2012 MLB Season

[njmeadowlanders]

They did this last year too in an attempt to boost opening series attendance (the 2nd and 3rd games of the season are usually the lowest attended) and also to not conflict with the NCAA title game on Monday.

But I'm with you, it just feels weird not being on Monday. Also, this isn't "late" because there've been times where today would be the first Monday in April. And go back a few decades and Opening Day wasn't until mid-April.

Regardless, it's here, let's play ball!

[The_Admiral]

Sad day when America's pastime is runnin' scared from small-town fake-three-pointer basketball.

[njmeadowlanders]

Sad day when America's pastime is runnin' scared from small-town fake-three-pointer basketball.

Hey I'm with ya there.

[WSU151]

If you can't sell out Opening :censored:ing Night, you.

I'm not saying you have to sell out a mid-June game hosting the goddamn Astros, but if hosting the defending champions on Opening Night can't sell out the brand new $500M taxpayer extorted stadium, then it wasn't the old :censored:ing stadium, it's a :censored:ty fanbase.

You mean the defending champions without Pujols, right?

[pmoehrin]

Best case scenario the Marlins attendance begins to mirror that of most southern teams.

If they are winning they are average to good in filling the stadium. And if they are losing or around .500 they will be close to last in the league in attendance.

Worst case scenario no change at all.

I think they will improve just because of the retractable roof. I don't know how they played in Dolphins Stadium for as long as they did without getting a roof or at least a retractable one. They get eight inches of rain on average in the month of June alone, and the highs can be in the 90's. I can't imagine wanting to go outside for anything in that type of weather, let alone sit out in it for 3+ hours.

[speedy]

If you can't sell out Opening :censored:ing Night, you.

I'm not saying you have to sell out a mid-June game hosting the goddamn Astros, but if hosting the defending champions on Opening Night can't sell out the brand new $500M taxpayer extorted stadium, then it wasn't the old :censored:ing stadium, it's a :censored:ty fanbase.

You mean the defending champions without Pujols, right?

Why is mania so angry? I don't think you used enough expletives.

[Kramerica Industries]

Is there a reason why Opening Day is so late this year, neither on a Monday nor on the first of April? I feel so discombobulated, like there was something I missed and I'm trying to catch up, though all I missed were those Japan games they played a month ago or whatever it's been, and this isn't even the first year they've had those early throwaway A's games in Japan (2008 they did the same thing and no one was memorably agitated). I think it's more that it's a Thursday the 5th when Monday the 2nd would've been perfectly acceptable.

I liked last year that they opened up on 3/31 and 4/1, which were also Thursday/Friday afternoons, and it allowed for the World Series to end prior to November as well.

I guess a mini-Japan series between two teams that will lose a combined 200 games was worth pushing every thing back to start this season.

[Brave-Bird 08]

Skipping two classes to enjoy the Braves @ Mets today.

Happy opening day!

[pmoehrin]

Skipping two classes to enjoy the Braves @ Mets today.

I like the new shorter fences. Think the ballpark was way too geared towards pitchers.

Not liking the 50th anniversary patch on the back of the caps though. They already have one on the sleeve. I think its a bit overkill.

[FiddySicks]

So, I just saw that the Marlins are playing the Reds in Cincinnati today. Is it common for the teams who play the first game of the season to play that one game then go on to a different series the next day? I can't think of a time when that's ever happened before.

[Kramerica Industries]

The Marlins wanted to open up in their new ballpark, so MLB cut them a deal, I guess.

The Nats did the same thing in 2008.

[pmoehrin]

So, I just saw that the Marlins are playing the Reds in Cincinnati today. Is it common for the teams who play the first game of the season to play that one game then go on to a different series the next day? I can't think of a time when that's ever happened before.

If it were up to me Cincinnati is where I would have the first game of the regular season played every year (ala the Lions playing on Thanksgiving).

If you go back to the original Red Stockings they are the oldest pro baseball team and its the only city where opening day is a holiday.

That should be made a far bigger deal by the rest of the baseball establishment I think then it is. I would let them play the first daytime game and no other team could play a daytime game at the same time. You either wait until the night or the next day to open up the season.

[Sport]

So, I just saw that the Marlins are playing the Reds in Cincinnati today. Is it common for the teams who play the first game of the season to play that one game then go on to a different series the next day? I can't think of a time when that's ever happened before.

If it were up to me Cincinnati is where I would have the first game of the regular season played every year (ala the Lions playing on Thanksgiving).

If you go back to the original Red Stockings they are the oldest pro baseball team and its the only city where opening day is a holiday.

That should be made a far bigger deal by the rest of the baseball establishment I think then it is. I would let them play the first daytime game and no other team could play a daytime game at the same time. You either wait until the night or the next day to open up the season.

