[Lefty Noob]

Ah, one of my favorite days of the year!

The first game was actually last night, with the ChiSox trashing the Tribe, 10-4. Boy, did Jim Thome look like his old self again. He went 1-2 with a home run, two walks and 2 RBI. Meanwhile, the Tribe loses C.C. Sabathia and sees wunderkind Grady Sizemore go 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. Not exactly the start you want if you're a Cleveland fan.

One of the games I'm definitely going to keep an eye on today is Philly vs. St. Louis, with Jimmy Rollins looking to extend his hit streak. I'd sure like to see him make a run at DiMaggio's 56.

What games have your attention during this, the first full day of the 2006 MLB season?

[BigBadBuc]

After the Bucs and the Brew Crew, I want to see how the Phillies match up with the Cardinals.

BBB

[Lefty Noob]

Yeah, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee is definitely another must-see on my list. Both should be much better teams this year. I can't wait to see the Buccos with their much improved lineup, and at the same time, it'll be nice to see Fielder and some of these other kids taking the field for the Brewers. Is FSN Pittsburgh carrying the game, 3B?

[BigBadBuc]

Lefty,

The games is on FSN. FSN is televising 118 Pirate games. That is over 70% of the season. That is amazing.

BBB

[Lefty Noob]

Thanks, glad to hear it!

Lots of Pirate baseball on TV = Very Good Thing (tm)

A couple of other things to keep an eye on today, courtesy of AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum:

"Seattle's Kenji Johjima will become the first Japanese catcher in the majors when the Mariners play the visiting Los Angeles Angels."

"After missing most of last season with an injured knee, Bonds enters this year with 708 homers and trails only Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) on the career list. He resumes the chase at San Diego against Jake Peavy, who gave up Bonds' 700th homer, on Sept. 17, 2004, in San Francisco."

"In Cincinnati, baseball's first professional franchise will have a sitting president [Bush] throw a ceremonial pitch to start the season for the first time."

[MVB]

Mets v. Nationals!!!! We get to see the new Mets- Wagner, Delgado, Lo Duca.... very exciting!

Red Sox v. Rangers... Can't wait to see how Schilling starts the season...

Braves v. Dodgers... Garciaparra back in action... This should be a great game...

And of course, Yankees v. A's!!!!!! I've been waiting 6 months for this game!!!

[Lefty Noob]

Yeah, Mets-Nationals will be a good one. We get a look at those new-look Mets, althrough without Pedro on the hill, and we'll also get to see if Washington is any better with Soriano (assuming he actually plays LF, that is). And the return of Nohma at 1B in L.A. - an experiment I'm betting will fail spectacularly, but hey, we'll see!

[Lefty Noob]

By the way, who are the starters for that Yankees-Athletics game?

[MVB]

Randy Johnson for New York... and Barry Zito for Oakland....

[ThePundit]

This has always been a great sports day. Opening day baseball and the NCAA finals in the evening.

I wouldn't call myself a traditionalist since I do understand the need to move forward. Having said that, I don't like the opening Sunday night game . Baseball should be started in Cincinatti during the day. Some things they should just leave alone.

[pete_b]

I am paying attention to the Pads v. Giants here in my home town of San Diego. Its not only the Petco park watch, the Padres watch but also the Bonds watch. This is the final year of his contract and because of his health and the tribulations that he has been experiencing, its doubtful that he will play after this year. We are seeing the end of a living legend.

[Lefty Noob]

Baseball should be started in Cincinatti during the day. Some things they should just leave alone.

Amen, Pundit! And I also agree with this being one of the best sports days of the year. Opening day is right up there with the Super Bowl, the Series and the Bowl games for me. Sadly, I lost control of the TV in my office when my nephews came over (and with the Bucs and Brewers tied, no less!) but I see that Milwaukee's has since taken the lead and the game is 3-2 in the 8th. Mets beat the Nationals, 3-2, and the Cards are just killing the Phillies right now, 13-2 after 5.

[Lefty Noob]

You know what surprises me most about this Opening Day? Piazza homering in his first at-bat as a Padre.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

I took the day off work and went to see my Boston Red Sox open the season at Ameriquest Field in Arlington. Schilling looked fantastic, Coco Crisp made a few plays both on the bases and in the field that I'm fairly certain Johnny Damon would not have made, and I am sunburnt.

Ahh yes, it's officially baseball season.

[EmpireWF]

Definitely one of the best sports days of the year, solely for MLB. Too bad the weather sucked for most of the day (cloudy, sometimes rain) but at least the Mets got the game in. I caught the end of it (after class) but it was just as expected.

Two innings pass and already the Yanks offense lights the A's up. Too bad for Zito...