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.

Reduce, recycle, reuse: ARod

Note: This was written by Newspaperman before the Alex Rodriguez aka Purple Lips interview by PeterGammons at ESPN at CardboardIcons. – The Jon

Am I wrong for not being passionate about the steroids issue?
This is the question I am asking myself after hearing the news that Alex Rodriguez tested positive in 2003 for using two steroids. Some fans are furious; others see this as a no-brainer issue. For me, I’m intrigued, but not so much that I am ready to write some 5,000-word diatribe expressing my disgust for A-Rod and the game of baseball.

I guess the way I see it now is the same as I have seen it for the last five years — it happened, it is a part of the game’s history and we cannot dismiss the era completely.

Baseball purists are the ones who are the most angry about this because they think this is a black eye for baseball. But did it ruin the game? No.

Shut up, Al Sharpton

Al Sharpton throws the race card around more often than Newspaperman threw Jody Reed cards around in the mid-’80s. Of course this is not news to anyone. Any American who has owned a television over the past 20 years has seen the reverend stand up for African Americans he feels has been wronged many times over. In principal, I have no problem with famous people using their power to improve the rights of minorities and the oppressed. We all know the history of racial equality in America, and in baseball for that matter, has left a lot to be desired over the decades. However, for Sharpton, or anyone else to bring race into the equation in regards to steroids is ridiculous.

I can handle the truth … regardless of what it is

I am not sure what to think anymore.

After watching my boyhood idol Roger Clemens testify before Congress this morning, I’m as confused as ever.

If you ask Clemens, he flat out denies it. Not with a finger wag like Rafael Palmeiro did a few years ago, but with a deathly stare, one similar to the one we’ve seen him use on the mound all of these years.

Fernando Vinatastic knows rap

After mesmerizing audiences last week, Fernando Vinatastic goes from the Gridiron and Brett Favre to the rap game. Check this video out at the 3:37 minute mark unless you like Jermaine Dupri and PuffDaddyPDiddyWhatever his name is.

Poi Dog: By popular demand, we are back with the second installment of our series of interviews with Fernando Vinatastic. Fernando, how are you doing today?

Vinatastic:OK, maybe.

‘Roids ruined this game too

Jan. 28, 2008

It hurts. I tell you, when I got word in December that my boyhood idol Roger Clemens was going to be mentioned in the Mitchell Report, I was a bit miffed. But that’s a discussion for another time. What the investigation into the performance enhancing drugs has done is made me wonder where this leaves us fantasy players. Due to the effects of the contraband, statistics were inflated and in a round about way it left us fantasy players a bit jaded. Because the game we play is based solely on statistics, we’ve come accustomed to home runs in pairs, five-RBI nights, double-digit strikeout totals and just complete dominance of the game. Now that we’re entering a new (clean) era of the sport, one chock full of young, unproven talent, what should we expect? Will we see a dip in power categories, both at the plate and on the mound? Should we expect that all players will be four- and five-tool guys? And should we simply shy away from guys who are being investigated in connection to performance enhancing drugs? The future is unclear, that’s for sure. But what is certain is that the game itself is changing, and fantasy owners need to be cognizant of that when they prepare for their drafts. This could be where we start to see a separation between the men and the boys in terms of fantasy GMs. The ones who cannot adapt to the situation will fall and those who can will rise. The ability to adapt to any situation is crucial to succeed in anything.