Opening Day is Finally Here!

It seems like it has been forever since the last real games were played, but finally, opening day of the Major League Baseball season is here. Those who know me understand that this ranks up there with the best holidays of the year. People wonder why I have so much passion for the sport. Truthfully, opening day is about more than just baseball. Winter is such a long, drawn out season. It is cold, it is dark and dreery. Opening day signals the beginning of spring, or warm weather and sunny days. Opening day brings me a feeling of relief, that I've made it through the worst and that the better days of the year are right around the corner. It is a symbol of spring and warm nights with a cool breeze. It is a reminder of nights where you prop the windows open, turn off all the lights except for the glow of the television, cuddle up with your little girl and watch a few innings of baseball as the twilight receeds.

I remember going to an opening day game at Tiger stadium. It was my very first professional baseball game that I saw in person. I swear the grass of the outfield wash the pallet from which the color green was pulled. I've never seen a more brillant color, glistening in a bright sunshine. Only the grass of the Garden of Eden itself could have rivaled the color I saw that day. It carved an indelible memory in my brain which I harken back to year after year.

Today the weather in Detroit calls for sprinkles with an overcast sky, chilly 50 degree temperatures, yet there is no question that spring has gotten off the bus with the rest of the Tigers who have made the trip up from Lakeland Florida.

I've taken a half day vacation today, as I do every year on opening day. The one year I didn't I couldn't get anything done at work anyways as I spent most of my time trying to figure out what was going on in the game. All I can say is that I am happy that today is here. You may not be a big baseball fan, but everyone should rejoice, the winter of 2007/08 is behind us. Welcome to spring.

4 Days Left

This has been the longest winter I can ever remember. It seems like it turned cold in October and we haven't had a break from the snow/rain/sleet mix since then. It does my heart good to know that baseball season starts in a mere four days.

I've already asked for and been granted opening day off (which has become a bit of a tradition for me). The Tigers play the Royals at 1:05pm and I plan on being at home, sitting on my couch watching every single pitch. Angie, my wife, has to be aware of the fact that if she tries to pull me away from my den she is going to get an earful. I've already informed her that I was not coming home to watch my son, or change his diaper or play with him or take out the trash or fold the clothes or anything having to do with anything other than eating food that is bad for me and watching baseball.

That said, the Tigers are beginning to worry me a bit this year. Curtis Granderson is out for about three weeks because of a broken finger, Gary Sheffield hasn't hit anything this spring, Dontrelle Willis can't find the strike zone to save himself and when he does, the opposing team knocks the ball all over the place and Todd "Crashcart" Jones has been so horrible this spring that I anticipate many palpatations whenever he is called in from the bullpen.

There hasn't been a whole lot of positives this spring, but that said, the Tigers still have an extremely dangerous team. If they can find some of the form in their rotation and bullpen that they had two years ago, they could be a juggernaut. I have a feeling that Justin Verlander is going to have an incredible year. Along that lines, Nate Robertson has looked very good this spring and if he can give them his best year the Tigers are going to be tough to beat.

As far as batters go, Curtis Granderson has some catching up to do once he gets off the DL. I hope Brandon Inge takes this opportunity and really opens some eyes across the league. I would love to see him get traded and get the opportunity to play third base everyday. Inge may not be able to hit the ball, but he is an incredible fielder and there is nothing I enjoy more than watching someone on the hot corner make a sensational play. Inge has made plenty of those over the last couple of year.

The 3, 4, 5 of the order should just do some serious raking, but I think it is Carlos Guillen batting 6th that is going to have the best year. I think he will stay healthy, and while he hits a moderate amount of homers, he is going to have all kinds of baserunners out there to drive in this year. That part of the lineup is going to be scary for opposing pitchers.

Well, I really can't wait until the season starts. The little taste of the Japanese series between Boston and Oakland was good, but did not appease my appetite for the regular season. Greatest day of 2008 is March 31st. I kno where I'll be.