Ladies and Gentlemen.
Boys and Girls.
Let me introduce you to the 2009 baseball season. Today is the best baseball day of the year. Today unlike all others, fans from all over the nation stood by the water cooler to discuss their favorite baseball teams chances. There were many discussions of “If ARod can only stay healthy” to “We have an up and coming rotation”. This will be the year when even the worst teams will believe that they can become the 2008 Rays. After all, today, everyone is in first place.
In reality, not all teams are created equal. In the upper midwest we are lucky enough to have a team that seems to contend year in and year out given the financial restrictions placed upon it. Given our market size we are lucky that we’re not Kansas City, Washington D.C. or Pittsburgh. We are the Twins and we will once again sell out the Dome tonight in support of our very own Boys of Summer.
Tonights opener will have some interesting storylines that I am eagerly awaiting. Here are my top 5 in no particular order:
1. How does Liriano pitch under the pressure of starting the season. Will we see the dominent pitcher who is capable of mowing down batters or will we see the second coming of Rich Anchiel?
2. The Four Horsemen of the Metrodome: Also known as Cuddyer, Gomez, Span and Young. Who will Gardy start tonight and will the fourth see the field today?
3. Who’s on Third? How will Joe “Twin Killer” Crede perform now that his bench is on the thirdbase line? If he strikesout will he walk towards first?
4. No more roof… People will undoubtedly be talking about Target field. What will be the overall feeling towards the possibility of playing outside this time next year? Hot chocolate anyone?
5. Who’s batting third? Is it Kubel? Is it Cuddy? What’s Gardy’s approach?
All of these questions and more will be found out in just a few hours. So, sit back, relax and enjoy your evening. I know that I will because today is opening day.
