Seattle Mariners Baseball Opening Day
Well, 8 months ago I made a huge change in my life. I gave up having an NHL team in my town. Now, to some people this would be horrible, but for me, it was great! I gave up hockey in exchange for Major League Baseball, the NFL, and the NBA. Now, I consider trading NHL for the NBA a wash, but getting baseball and football is a huge win. I moved to Seattle last August and was able to check out a seahawks game where they won and finished undefeated at home for the season, only to be cheated in the Super Bowl. But enough about football, it's baseball season!
Monday was Opening Day (Opening night featured the Chicago White Sox putting a hurting on the Cleveland Indians. Never living in a baseball town, I wanted to catch an opening day game. A couple months ago I woke up at the crack of noon and bought some Seattle Mariners tickets. I made sure to get Opening Day tix, as well as a few key AL matchups. Now, as a lifelong Cubs fan, it's hard to watch American League baseball. The DH is a sin, but this isn't the time to get involved. But since the Mariners are in the AL, I feel I can root for them and it not interfere with my love of the Cubs. The best thing that could happen for me is to see these two square off in the World Series, but I'll settle for playoffs.
Traffic to the game was present, as expected. I've learned that if you want to be anywhere downtown, you have to leave yourself plenty of idiot time. Idiot time is what I refer to drivers around this area and their inability to obey traffic signs, like speed limits or exit signs.
I really think my blood pressure has gone up since moving to the Pacific Northwest. Anyway, after an hour or so of idiot time, we are privileged enough to drop $20 on parking across the street from Safeco Field. Now, for those that haven't been to Safeco Field, let me tell you it is a nice ballpark. I've been to only a handful of Major League parks, but the Mariners have a nice home. The coolest thing is the retractable dome, a must have for an area like Seattle. Of course the weather was lousy on Monday, so they had to close the roof. Even though we were enclosed, the atmosphere was still open (or maybe that was the cold ass breeze blowing down my neck). The ballpark is really wide open and has lots of things to do besides watch the game you just dropped $70 bones to see. I really like the bullpen in left field that you can walk up to. 
I enjoyed yelling "Bartolo, Mira - Usted es gordo" to the Angels' pitcher Bartolo Colon. I wonder what is worse, my spanish or his english. Anyway, The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Matt Hasselback and some of the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. The pitching match was between (as I said earlier) the Angels' Bartolo Colon and Seattle Mariners' favorite Jamie Moyer. This is Moyers' eleventh season with the M's since being traded by the Boston Red Sox.
There are some new faces on the M's. Retired is Dan Wilson, retired after 14 years in the big leagues - 12 of them in Seattle. But out with the old and in with the new as Kenji Johjima is the new catcher. Kenji is fresh of the boat from Japan, where he played 11 years and an impressive .299 batting average. He's also capable of hitting the long ball, which he did on Monday. The Mariners also acquired crazy journeyman Carl Everett. Carl is playing with his 10th team (twice with the White Sox). Hopefully he can provide some power to the lineup. One word of advice Carl - your position is designated hitter, so hit.
The game was fairly exciting. History was made when Kenji took the field, becoming the first catcher to make the transition from japan league to the MLB.
Only first and third haven't been filled by the land of the rising sun. Vlad Guerrero led of the season with one (of probably 46) home runs to put the Angels up 2. There were 20 hits for the day, and the Angels squeaked out a win 5-4. Angels game ball goes to Orlando Cabrera who went 3-5 with 2 rbi's. M's game ball goes to second baseman Jose Lopez who went 2-5 with 1 rbi in the loss. Jackass award goes to Angels DH Garrett Anderson, who batting in the 3 spot went 0-5 with 3 strikeouts and left 3 on base. Mariners Jackass goes to pitcher JJ Putz, who with back to back 0-2 counts and 2 outs couldn't put the batters away.
My guess is that the Mariners are going to struggle again this year. The Angels and A's are going to battle it out in the West for first (and possibly the wild card). I just hope the M's can finish ahead of Texas. I don't want to be rooting for last place teams all season.
