If you've followed baseball religiously, as I have since 1954, this is your favorite day. This will be my 67th opening day and I'm ready to go. I've been in training and I can still eat a hot dog and drink a beer and never miss a pitch. Of course, these days I'll be asleep for the seventh inning stretch, but that's what ESPN is for.
**A couple of rule changes from last season will remain in effect such as both games of double headers will be seven innings. I prefer the old minor league system: First game 9 innings, second game 7 innings. Unfortunately there will be no universal Designated Hitter. That will be used only in American League parks. That's too bad since I feel the biggest asset is that it keeps older players in the game longer. I don't care for starting a runner at second for extra innings, that one will be there. There will be others but these three are the biggest.
**Angel Hernandez has lost his discrimination suit against MLB. Angel got shut down quite decisively by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken. "The explicit reason MLB offers -- that according to Torre, Hernandez
'has not demonstrated the leadership ability and situation-management
skills in critical high-pressure roles on a consistent basis' -- is
presented in clear and specific terms." In other words, Hernandez did not perform well in high pressure situations. I think that's wrong. I don't think Hernandez performs well in any situation. How can one person make so many glaring errors and on national television no less.
**Texas Governor Greg Abbott has lifted the state' mandatory mask policy and the Rangers Globe Life Park in Arlington will allow 100% capacity (aprox. 40,000 fans) for opening day, however fans will be required to wear masks. No other club will allow more than 50% capacity, some as low as 12%. At least the Governor will be safe up in his mansion.
**Speaking of Opening Day, I love the way schedule makers like to show us how important they are. Either that or they are devious little people. Why, for example, do they do this: NY vs Toronto - In New York not in Toronto's dome? Atlanta goes to Philadelphia? The Dodgers get sent to Colorado - they should have the last blizzard cleared out by then. Houston is going to Oakland. Well, the weather will be no problem but nobody likes to play in Oakland - not even Oakland. They did send Minnesota down south - all the way to Milwaukee. Baseball tradition was the first game of the season was in Cincinnati. This year the first game will be in New York. It will also be the first game postponed on account of weather. It doesn't matter; just hoist one of those $15 beers and play on!
**One more weekend of college basketball. Two games on Saturday and the Championship game on Monday. This year it's all Texas (Baylor-Houston) vs all West Coast (UCLA-Gonzaga). To hear my friend Janice Hough tell it, we here in the East don't really care. Actually I would love to see Gonzaga vs Baylor for all the marbles.
**In the world of high finance, players continue to ask for outrageous amounts of money. Francisco Lindor wanted $32 million a year from the Mets but owner Steve Cohen said no way. You'll take $34 million a year and like it. I'm glad he's not doing my taxes. (Actually. Lindor asked for 12 years, Cohen gave him 10 years)
**A quote from my favorite fighter, from Dwight Perry's column:
The late Marvelous Marvin Hagler didn’t need his fists to land a good jab. In 1985, when Thomas Hearns opened a cut above Hagler’s eye during their celebrated middleweight fight, referee Richard Steele called time to check it out, and this ensued: Steele: “Marvin, can you see?”Hagler: “I ain’t missing him, am I?”
***THEY SAID IT***
"If these CBS and Turner NCAA Tournament voices are so word-slick, why hasn’t “punched their ticket” become “scan their ticket”?" -- Phil Mushnick
"A startled golfer plunged into a 5.5-metre sinkhole that opened up beneath him on an Illinois fairway. Talk about a free drop." -- RJ Currie
"I know coaches never like to look ahead … but Oregon needs only five more forfeits to win the national title." -- John Canzano
"How competitive is the NCAA Tournament? Oregon State plays Loyola Chicago tomorrow and tonight OSU fans are burning Sister Jean in effigy." -- Brad Dickson
"Hope it isn’t a bad sign that Opening Day is also April Fool’s Day." -- Janice Hough
"Syracuse needs its 3-point shots to fall to win this game; not happening in 1st half. In the second half, Houston was almost playing “Box-and-1” on Buddy Boeheim." -- Jack Finarelli
"Brian Cashman, GM of the Bronx Bombers, pays his ex over $1 million annually in their divorce settlement. So Yankee Stadium isn't his only costly diamond." -- RJ Currie
"Ohio State safety Marcus Hooker was arrested on DUI
charges after he passed out behind the wheel while waiting in a
McDonald’s drive-thru line.Defense lawyers can’t decide whether to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty or “I deserve a break today.” -- Dwight Perry
" So as March Madness continues, who are casual college basketball fans going to root for, now that the game’s most well-known star is gone from the tournament? Talking of course about Sister Jean." -- Janice Hough
"Krispy Kreme is offering a free glazed doughnut to anyone who gets a vaccine. The problem is that Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts are actually worse for you than Covid." -- Brad Dickson
"The Houston Rockets finally snapped their long losing streak — 20 games — with a 117-99 win over Toronto. That sound you hear is ex-Washington Generals popping Champagne corks." -- Dwight Perry
Chad Picasner
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