That's how it used to be until fairly recently, but I think it's unrealistic to continue that practice in today's world. I'll gladly settle for the tradition of getting to start every season at home. That's cool enough.

Opening Day is a pretty big deal in Cincinnati. There's a well attended parade, people take off work even if they're not going to the game, tickets are hard to come by, and it's an officially recognized civic holiday on the city books. I'm leaving work early today to catch some of the festivities.

[pmoehrin]

So, I just saw that the Marlins are playing the Reds in Cincinnati today. Is it common for the teams who play the first game of the season to play that one game then go on to a different series the next day? I can't think of a time when that's ever happened before.

If it were up to me Cincinnati is where I would have the first game of the regular season played every year (ala the Lions playing on Thanksgiving).

If you go back to the original Red Stockings they are the oldest pro baseball team and its the only city where opening day is a holiday.

That should be made a far bigger deal by the rest of the baseball establishment I think then it is. I would let them play the first daytime game and no other team could play a daytime game at the same time. You either wait until the night or the next day to open up the season.

That's how it used to be until fairly recently, but I think it's unrealistic to continue that practice in today's world. I'll gladly settle for the tradition of getting to start every season at home. That's cool enough.

Opening Day is a pretty big deal in Cincinnati. There's a well attended parade, people take off work even if they're not going to the game, tickets are hard to come by, and it's an officially recognized civic holiday on the city books. I'm leaving work early today to catch some of the festivities.

Well why is it unrealistic? Because ESPN wants to bill Sox/Yankees as THE opener? Screw that. Let them be the night opener. I'm not worried about them making money.

As a baseball purist I think the first game of the year should be played in Cincy, no exceptions.

BTW enjoys the opening day festivities.

[NEW.ERA]

Jays roads are looking damn fine!

LETS GO BLUE JAYS!

[floydnimrod]

Had two classes cancelled for Opening Day today in Cincinnati, and skipped another so I could be home.

Don't know if it can top this: (which I watched between classes on mlb.com's Gameday thing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tWDCN_cP7Y

[Sport]

Had two classes cancelled for Opening Day today in Cincinnati, and skipped another so I could be home.

Don't know if it can top this: (which I watched between classes on mlb.com's Gameday thing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tWDCN_cP7Y

Ramon Hernandez's walk off last year is my favorite Opening Day to date. Lotta guys in that video that I wish were still Reds.

[RedSox44]

Verlander's curve is goddamn disgusting. That is all.

[speedy]

So, I just saw that the Marlins are playing the Reds in Cincinnati today. Is it common for the teams who play the first game of the season to play that one game then go on to a different series the next day? I can't think of a time when that's ever happened before.

If it were up to me Cincinnati is where I would have the first game of the regular season played every year (ala the Lions playing on Thanksgiving).

If you go back to the original Red Stockings they are the oldest pro baseball team and its the only city where opening day is a holiday.

That should be made a far bigger deal by the rest of the baseball establishment I think then it is. I would let them play the first daytime game and no other team could play a daytime game at the same time. You either wait until the night or the next day to open up the season.

That's how it used to be until fairly recently, but I think it's unrealistic to continue that practice in today's world. I'll gladly settle for the tradition of getting to start every season at home. That's cool enough.

Opening Day is a pretty big deal in Cincinnati. There's a well attended parade, people take off work even if they're not going to the game, tickets are hard to come by, and it's an officially recognized civic holiday on the city books. I'm leaving work early today to catch some of the festivities.

Well why is it unrealistic? Because ESPN wants to bill Sox/Yankees as THE opener? Screw that. Let them be the night opener. I'm not worried about them making money.

As a baseball purist I think the first game of the year should be played in Cincy, no exceptions.

BTW enjoys the opening day festivities.

So sick of hearing this Yankees/Sox crap, let it go. It's opening day and its already started. Marlins and Cardinals opened the season, The Sox are on ESPN2 against the Tigers. Because Lester/Verlander is an unreal matchup. OMG ESPN bias!!!

EDIT: FWIW I can't stand the Sox on national TV, luckily they don't blackout the NESN feed very often but there's no point to complaining about it all season. None of us are TV execs.

[Kramerica Industries]

Verlander's curve is goddamn disgusting. That is all.

I'm still peeved at Rafael Soriano's god-awful pitch selection to Delmon Young last year.

Four runs in seven innings against Verlander is a damned accomplishment. And that bastard wasted it and cost the Yankees the game.

That said - Verlander's the best pitcher in the AL, and I don't think it's all that much of a debate, either. There are tons of other good pitchers around, but I'd take Verlander over all of them.