Opening Day 2010!

The day is finally here! What seemed like the LONGEST offseason ever is finally over. For baseball fans, opening day is more exciting than christmas morning (or atleast for me it is)

I couldn’t sleep last night, kept tossing and turning, dreaming of the brand new season when you can say heck yeah we are tied for 1st place we have a chance! After a few months reality sits in. But today I am optimistic and excited!

 

I arrived at PNC park around 10am, early enough to enjoy the festivites and grab some brunch. I don’t think ive ever seen so many Pirate fans before! I wish they came out like that all season but unfortuantly they don’t.

After a little venture I went to watch the pirates batting pratice. I must admit I did feel a little cool flashing my season ticket holder card for early access.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Chad Billingsley warming up in the bullpen.

 

Dodgers taking batting pratice.

 

 

 

 With Matt of “The Pittsburgh Peas” if you don’t read his blog already…what are you waiting for!

 

 

 I Love Stan!

 Newly acquired Bucco, Raynor.

 

 2010 Dodgers

 2010 Pirates

 

 The Pirates taking the field on opening day!

Dodgers Joe Torre and Pirates John Russell.

 

You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day for a baseball game. It was in the 80′s, party sunny and it didn’t rain! (YES!)

I was a little dissapointed listening to a lot of the Pirate fans around me. A lot of them had no idea who any of the players were. I get not knowing a few, there were a lot of trades. But really? I heard people asking who Garrett Jones, Andy Laroche, Evan Meek, and Ross Ohlendorf were. Shame Pittsburgh!!

I know its still early in the season and maybe I shouldn’t even bring it up yet but I just can’t help myself. What are we going to do with Andy LaRoche. Ugh! When he missed that ball and costed us 2 runs I thought that could be the difference in the loss in the game. (I know in the end it didn’t matter but still) We were playing the Dodgers for heck’s sake! Who honestly thought we were going to beat them 11-5? Not only did he mess up, he also went 0-4. He sure has a lot to improve or he will be jobless come June/July when Pedro Alvarez comes up. PEDRO! PEDRO!

Garrett Freaking Jones. He is so ridicolous!! 1st at bat a BOMB (457 ft into the river) 2nd at bat another HR. I really wish he would have done a curtain call I was standing and screaming for it! He also made two great catches today as well. He is a gem and we are so lucky we got him!

I was excited to see Jefff Clement start the 2010 season at first base. From what I hear he has a great bat. He did pretty good and even caught a pretty good line drive.

I was a little dissapointed that Aki Iwamura went 0-4. I don’t know much about the guy (except that he had 6 gold gloves in Japan thanks to the Pirates score board) I’m excited to see him this season though, everyone says great things. 

Zack Duke got the win on opening day, his second year in a row. It’s also the forth year in a row the Pirates have won opening day!

Welcome to Pittsburgh Ryan Church! When JR took out Duke and Church went in to PH i was a little confused why he was taken out so early. Ryan Church hit a 3 RBI double! I’ll never 2nd guess JR in the future. =)

 

I don’t know about you guys but when A McCutchen or Jones comes up to bat they remind me of a Manny or an ARod. No, no not the talent! Deffinitly not there yet. I mean, when they come up to bat they give me that sense of “anything is possible” and “anything can happen” baseball miracles and I haven’t felt that from a Pirate player in a really long time. Anyone else?

 

 

RTJR! Pirates beat the Dodgers 11-5

 

Pirate Stats on opening day:

• Milledge 5AB 1R 1H 1-2B 1RBI .200 AVG
• Cedeno 4AB 2H 1RBI 1SB .500 AVG
• Doumit 4AB 2R 2H 1-2B 1HR 3RBI 1BB .500 AVG
• Iwamura 4AB 1R 1BB .000 AVG
• Jones 4AB 3R 2H 2HR 3RBI 1BB .500 AVG
• A McCutchen 4AB 2R 1H 1-2B 1SB .250 AVG
• Clement 3AB 1R 1H 1BB 1K .333 AVG
• LaRoche 3AB .000 AVG
• Church 1AB 1R 1H 1-2B 3RBI 1.000 AVG
• Young 1AB 1K .000 AVG

 

• Duke 5.0 IP 7H 2R 2ER 1BB 1K
• Donnelly 1.0 IP 2H 2K
• Dotel 1.0 IP 1K
• Carrasco 0.2 IP IH 3R 3ER 1HBP 1BB
• Meek 0.2 IP IH
• Taschner 0.2 IP IH IK