Monday was Opening Day (Opening night featured the Chicago White Sox putting a hurting on the Cleveland Indians. Never living in a baseball town, I wanted to catch an opening day game. A couple months ago I woke up at the crack of noon and bought some Seattle Mariners tickets. I made sure to get Opening Day tix, as well as a few key AL matchups. Now, as a lifelong Cubs fan, it's hard to watch American League baseball. The DH is a sin, but this isn't the time to get involved. But since the Mariners are in the AL, I feel I can root for them and it not interfere with my love of the Cubs. The best thing that could happen for me is to see these two square off in the World Series, but I'll settle for playoffs.
Traffic to the game was present, as expected. I've learned that if you want to be anywhere downtown, you have to leave yourself plenty of idiot time. Idiot time is what I refer to drivers around this area and their inability to obey traffic signs, like speed limits or exit signs.
I really think my blood pressure has gone up since moving to the Pacific Northwest. Anyway, after an hour or so of idiot time, we are privileged enough to drop $20 on parking across the street from Safeco Field. Now, for those that haven't been to Safeco Field, let me tell you it is a nice ballpark. I've been to only a handful of Major League parks, but the Mariners have a nice home. The coolest thing is the retractable dome, a must have for an area like Seattle. Of course the weather was lousy on Monday, so they had to close the roof. Even though we were enclosed, the atmosphere was still open (or maybe that was the cold ass breeze blowing down my neck). The ballpark is really wide open and has lots of things to do besides watch the game you just dropped $70 bones to see. I really like the bullpen in left field that you can walk up to. 
I enjoyed yelling "Bartolo, Mira - Usted es gordo" to the Angels' pitcher Bartolo Colon. I wonder what is worse, my spanish or his english. Anyway, The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Matt Hasselback and some of the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. The pitching match was between (as I said earlier) the Angels' Bartolo Colon and Seattle Mariners' favorite Jamie Moyer. This is Moyers' eleventh season with the M's since being traded by the Boston Red Sox. There are some new faces on the M's. Retired is Dan Wilson, retired after 14 years in the big leagues - 12 of them in Seattle. But out with the old and in with the new as Kenji Johjima is the new catcher. Kenji is fresh of the boat from Japan, where he played 11 years and an impressive .299 batting average. He's also capable of hitting the long ball, which he did on Monday. The Mariners also acquired crazy journeyman Carl Everett. Carl is playing with his 10th team (twice with the White Sox). Hopefully he can provide some power to the lineup. One word of advice Carl - your position is designated hitter, so hit.
The game was fairly exciting. History was made when Kenji took the field, becoming the first catcher to make the transition from japan league to the MLB.
Only first and third haven't been filled by the land of the rising sun. Vlad Guerrero led of the season with one (of probably 46) home runs to put the Angels up 2. There were 20 hits for the day, and the Angels squeaked out a win 5-4. Angels game ball goes to Orlando Cabrera who went 3-5 with 2 rbi's. M's game ball goes to second baseman Jose Lopez who went 2-5 with 1 rbi in the loss. Jackass award goes to Angels DH Garrett Anderson, who batting in the 3 spot went 0-5 with 3 strikeouts and left 3 on base. Mariners Jackass goes to pitcher JJ Putz, who with back to back 0-2 counts and 2 outs couldn't put the batters away. My guess is that the Mariners are going to struggle again this year. The Angels and A's are going to battle it out in the West for first (and possibly the wild card). I just hope the M's can finish ahead of Texas. I don't want to be rooting for last place teams all season.
posted by Thomas at 9:23 AM
1 Comments:
Out of curiosity, does your new catcher speak english, or do they have to use a translator, when he wants to talk to the pitcher or coaches?
Other than the Angels, I think your divison is kind of up in the air. If they get a bunch of injuries, it's always possible your team could sneak in and win the divison.
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