LIVE! 2009 Opening Day blog!

Opening day is here, and Newspaperman man is here too chronicling almost every pitch of the first full day of the 2009 Major League Baseball season. This blogging tradition started two years ago with an asinine warning: Stay away from Josh Hamilton. At the time Hamilton was fresh off his personal problems and I warned fantasy owners to stay away until he could prove he was over them. Clearly he is, and I was wrong. Hamilton has turned out to be one of the best players in the game, bar none. He’s a top-10 fantasy player, and a hobby favorite in the baseball card collecting community.

But I’m not here to talk about the past — thanks for the line, Mark McGwire — I’m here to talk about the future: the 2009 baseball season. Who will be today’s star? Who will break out of the gate like Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes and blast three homers on opening day? Stay tuned.

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9:24 p.m.: The first full day of games has been over for about 45 minutes. This has been my third Opening Day blog and as best as I can remember, this days seems to have wrapped up faster than any other Opening Day in recent memory. The others seemed to have extended well into the late hours on the West Coast, but that’s not the case here.

In other news, it looks like the North Carolina Tar Heels won the NCAA Men’s basketball championship tonight. I’m not much of a college basketball guy, so I didn’t spent even a second watching it.

Anyhow, this concludes the Third Annual Opening Day Blog. Thanks for reading.

6:38 p.m.: Justin Morneau is coming to the plate with the bases loaded in Minnesota. And Morneau just toppled a double play ball on the first pitch.

6:29 p.m.: Ouch! Mike Redman just got hit with the barrel of a broken bat.

6:26 p.m.: Griffey just homered. The Mariners announcer just proclaimed: “He’s back.” Yeah, sorta …

6:22 p.m.: Vicodin is kicking in. Back is numb.

6:09 p.m.: Props to my wife for like the fourth time today. She got me some Vicodin for my back.

6:06 p.m.: The Athletics and Angels are getting ready to begin. For the first time in more than a decade, I’m actually excited to see what the A’s — one of my home teams — will do.

6:02 p.m.: Wow, I think my poll about who has the worst Opening Day pitching line was created too early. Justin Verlander is the winner, hands down: 3.1 innings, 8 hits, 8 earned runs, two walks and a homer allowed. He did have 4 Ks though.

5:58 p.m.: My sister and her husband just got back from the Pacific Northwest and I’ve got a free Seattle Mariner pocket schedule available to the first three people who e-mail me at cardboardicons@yahoo.com. These pocket schedules have Felix Hernandez on the front doing some sort of fist pump.

5:46 p.m.: A few things of note happened over the last hour: Justin Verlander got rocked in Toronto, Roy Oswalt gave up three runs in five innings to the Cubs, Felix Hernandez turned an ankle in the first inning of the Twins-Mariner’s game and Ken Griffey Jr. took his first at-bat as a Mariner for the first time in some nine years. Griffey looks old. Sad.

It also should be noted that within the last hour I traded Carlos Delgado for Vernon Wells in one of my fantasy leagues.

4:18 p.m.: Cardinals lose 6-4. I’m going to take a break to see if I car get my back loosened up.

4:16 p.m.: Props to my wife again. She’s now hooked up the Rice Krispy treats. My wife is the bomb.

4:15 p.m.: Albert Pujols, in an effort to save Jason Motte’s sorry ass, has singled. He’s got two singles, a double and a walk today. This is why Pujols is the man.

4:07 p.m.: This just in, Jason Motte sucks. He’s blown the lead — 6-4 pirates.

4:01 p.m.: Jason Motte is on the mound to close out the Cardinals game and he has allowed a run and three hits. He’s in danger of blowing his first opportunity. Start the Chris Perez chatter again.

3:40 p.m.: Wow, Brandon Webb AND Aaron Cook got off lucky today. Both guys gave up 6 earned runs, but the D-Backs defeated the Rockies 9-8 with some later-innings antics.

3:34 p.m.: I hate when home-team broadcast guys refer to the team as “we.” I understand homer broadcasts, but the use of the term “we” makes me sick. I’m referring to the Nationals broadcast team again … wish I knew who they were.

