[Wizard of Os]

Okay, so there are 161 games left, but i maintain that baseball's opening day is still meaningful, if only suggested the merest whiff of a hint as to a team's destiny in the long season ahead.

Having said this, what can we Rockies fans glean from yesterday's nail-biter of an eleven inning 3-2?

Naturally, no decent pitching performance in Denver is admitted to be such, with any cause attributed to such a freak show other than skill; for this game, most folks are chalking up the win to the D-backs' pushover status. Allow me, then: former Rookie of the Year Jason Jennings pitched well. Sure, seven of his twenty-one outs were fly balls (a stat only mentioned for Colorado games), always a dangerous prospect. Jennings whiffed six while walking one and allowing one earned run; he even tallied the first RBI of the Rockies' young season to tie the game in the fifth. Rockheads might just be justified in pinning hopes on JJ.

Todd Helton -- the sole bonafide superstar on a team of mostly youngsters -- was everywhere as well, tying the game with a ribbie in the eighth. Unfortunately, he was also responsible for Colorado's only error in what was, to be fair, a bit of a questionable call.

As opposed to last year's more typical 12-10 opening day victory which was capped by a walkoff homer, the Rocks had to -- gasp! -- manufacture runs in this one. The nice hustle of the team was personified by young leftfielder Matt Holliday who went two for five but most importantly scored ahead of a late throw by firstbaseman Conor Jackson.

Good pitching, Helton hits, Holliday hits, the 'pen comes through (well, mostly). Sure it's only one game, but i'm optimistic. And that's what opening day is for, isn't it?

Cheers!