After a few months of wondering what was going to happen in this new season of MLB, opening day finally commenced yesterday. Of course this was simply game one for many teams (apart from the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves who officially opened the season on Sunday night) in a long schedule that will give the winners 161 more chances to end their perfect season and losers 161 more games to find redemption. Still, to say that a few things did not surprise me would be a liar.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the duel between last season’s AL Cy Young winner and Comeback Player of the Year Cliff Lee and the eight-figure mistake Kevin Millwood. Cliff Lee was rocked, giving up hits and seven earned runs, while Millwood posted his first ERA under five in a decade with a seven inning performance with only one earned run allowed.

Another oddity was the Arizona Diamondbacks, who hit five home runs against the Colorado Rockies at home. Shortstop Fred Lopez and elderly first baseman Tony Clark hit two each. It may be early, but this is a good sign for a Diamondbacks team was famous for its inability to hit last season. It is not that I suggesting that one game heals all, but it is widely known that the Diamondbacks have the talent in the batting lineup. It has just needed to wake up and start hitting like everyone in Arizona knows they can.

The New York Yankees came out with a dud in a 10-5 loss with the Baltimore Orioles. C.C. Sabathia began his season and career with New York with an embarrassing outing that lasted all of four and a third innings and resulted in six earned runs off eight hits and five walks. Meanwhile Mark Teixeira, the latest $20 million man in baseball, went 0 for 4 with a walk. For the record that means he was paid over $123,000 to do nothing at the office all day. I want that job. I think of the Yankees nine game road schedule to start the season as Broadway preview, giving the team time to get tuned up for the season opener at the New Yankees Stadium.

I was disappointed that the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays could not play. The series between the two teams that were battling for the AL East would be a great way to begin the 2009 season, but they will play another day. Also my hometown Chicago White Sox were forced to postpone the season and home opener because of snow. I hate spring in Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs were able to play down in Houston at Minute Maid Park. This game was really interesting because Carlos Zambrano was opening the season after asking for a new ballpark in Chi-town. My Cubs fans were not happy about that (direct quote: “I’d rather lose for another hundred years rather than play in a new ballpark”).They were happy to see that fiery righty brought a well-rested arm and put in six innings of work, only giving up an earned run and striking out six. The Cubs ended up winning 4 to 2, with my dire predictions about their bullpen waiting for another day to rear its ugly head.

All in all it was a nice little day. I was happy to hear in other sports news that Michael Jordan, shockingly, was named as one of the inductees to the Basketball Hall of Fame, but was sad to see the Michigan State guards play like freshman at a hazing ceremony. Still, the Tar Heels deserved to win. Great shooters, solid senior and junior play, and nice fairy tale ending to a program that looked in trouble four years ago.

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