3:28 p.m.: Just looking at some blog stats and see that we’ve got a few hits from people searching Google for the following phrases: “Chipper Jones naked”,” david wright underwear”, and “authentic football players masterbatin.” I am not kidding.o

3:24 p.m.: Sabathia’s outing has inspired the following poll:

3:14 p.m.: In honor of CC, here’s a video for you to enjoy:

3:11 p.m.: As a Red Sox fan, it is my job to note that CC Sabathia of the Yankees has allowed five earned runs and is pitching with the bases loaded. Need I remind you he is facing the F’n Orioles.

3:07 p.m.: One of the best things to watchon Opening Day is the free agency activity in my fantasy leagues. Here are some of the adds: Bonaficio, Jeremy Guthrie, Billy Butler, Manny Parra, Anthony Reyes and Kendry Morales. The Drops: Rick Ankiel, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Guillen, Jack Cust and Khalil Greene. Interesting.

2:59 p.m.: WOW, Adam Dunn just CRUSHED a three-run home run off Nolasco. As the Nats announcer just said: “That’s what I’m talking about.”

The announcer just said, ” This is one dangerous dude.”

My wife responded with “Who the fuck is this announcer?”

Awesome.

2:53 p.m.: Just read a note from the State League Commish (FreeSanJose) where he makes fun of PoiDog who has made an unverified record of six pre-season free agency moves. We are limited to 30 throughout the season. Good job, Poi.

2:51 p.m.: Looks like one of our fantasy leaguers is reading this blog — or watching the Marlins game — Bonaficio has been added.

2:45 p.m.: Emilio Bonaficio of the Marlins had an inside-the-park homer about 15 minutes ago. He makes for an intriguing play at second base in fantasy leagues as he provides crazy speed.

2:18 p.m.: Props to the wife again, she hooked up lunch — Subway.

2:03 p.m.: ESPN2 is airing the Yankees-Orioles game and I just don’t seem to care. I’m enjoying this non-HD stuff on MLB Extra Innings. This just in — The Orioles are boring.

2:02 p.m.: The Jon just called again to make fun of Brandon Webb, whose given up back-to-back jacks in the fourth. He’s now given up 6 earned.

1:59 p.m.: Pujols singled, but the Cardinals held Adam Wainwright at third so the bases are loaded for Khalil Greene — who just singled up the middle. 1-0 Cardinals.

1:58 p.m.: Channel surfing and see that Albert Pujols is about to bat with two runners on. This is the first year since Albert’s rookie year that I have owned him in a fantasy league. He’s 1-1 already …

1:54 p.m.: Just added links to the on-going games. ALso realized that Ricky Nolasco is cruising — 4 ks through two innings.

1:49 p.m.: Check that, Tony Clark just smashed a two-run homer to make it 6-4 D-Backs. Arizona is in the midst of a four-run third inning.

1:47 p.m.: Quick league roundup: Rockies-D-Backs knoted at 4 in the 4th innings; Marlins up on the Nats 2-0 in the third, and the Pirates-Cardinals and Yankees-Orioles are scoreless int he second.

1:44 p.m.: Quick box score check shows the Rangers have defeated the Indians 9-1. Kinsler was 3-5, Millwood — who still sucks — was solid. Heed this warning fantasy leaguers: LEAVE MILLWOOD ALONE.

1:40 p.m.: K-Rod just shut down the Reds 1-2-3. First save as a Met. And the first game of Opening DAY is in the books.

1:35 p.m.: Francisco Rodriguez has entered the game for the first time as a Met.

1:31 p.m.: I switched the channel from the Mets game to the Nats and Marlins. Marlins are up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. When I got back to the Mets game, David Wright, who walked, was back in the dugout after apparently getting caught stealing, Damnit. This net-stolen bases category in my main fantasy league is going to kill me again.

1:27 p.m.: Looks like we’re about to get another batch of games started. As The Jon noted in our latest conversation, Opening Day has just begun.

1:14 p.m.: Well, looks like the good people at ESPN are preparing for another season of zooming in on the eyes of relief pitcher, ala Jonathan Papelbon. They are doing the same “intense” treatment for JJ Putz, Ugh.

1:10 p.m.: JJ putz has entered the Mets game to be the bridge to K-Rod. On that note, I watched Mike Gonzalez close out the Braves game last night. What the hell is up with his windup. He and K-Rod are some odd dudes.

1:08 p.m.: The Jon is on the phone and we’re watching the opening garbage ceremonies of the Yankees-Orioles. This is painful. This is like Little League opening day.

