Written by Phil Rodgers at MLB.com
Another year, another crazy, memorable Opening Day.
And this one had an extra special feel thanks to #CapsOn, as fans all over the country showed their support by donning the hat of their favorite club in celebration of this baseball holiday. Monday’s collection of games included greatness from many of the usual suspects and memories that will last forever for guys we’re just getting to know. It was a fitting follow-up to Sunday’s tripleheader, which was capped off by the Royals raising their World Series banner and beating the Mets (again) with defense, situational hitting and aggressive baserunning.
From Wily Peralta’s first pitch at Miller Park to Miguel Castro’s last out in the Rockies’ victory in Arizona, Major League Baseball’s 141st Opening Day was a celebration of extraordinary players and a preview of the drama ahead in a season where almost anything seems possible.
But there’s no need to get ahead of ourselves. Take a moment to consider what we’ve already seen. Here were my 10 favorite moments from Monday’s nine openers:
One more time for the ace and the orator
Maybe you can think of a better way to start a season than to hear Vin Scully describing aClayton Kershaw start, but not me. I wanted to hear what Vinny would say off the top, and in the first inning, after informing his SNLA audience that the new Padres manager is a former infielder named Andrew Mulligan Green, he did not disappoint.
“Kershaw, the numbers are remarkable,” said Scully, who is working his 67th season as the Dodgers’ announcer and plans to retire when it’s over. “For instance, last year, 301 strikeouts and only 42 walks … big swing and a miss by Jon Jay … Kershaw, that makes him No. 1 in Major League Baseball history … this is his sixth Opening Day assignment. He is three wins, no losses, earned-run average of one-point-one-four.”
And that was before Kershaw carved up the Padres, holding them to a Jay single in seven shutout innings of a 15-0 victory. Make it 4-0 with an 0.93 ERA for Kershaw on Opening Day. The last time the Dodgers lost on Opening Day, by the way, Vicente Padilla was their starting pitcher.
Borrowing a page from Stephen Curry
It’s become popular to say that the NBA’s reigning MVP is also that league’s most improved player. Imagine if we’re saying that about Bryce Harper in a month or two.
Harper pulled a home run into the seats in the right-field bleachers in his first at-bat of the season. He had fouled off three two-strike pitches from Julio Teheran and watched Anthony Rendon get picked off first base, then crushed a belt-high slider that didn’t slide much. The Nationals would go on to win 4-3 in 10 innings.
To continue reading this article, click here.
