Opening Day

Of course, it’s not our opening day, but it’s the opening day nonetheless. I know I’ll be tuning in to root for the Mets to lose tonight, as much as rooting for the Cardinals to win makes my skin crawl. But whatever works — I sure enjoyed knocking the Astros out of the playoff race last year, even though it meant allowing the Cardinals to somehow go on to win the Series. I still hope Clemens retires this year so that the last game of his career will be a loss to Chuckie.

Whenever I hear the phrase “opening day,” I think of Atlanta’s “Every day is an opening day” marketing campaign. What, you didn’t know that Atlanta has a slogan? It even has a theme song. Really makes me miss Fred Toucher antagonizing the campaign endlessly on the radio. I’m liking the Braves’ marketing campaign so far this year — it’s nice and subtle, unlike last year’s embarrassing MC Hammer video (this is a real thing! I refuse to link to it, but Huddy plays air guitar, take my word for it), and that other country one where the guy with the mullet screams “GO BRAVES!” at the end. I also hated the decade banners out at the Chop House — do the Braves really want to remember the 70’s and 80’s that badly? I still say those banners were bad luck. If they had a slogan last year, I don’t remember it, which is not a very good sign, but this year their slogan is “Welcome to the Bigs.” Pretty cheesy but not too bad. I like the commercials with the players getting out of limos on a red carpet — they’re just humiliating enough to be funny. At least there’s no “dancing” involved this year. Yet.

I really liked ending the game on a Wicky note yesterday, and I appreciated the crowd getting into it there at the end, like Wicky’s third out was the official bell for the start of the season. I guess I should make some predictions, eh?

I’m excited about:
Smoltz, Heap, Chuckie, Gonzo, Soriano, Chipper, Kelly (as a leadoff hitter, and how funny is it that the Padres are making Gilly hit leadoff?), Paronto

Haven’t made up my mind yet:
Andruw (he looks goofy as hell at the plate lately, yes?), Huddy, Langerhans, Thor, Rent, McBride

You guys make me nervous but I’m hoping for the best:
Frenchy, Diaz (he seems to be panicking lately, he’s talking to himself at the plate and stuff), Cormier, Hampton

I’m worried about:
Wow, I actually can’t think of anyone I’m really worried about. Maybe Redman? But even he hasn’t been terrible. I guess I’m just relatively indifferent about everyone else.

Okay, now, I hate to keep picking on Orr (not really), but this picture:

Let’s just hope it’s not a metaphor for his 2007 season. Cause it’s not a bad one for his 2006. But hope springs eternal! GO ORR! Get off your knees, find your glove and work it out, man. On opening day, anything is possible.