1 p.m.: Just looked at the Indians box score and see that Cliff Lee’s line looks like that of Jason Kidd’s line from like five years ago. Lee has a line of 10-7-7. If this were Kidd, we’d be talking points, assists and steals. For Lee, we’re talking hits, runs and earned runs.

12:56 p.m.: It just dawned on me that it was 10 years ago on Opening Day when my wife and I attended our first baseball game together. It was the Yankees at the Athletics, Roger Clemens’ first start as a Bronx Bomber.

12:51 p.m.: Steve Phillips was talking about Gary Sheffield again, talking about how he was sending him text messages last week, trying to figure out where he was going to sign. This for some reason bothered me. I guess it seemed like he was name-dropping.

12:48 p.m.: About ten minutes ago Darnell McDonald scored the first run of the Reds season. At the same time, my near-three-month-old daughter had an explosive poop that went through her diaper and clothes. That’s what she thinks of Darnell McDonald. Oddly enough she had the same reaction last night when I was speaking about Brett Myers.

12:37 p.m.: Just saw that the Rangers have gone up 7-0 on a Hank Blalock 3-run homer. Cliff Lee getting lit up big time.

12:27 p.m.: Reds just changed Herrera for Mike Lincoln, who has the task of pitching to David Wright with two runners on and first base open. He’s thrown two breaking balls that almost went for wild pitches.

12:23 p.m.: Herrera just walked two straight to load the bases for Daniel Murphy, who went deep in his last at-bat.

12:19 p.m.: Darnell McDonald just dropped a diving catch. Something tells me he’s headed back to the minors tonight …

12:17 p.m.: Travis Hafner just grounded into an inning-ending double play. He looks confused.

12:16 p.m.: Harang is now out of the game after throwing some 100 pitches in just five innings. Daniel Herrera now on the mound.

12:07 p.m.: Grady Sizemore just broke up the Millwood no-no with a single laced to right.

12:06 p.m.: Kevin Millwood has a no-no through three innings. JINX!

Noon: The Jon called again to say “That Cleveland defense has more gaps than the hoes we saw at that run-down strip club in Vegas.” He’s referring to the toothless chicks who were dancing at this club we briefly stopped in a few years back during the one and only trip The Jon and I, along with eight others, took to Sin City. Terrible.

11:59 a.m.: I knew Darnell McDonald would be a frequent topic today: He and his outfield buddies just let a second straight pop-up fall for a hit.

11:55 a.m.: Daniel Murphy just blasted a homer off Aaron Harang. Weeeeeeeeeeeeee. 1-0, Mets

11:54 a.m.: Steve Phillips is sharing his philosphy on the World Baseball Classic. He has an interesting idea: Give the backup spot to a scrub and allow the true backup, a MLB star, stay with his MLB team until he is needed.

11:50 a.m.: I just flipped back the Indians-Ranger game and see that I missed a four-run second inning against reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee. Damnit. Looks like Ian Kinsler and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both had two-run singles.

11:47 a.m.: Ooooh, Steve Phillips just brought up HGH and steroids. To put this in context, they were talking about Jay Bruce core strength, which led to a discussion about players not being able to use brute strength. ** It should be noted that they showed Gary Sheffield in the dug out during this discussion.

11:45 a.m.: Jay Bruce just broke up Johan’s no-no with a double off the center field wall. Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce.

11:42 a.m.: I feel like an old man — I’m battling stiffness in my lower back right now. If I were a ball player, I would not be able to play today, not even on Opening Day.

11:40 a.m.: Johan is back on the mound after flying out with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth. Johan is looking good.

11:25 a.m.: Watching Travis Hafner take cuts against Kevin Millwood. Is it just me or does Hafner look lighter too? I said the same thing earlier about Carlos Delgado.

11:23 a.m.: Johan’s got a no-no through three innings.

11:22 a.m.: The Jon called again to make sure that I knew about the Hamilton story reference on ESPN2. I think we’re all in the same boat on this: We love the Hamilton story, but we’re sick of hearing about it.

11:20 a.m.: Flipped it back to the Indians-Rangers game. The announcers are again gushing over Josh Hamilton’s story of rags to riches. Give it a rest already. We all know about his issues.

