Why is it that Opening Day in baseball means so much more than Opening Day in any other major league sport? I got to thinking about that on Monday as I watched the local TV media hype up the big day at Comerica Park.
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The only real answer I could come up with is because baseball is a sign of spring and it means people can start to get ready for a brand new season and a new beginning.
People really do like it when winter comes to an end and this past winter ended up bringing a lot of snow. People like the spring and they really like the summer. So in my opinion opening day brings with it a new beginning and people like to celebrate that.
Granted it is nice to see and hear all the hype about the Detroit Tigers and how good the team's batting lineup is. I mean from one to nine the lineup looks very strong this season.
I have to admit for all the press Brandon Inge was getting and how he lost his job at third to Miguel Cabrera I didn't feel sorry for him sitting on the bench and making his millions. He did make a nice throw from centerfield yesterday to throw out a Kansas City Royal runner.
The other Tigers in the infield all did a great job. Edgar Renteria, Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco impressed me. I am glad to see the team come out of spring training and have everyone healthy for the season.
Magglio Ordonez looked pretty impressive in the season debut as well. And how cool was it for rookie Clete Thomas to get a double in his first ever major league at bat. That was a pleasant surprise as well.
Jim Leyland and company is doing a great job once again this season. I also like the bullpen Coach Jeff Jones. He is from Southgate (where I grew up) and I have met and interviewed him on more than one occasion. Both times he was a class act and someone I enjoy chatting about baseball with.
He has some good stories like when he was with the Oakland Athletics and his coach was Billy Martin. They told him to loosen up and get ready to come in and next thing he knows Martin and the pitcher get into an argument and he has to call Jones into the game without being warmed up.
He told me he threw the first batter out and got out of the inning and went to throw some more pitches under the stands when an umpire told him once you are in the game you cannot practice pitching anymore.
Jones also said his toughest opponent he ever pitched against was Reggie Jackson who hit something like eight homeruns in his career off of Jones. Jeff shouldn't feel too bad about that Jackson cranked a lot of homeruns off a lot of pitchers in his career.
I love the atmosphere around the ballpark and have even had the pleasure of attending one opening day at Tiger Stadium and one more recently at Comerica Park.
The one at Comerica Park was my favorite because I went as a member of the press and was allowed on the field for batting practice and in the locker room as well. It was the year the Tigers at a horrible season and in the first game they played the Cleveland Indians and the very first pitch was a homerun by Cleveland.
The Tigers lost the game and went on to fire their manager after a couple games. It was still pretty cool because I was able to get on the field and do what is was I got into the journalism for in the first place.
Now we have to get ready for the local sports scene in Belleville and in Ypsilanti. I can't wait to see some good baseball and softball games. I also want to see some good track meets. So think spring and maybe we won't have that bad of a rainy season this year.
Dave Merchant is a staff writer for the View and Courier newspapers and can be reached at 1-734-697-8255 or at Dmerchant@heritage.com
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