoffs, have at least 85 wins. Sometimes, you may get a weak division or wild card winner who finishes 81-81, but most wild cards are 85 to 90 wins, and sometimes more, and most divisions are won with over 90 wins.
Most of the time, unless a team goes wire to wire, first place April to October, or gets a big lead, most divisions arent decided until July, August, or September, and, there have been cases where teams have blown big leads late in the season, like the 1991 Dodgers who blew a 9 1-2 game division lead to my Braves in 1991 after July, or the 1993 Giants, who blew a 10 game lead to the Braves after late July, or the 1969 Cubs, who led the Mets by 9 1-2 games in Mid August, and finished 8 games behind the Mets, losing eighteen games in the standings in six weeks.
It is far too early to determine anything. Sometimes, teams in last place in May, can win the World Series, or get there, as my Braves did when they were dead last in late May, 1992, and played in the World Series that year. 162 games is a longgg time, and, barring a runaway in any of the divisions, it will be three to four months before we really know what will happen.

Mitch

 

[Angel_2]

Metsfan what you take out of the 3-2 win is this: Glavine threw 100 pitches and gave up just one run. Was in complete control. David Wright gets off to the good start with a 2 for 4 day including an opposite field line shot homerun. Xavier Nady was 4 for 4 including 2 doubles and an RBI. Both Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran had outfield assists in this game. Aaron Heilman wasn't great but got the ball to Wagner. Then Billy Wagner did what the Mets got him to do: Save games. At this time last year, Braden Looper help the Mets snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as he blew a 3 run lead and the Reds beat the Mets 7-6. So plenty to be excited about. It wasn't just a 3-2 win. There are lots of questions being answered before they are even asked. That is good news. 😎

Tom Glavine 1-0 1.50 ERA 6IP 6H 1R 1ER 3BB 5K's 100PT

That is Tom's line which also includes getting 2 hits off of Livan Hernandez and his 276th career win. Mets Win!!! Mets Win!!!

I agree with this but lets be real as well as Glavine did pitch he walked way too many batters in the game. I think he had 4 or 5 walks thats not good. Overall it was a good game but we need better run support for us to win a lot of ball games. I think it being the first game everyone was nervos but now that its over I think our big boys Beltran, Delgado, Floyd will step up big for the next game.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Metsfan123 look at the stats Glavine had 3 walks which is quite acceptable.
The NY Yankees fell to 1-1 as A-Rod left a colony of men in scoring postition as the A's beat the Yankees 4-3. Marco Scutaro came through in the clutch as he drove in the game winning run.
White Sox also drop to 1-1 as the Indians scalp them 8-2. Aaron Boone had 4 hits including a homerun to help the Indians get their first win of the season.
The Texas Rangers improve to 1-1 as they beat the Red Sox 10-4.
The Toronto Blue Jays open up their season with a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Twins. Thing I noticed in this game is the visiting Twins honor Kirby Puckett by wearing #34 on their uniform sleeve and the Toronto Blue Jays honor their longtime announcer Tom Cheek who past away last fall from cancer by wearing TC and a microphone next to the TC on their left sleeve. These teams will do this for the entire 2006 season.
The Seattle Mariners got into the win column with a 10-8 victory over their division rivals the LA Angels. Both teams are now 1-1 on the season.
In the National League: The Brewers are now 2-0 as they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5. The Pirates are now 0-2.
The Marlins got their first win of the season as they battered and beat up the Houston Astros 11-2.
The Dodgers got off the deck and improved their record to 1-1 as they beat the Atlanta Braves in the rain 5-4. Jason Repko a name you will hear a lot of was 3 for 3 a walk a double and an RBI. Braves are now 1-1 for the season.
The Giants and Padres were rained out in San Diego last night. They will make that game up on Saurday July 1st at 12:05 PDT as part of a day-night doubleheader. The second game will start at it regular time 7:05 PDT.

 

[Warheart]

Nice to see Aaron Boone doing well. Who can forget that ALCS homerun in 2003? 😎

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Nice to see Aaron Boone doing well. Who can forget that ALCS homerun in 2003? 😎

Probably the same people who can't forget when the New York Yankees made history in 2004. You remember, don't you? One game away from the World Series with 4 games to play and you lost them all. You guys haven't seen the light of day since. 😛