11:10 a.m.: Note to fantasy players, don’t go picking up Kevin Millwood just because he struck out Grady Sizemore on a nasty curve ball. Sizemore strikes out all the time, and Millwood seems to be OK on Opening Days. It’s usually the 161  games after that that are the issue.

11:07 a.m.: Indians and Rangers on ESPN2 in lieu of Red Sox and Rays. Kevin Millwood sucks.

11:05 a.m.: Ryan Church made a circus catch in right-center and then doubled off Edwin Encarnacion. Look out for the replay on any of the highlight shows later. That was pretty cool.

11:02 a.m.: It’s well known that I am a Red Sox fan, have been for two decades. But on this day, Opening Day, I’m really wishing they had the Yankees season opener at the New Yankee Stadium. I want to see that place.

10:58 a.m.: The Jon just called to see if I was watching. Are you kidding me? Of course.

10:52 a.m.: Note from Yahoo states that Angels hurler John Lackey has been cleared to begin  throwing today. This is good news.

10:49 a.m.: ESPN just had a note stating that Michael Jordan was elected to the basketball Hall of Fame today. What the hell. Shouldn’t he have been the one guy in basketball who should have walked right off the court and into the Hall? Then again, I guess you had to make sure he was truly retired.

10:47 a.m.: Santana worked out of the jam by getting Bruce to pop to center. It should be noted that the rain is coming down even harder. What the hell is up with this rain? It’s April, not March.

10:46 a.m.: Sweet, just won on ebay a 1970 Topps Thurman Munson rookie.

10:44 a.m. Johan Santana has walked two straight batters — Votto and Phillips — after striking out the first two guys. Here comes Jay Bruce.

10:37 a.m.: Yep, that’s the same Darnell McDonald. Johan Santana just made him look foolish. Struck him out on a changeup.

10:33 a.m.: Big shout out to my wife. She hooked up breakfast: eggs, bacon and toast. Much better than cereal. Word.

10:30 a.m.: Carlos Beltran just ended the first inning with a fly out to center fielder Darnell McDonald. Darnell McDonald? As in the ex Baltimore Oriole prospect? What the hell happened to that deep Cincy outfield? I’ve heard lots of names this spring: Bruce, Dickerson, etc. But not McDonald. Interesting.

10:27 a.m.: Getting our first look of Carlos Delgado this season. He looks awfully skinny.

10:25 a.m.: Jose Reyes just stole second base and in the screen shot, you can see it is raining pretty badly in Cincy. I have a feeling this game is going to get delayed a few times. Word from ESPN is that they are expecting SNOW in Cincy. WTF.

10:22 a.m.: First pitch from Aaron Harang to Jose Reyes is a strike. Welcome to the 2009 season. * Note: Jose Reyes just had an in-field single

10:21: Just reading a note on YahooSports about how David Wright’s homerun total could suffer due to the new field. I found this interesting since just the other day some TV guys were talking about how the ball jumps out of both New York stadiums. Hmmm.

10:15 a.m.: Damnit! I just got en e-mail from eBay telling me that I lost a lot of baseball cards that I should have won. That’s what I get for doing the dishes.

9:54 a.m.: I just got back from running to the post office and doing the dishes — I feel like I’ve got to do something since I’ll be sitting on my ass all day watching baseball — and now am counting the minutes until the first pitch. I’ll probably start with the New York Mets and Cincinatti Reds game. I’ve got lots invested (in terms of fantasy) in the Mets, and I’m real anxious to see what Jay Bruce and Joey Votto will do this season.

8:43 a.m.: I just got out of the restroom and flipped on the MLB Extra Innings channel — I heard it’s free today — and I see that that Red Sox-Rays Opening Day game has been postponed, shoved to Tuesday like a red-headed step child. This is ironic since yesterday I made light of what it must be like to be a Royals or White Sox fan. The opener featuring those two squads was postponed also. This sucks! I’m sitting here in my Boston jersey and 2007 World Series champion baseball cap. Boooooooo.

8:30 a.m.: The day begins with a nasty sound — the buzzer from my alarm clock. I hate this sound. I got a new alarm clock yesterday and when the new one went off this morning, I freaked out, my dog went crazy and my wife … was calm. I yelled an expletive and mashed the snooze button to kill the noise. My wife’s response: “It’s OK, babe. It’s Monday. It’s baseball.” Yes, it is, baby. Yes it is.