I’m guessing that you probably used your remaining “sick” days to take in the opening round of the NCAA Men’s Tournament. As a result, you didn’t get to witness the glory, the pageantry, the celebration that is Opening Day in Major League Baseball.
Of course, the fact that such ceremonies take place over a two-week period takes away some of the fervor, but that’s a tale for another time. Fans lined up across America to take in those seven games. For one day, everything is equal and everyone has playoff dreams.
Here in Los Angeles, the Dodgers opened up the stadium for a viewing party of Thursday’s 5-3 victory over the Padres. The game was played down the road in San Diego, but eager fans, still celebrating the recent ownership announcement, filed into Dodger Stadium for low-priced food and beverage. (Parking was free!)
The promise of a new day is a beautiful thing. I saw the litany of photos from friends of themselves and their sons and daughters commemorating the start of a new season (caps, jerseys, greasy food). If only for a moment, that child-like exuberance and memories of first gloves, first games and Cracker Jack flood the senses.
Now that I’ve framed opening day in a glowing, wondrous light, let’s review the actual action on the field.
Jose Valverde pitched a perfect 2011 season, converting all 49 of his save opportunities. He failed in his first opportunity of 2012, but later vultured a victory against the Red Sox. Valverde’s failure (he allowed two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout) spoiled a brilliant outing by 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander. Verlander mowed down the Boston lineup, surrendering two hits and a walk against seven strikeouts in eight innings pitched.
Jon Lester had some shaky moments, but evaded the big inning. Lester allowed one earned run on six hits and three walks against four strikeouts.
Prince Fielder went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and RBI in his Detroit debut.
The hype machine cranked up for Stephen Strasburg once again ahead of Thursday’s start against the Cubs. Strasburg allowed one earned run on five hits and a walk against five strikeouts. He threw 70% of his pitches for strikes and induced twice as many groundballs as fly balls allowed. Strasburg received no decision in the game.
Ryan Dempster matched Strasburg pitch for pitch and dominated the Washington lineup. He allowed one earned run in 7 2/3 innings pitched on two hits and a walk while striking out 10 batters.
Unfortunately, Dempster gave way to the bullpen, and new manager Dale Sveum witnessed its first implosion. Kerry Wood walked three batters in his 1/3 inning pitched. Carlos Marmol entered in the ninth inning and surrendered an earned run on two hits to absorb the loss.
The first save opportunity for the Nationals went to veteran closer Brad Lidge. Tyler Clippard snagged a win in relief. Drew Storen is expected back soon, but there may be a handful of save opportunities in the interim.
Did you grab yourself a giant “Cup of Johan” Santana for the back-end of your fantasy rotation? Santana returned to the mound for New York on Thursday and pitched five innings of two-hit shutout ball against the Braves. He threw 50 of his 84 pitches for strikes and struck out five batters against two walks. Santana’s fastball isn’t what is once was, but he effectively mixed in his secondary pitches to keep the Braves guessing. Take a look-see on the waiver wire in your league.
Tommy Hanson surrendered a single run on four hits and three walks in five innings against the Mets. He struck out four batters with an equal groundball-to-fly ball ratio.
It’s important to note that Frank Francisco was able to finish the game and recorded his first save of the year. Francisco’s health had been in question coming out of spring training, but he took the mound for a scoreless ninth inning and recorded one strikeout.
Jason Heyward, for whom I’ve banged the drum with great regularity, went 0-4 for the Braves with two strikeouts.
David Wright rapped out two singles (2-for-3) and drove in the game’s only run.
How do you proceed when your sluggers are shelved because of injury? You turn to workhorse Roy Halladay and let him dominate the Pirates. Halladay pitched eight shutout innings of two-hit ball and struck out five batters to earn his first win. He then turned the ball over to new closer Jonathan Papelbon, who pitched a perfect ninth inning.
The hitting star for Philadelphia in this 1-0 victory was catcher Carlos Ruiz, who went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly that plated the game’s only run.
Slugger Jose Bautista wasted no time in sending tongues wagging. He slammed his first home run of the season and finished Thursday’s extra-inning win with three hits (four at-bats) and two RBI.
Catcher J.P. Arencibia scuffled through a rough opening day for the Blue Jays. He was 0-for-6 coming into his at-bat in the top of the 16th inning when he launched a three-run home run to propel the Blue Jays to victory.
Super prospect Brett Lawrie went 0-for-6 in his season debut, but reached base on a walk in the 16th inning and scored on Arencibia’s home run. He struck out twice.
Justin Masterson of the Indians dominated the Blue Jays. He allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts. Masterson threw two-thirds of his pitches for strikes.
Closer Chris Perez, who was injured during spring training, came in to close out the game and posted a terrible ninth inning. Perez allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. His low strikeout rate raised eyebrows last season, and setup man Vinnie Pestano has closer stuff. Pestano pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings to extend the game.
The dynamic duo was back at work for the Dodgers on opening night in San Diego. Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw took to the mound, and Matt Kemp brought his big bat to Petco. Kershaw pitched three shutout innings (two hits, one walk and three strikeouts) against the Padres before leaving the game with “flu-like” symptoms. Kemp went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI (he hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning).
Fantasy owners have been watching the Los Angeles closer situation closely. Kenley Jansen struggled in the eighth inning, surrendering two earned runs on two hits. He threw 14-of-26 pitches for strikes. Closer Javy Guerra pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to seal the win.
Cameron Maybin went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI against the Dodgers. Maybin’s home run came in the eighth inning, a two-run shot off of Jansen.
Finally, let me circle back to the brilliant turn from Johnny Cueto against the Marlins in Cincinnati. Cueto pitched seven shutout innings against the vaunted Miami lineups. He allowed three hits and two walks against four strikeouts. Cueto induced twice as many groundballs as fly balls allowed and threw two-thirds of his pitches for strikes.
Aroldis Chapman and Sean Marshall each pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
Jay Bruce blasted a deep drive foul in the first inning off of Miami starter Mark Buehrle when he hung a pitch over the middle of the plate. He recorded a sacrifice fly in that at-bat to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. Reliever Edward Mujica wasn’t as fortunate in the eighth inning when Bruce hit a solo home run.
Prospect Zach Cozart went 2-for-4 with a double and a single and scored a run in the Cincinnati win.