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Wrapping up yesterday and last nights games.
In the Junior Curcuit, the Indians handed the World Champs their second straight defeat 4-3 in 11 innings. Jason Michaels went 4 for 5 with a run scored and and RBI. Danny Graves scored the win in relief.
The Tigers are one of only 2 undeated teams left in the AL as they trounced the KC Royals 14-3. 😱 Ivan Rodriguez had a perfect 5 for 5 game with a homerun, 2 doubles and 5 RBI. Young Jeremy Bonderman had a great performance as he went 6 2/3 IP gave up only 1 run on 3 hits. He also struck out 8 as the Tigers go to 2-0 on the season.
The Seattle Mariners beat the Angels 6-4 yesterday evening. Jose Lopez was 3 for with a triple and an RBI and Raul Ibanez chipped in with 2 hits and 2 RBI as the Mariners improve to 2-1 on the season. Orlando Cabrera hit a 2 run shot in a losing effort.
The Orioles took batting practice against the Devil Rays as they remain the only other AL team unbeaten. They clubbed the Rays 16-6. Jay Gibbons went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles, a homer and 4 RBI. Ramon Hernandez went 2 for2 with 3RBI and Brian Roberts was 2 for 6 with 3 RBI. Orioles improve to 2-0 and go for the sweep tonight in Baltimore.
The Twins get to the win column with a convincing 13-4 thrashing of the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto. Torii Hunter hit grand slam homer in amongst his four hits and had 6 RBI. Troy Glaus had 3 for 4 for the Blue Jays with a homerun and 3 RBI. The rubber game gets played tonight.
In a pitcher dual, the Red Sox moved to 2-1 as they beat the Texas Rangers 2-1. Trot Nixon hit a 2 run homerun off of starter and loser Kameron Loe. Loe went 6 2/3 innings and gave up only 6 hits. Josh Beckett picked up the win as he went 7 innings gave up a run on 5 hits. He also had 5 K's on the evening. Texas hosts the undefeated Tigers tonight and the Red Sox have the night off.
The New York Yankees blew a 4-0 lead and fell to the Oakland A's 9-4. The Yankees got a solo homer from Hidecki Matsui and a 3 run shot from Gary Sheffield. But that was not nearly enough as the Yankees infield defense let them down. Errors by Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano contribute to 5 unearned runs. Frank Thomas had a 3 run double and Milton Bradley drove in 3 runs himself in the win effort. Jared Wright was tagged with the loss giving up 4 runs but only 1 of the 4 were earned. Oakland travels to Seattle tonight as the take on the Mariners.

In the National League:
The Reds beat the Cubs 8-6. Rich Aurilia went 2 for 4 with a homerun and 3 RBI. To those who believe in the DH, well Bronson Arroyo a pitcher for the Reds hit a homerun to spark a 3 run rally. Bronson also went 6 2/3 innings gave up 5 runs which 3 were earned and struck out 7. Reds split the 2 games with the Cubs. The Cubs go home and host the Cardinals on Friday and the Reds get set to host the Pirates tonight in Cincinnati.
The Cardinals beat the Phillies in the middle game of a 3 games set 4-3. The Cards are now 2-0 and the Phillies drop to 0-2. Skip Schumaker went 2 for 4 including his 1st career homerun. Albert Pujols hit his 3rd homerun of the season. Jimmy Rollins extended his hitting streak to 38 straight games. Phillies play host to the Cardinals this afternoon at 3:05 as they try to salvage a game in this set.
The New York Mets blew a 4-0 lead and fell to the Nationals in 10 innings 9-5. Brian Bannister in his ML debut pitched well as he went 6 innings gave up 3 runs on 2 hits. He walked 4, struck out 4 and hit 2 batters. One of the 2 hits he gave up was an opposite field blast by Nick Johnson. Billy Wagner blew the save as he gave up a long blast to Ryan Zimmerman and Jose Guillen teed off on Jorge Julio in the 10th inning. The Nationals bullpen pitched 6 innings gave up 1 run on only 3 hits. Tonight these 2 teams square off in the rubber game slated to start at 7:10. Watch the highlight of this game if you can. Anderson Hernandez the Mets rookie second baseman made an unbelievable catch in the 8th inning of this game. The Nationals announcers Bob Carpenter and Tom Paciorek could not stop raving about the catching saying it might be the catch of the year at season's end. It definately is the catch of the week. Mets lose to Washington 9-5 in 10 innings.
The Brewers improve to 3-0 and lead the NL Central by a half game as the swept the Pirates 3-2. Toma Ohka went 7 innings for the Brewers and gave up 5 hits and 1 earned run got the no decision. Zach Duke also pitched well for the Pirates as he went 6 innings and gave up 5 hits and 1 earned run and K'ed 4. Jason Bay went deep for the Pirates in a losing effort. J.J Hardy went deep for the Brewers. Derrick Turnbow picked up his major league leading 3rd save of the season. Brewers win 3-2.
The Houston Astros beat the Florida Marlins 6-5.Presston Wilson went 3 for 4 against his old team including a 2 run homer. Lance Berkman also hit a 2 run homerun in this game. Brad Lidge picked up his 2nd save of the year as Wandy Rodriguez got the win.
Arizona got a 3 for 4 day from Luis Gonzalez who also drove in 2 runs as the Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2. Tonight these 2 teams play the rubber game starting at 8:35 EDT.
Matt Morris picked up career win number 102 as the Giants beat the Padres 3-1. Morris went 6 1/3 innings gave up 5 hits and 1 run. Moises Alou went 2 for 4 with an RBI to help back Morris effort and gave the Giants a split of the rain shortened series. The Giants go home for their home opener this afternoon as they play host to the Atlanta Braves.
Speaking of Atlanta, the Braves came from 5-0 down to beat the Dodgers in lalaland 9-8. Edgar Renteria, Andruw Jones and Wilson Benemit each drove in 2 runs to help aid the comeback This series featured lots of runs as the Braves outscored the Dodgers 24-23. The Bravesalso outscore the Dodgers in the rubbergame 9-8. Braves head to San Francisco and the Dodgers take tonight off.
That is your look around Major League Baseball.

