Happy Baseball Christmas!

Submitted by Prince Lover on
Is there a better rebound girl to forget about that shot yesterday than the promise and hope of Opening Day? Ozzie Smith and Budweiser want to make this a national holiday. I dont agree with that but I do enjoy Opening Day for baseball. The start of a long marathon of a season. Everyone is still in contention. And most importantly, at least in the Detroit area, it means summer is just around the corner!! My team is the Tigers. I think they'll win the Central. Their starting pitching will carry them through but it will come down to late September. They won't run away with it this year. And once in the playoffs, anything can happen. My biggest fret for the season is Detroit's bullpen. They have Joe Nathan to close which is good. But question marks with everybody else is concerning. Who else loves Opening Day? Who do you root for and what are your expectations? Go Tigers!!

GoWings2008

March 31st, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^

and always will be a Tigers fan first and most of all.  But, that said, and living in the St Louis area...I support having Opening Day as a national holiday.  Its huge here, as it is in Detroit, and I think it would be a nice way to celebrate the beginning of Spring and the start of a fun Summer.  Hell, if they aren't going to give us the day after the Super Bowl off, then this is a close second.

LSAClassOf2000

March 31st, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^

Opening Day was pretty big in our house growing up - it would in fact be the designated skip day, when my dad and I would come down with some mysterious 24-hour virus and head down to Tiger Stadium to see them kick off the season. Actually, we would get down there early so my father could complete his "all B-list players" autographed ball, which has some of the "greats" on it like Barbaro Garbey, Marty Castillo, Doug Baker and Nelson Simmons. 

Monocle Smile

March 31st, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^

Just the term "rebound girl" makes me slightly depressed for a number of reasons.

At the risk of enraging the blog, I really don't care for baseball. I can watch it and I sometimes go to games, but I need to be downing beers with other people.

That being said, given the popularity and passion surrounding the sport...why not make Opening Day a holiday? I won't partake, but why should I be a buzzkill?

Of course, as a Michigan transplant living in Connecticut, I probably won't be going to any games in the near future. Three guesses why.

Moleskyn

March 31st, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^

I love baseball! Opening Day should totally be a national holiday. That said, let's go Tigers. Eat em up!

...and may my fantasy team enjoy much success and happiness.

Snow Sucks

March 31st, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^

Clearly this is the worst time of the year sports-wise, especially if the Red Wings miss the playoffs. I do love golf though, so there's that. Baseball? I'll pass and I have been passing for twelve years.

gwkrlghl

March 31st, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

but I'm not a big fan. So opening day is always a bit sad for me because it just announces the beginning of a long summer without any football, basketball or hockey. Go Tigers though

WMUgoblue

March 31st, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^

I think baseball is hard to enjoy if your parents didn't raise you a fan of the game, because it's slow nature. That said summer is much, much more enjoyable if you really attempt to get into it. 162 days of watching your local sports team helps pass the time til fall sports.

BigCat14

March 31st, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^

I love this game!  IMHO, baseball coupled with a few other items makes for the best opening day of any opening day sport or otherwise!  As a player the sights the sounds the smells, the food, the antipation, etc., are irreplaceable.  As a fan the same holds true!  My team is like many others the Tigers.  Yet I enjoy the game so much that I can literally watch any team, any game and enjoy it because I know the nuances and subtleties of the game.  Here is to hoping that the players, coaches, and fans enjoy the 2014 season and that instant replay adds a positive element to the game instead of detracting?  

Go Tigers!  

Go Blue!

Prince Lover

March 31st, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^

I agree with everything you said. Especially the part of the full sensual experience. The greenest of grass and all the different smells. There is nothing like going to the ballpark.
I went to Fenway a couple of years ago. And it really amazed me how much it smelled like Tiger Stadium. Sure, Comerica has the special feel. But Fenway like Tiger Stadium was classic. A smell of stale beer on wet pavement added with a twinge of urine masked by grilled onions and peppers. Then you walk out of that cloud and darkness to your seat to see bright sunlight and the perfectly manicured green grass and the perfect color of dirt that makes it look clean. I miss Tiger Stadium. But I do love baseball!
Go Tigers!
Go Blue!

French West Indian

March 31st, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^

...but I have to admit that I actually miss cigarette & cigar smoke that also used to add to the mix.  At least they haven't outlawed the smell of piss.

MGoGrendel

March 31st, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^

is it a Dutch holiday?

Also, can we bring our own beer? If so, I'm all in favor. Taking a day off to drink Bud sounds like punishment. I'll take the con-calls and TCP reports over Bud any day!