 

[Mitchell]

4u, ever thought of being a sports announcer? I say that sincerely, because that was very good!
Am I pleased with my team's 2-1 start? Sure. However, I'm also realistic. While it is far too early to judge anything, I will say that our pitching has been the pits. The Braves aren't going to win 90 plus games by beating people 11-10 and 9-8. Even if our offense is decent, you have to beat most people 3-2, 4-3, or 5-4. I am hopeful our pitching gets better, and that we can at least split the four games in Frisco.
Also, no, I am not doing cartwheels about the Mets loss last night, or about Philly's 0-2 start. My theory about baseball is that unless some team gets off to such a horrid start that they get themselves buried, or someone gets off to a start like the 1984 Tigers who started 35-5, or the 1986 Mets, you really can't tell anything until July. I think most divisions, except for maybe the NL Central, should be close this year, and even there, the Cards may not be as strong as they were last year.
The first games this week have been very interesting. I look forward to more, and of course, to Mets V Braves, beginning a week from Monday.

Mitch

 

[leafstk]

Blue Jays win their series against the Twins 2-1... yep, I'm psyched! 😎

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

In the American League yesterday:
The Tigers used 7 homeruns of their 12 hit attack to crush the Texas Rangers 10-6. The score is not as close as it appears as the Tigers lead by 7 runs or more troughout this game until 3 runs scored in the 9th inning. Nate Robertson gets his first win of the season and his 3rd in Texas of his career. Those that hit homers were Magglio Ordonez who hit 2, Chris Shelton who also hit 2 and now has 4 on the season, Brandon Inge who now has 3, Craig Monroe and Marcus Thames. Tigers romp 10-6.
Mark Hendrickson pitched a complete game 3 hit shutout as they salvage the third game of their three game set in Baltimore. Hendrickson has complete control of the Orioles as he walked one and struck out 4. Carl Crawford and Jonny Gomes each contributed and RBI and the Devil Rays beat the Orioles 2-0.
Gustavo Chacin went 6 2/3 innings enroute to his first victory of the season as his Jays beat the Twins 6-3. Chacin allowed 6 hits and 3 runs and B.J Ryan came in and closed the door for his 2nd save of the year. Catcher Jason Phillips went 1 for 5 but had a big 2 run double to pace the Blue Jay attack. Lyle Overbay contributed and RBI Triple.
The Mariners moved in sole possession of first place as they dumped the A's 6-2. Carl Everett slammed a 2 run homer and Kenji Johiyma is adjusting to life in the major leagues by going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Gil Meche allowed 4 hits and 2 runs in 5 2/3 innings got the win. Eric Chavez doubled and homered in a losing effort as the Mariners beat Oakland 6-2.

In the National League:
The Cardinals doubled up the Phillies 4-2 as the Cardinals sweep the series. Scott Rolen provided an RBI single late in this game to give the Cards the win over his former mates. Jimmy Rollins 38 game hitting streak is over as he went 0 for 4.
The Giants knocked off the Braves 6-4. Giants scored all 6 runs in the third capped off by Pedro Feliz bases loaded double. This offset the Braves 3 solo homeruns by Brian McCann, Jorge Sosa ( starter and loser ) and Brian Jordan. Giants have now won 2 straight.
The Cincinnati Reds handed the Pirates their 4th straight loss to open the season. They beat the Pirates 6-5. Adam Dunn and Tony Womack went 2 for 5 and each drove in 2 runs. Joe Randa hit a three run homer in a losing cause. Reds 6-Pirates 5.
Arizona jumped out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back as they drubbed the Colorado Rockies 12-5. Chris Snyder had a career day as he homered and drove in a career high 5 RBI and Jeff DaVanon chipped in with 3 RBI. Arizona wins big 12-5.
At Shea last night Pedro made his first start of the year and won despite struggling. Pedro went 6 innings gave up 5 runs on 4 hits walked 5 and hit 3 batters. The Mets hit 4 batters in the game ( franchise record ). Pedro hit Jose Guillen for a second time in this game which touched off a benches clearing get together in front of the mound. No punches thrown and order was restored. Nick Johnson then crushed a 3 run homer into the night to tie the game at 5. Delgado put the Mets ahead to stay at 6-5 with a laser beam homerun. Carlos Beltran then added a 2 run homer ( his first hit of the year ) to give the Mets an 8-5 lead. Mets beat the Nationals 10-5.

 

[Angel_2]

Mets win 2 games to 1 over the Nats at Shea. Now lets get ready for the Fish. Trax gose today