4/6/2012: OPENING DAY - Orioles vs. Twins

[Don Quixote]

The Baltimore Orioles begin their 21st season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and as is tradition, are greeted by a festive throng of supporters filling the stadium from the first row to the last. This year's opener marks two decades since Rick Sutcliffe made for grand memories, pitching a five-hit shutout in a 2-0 Orioles victory, and the ballpark took the baseball world by storm. The Orioles enter the 2012 season coming off a 2011 campaign marred by 69-93 record and fifth-place AL East finish, but capped off with a walk-off victory over the Boston Red Sox that was part of what has since been considered by many the greatest night in baseball history. The Minnesota Twins, meanwhile, will be trying to return in 2012 to the winning ways that defined the decade prior to their disastrous 2011 season, a year marked by injury, a 63-99 record, and a fifth-place finish in the AL Central. Right-hander Jake Arrieta makes his first Opening Day start and second consecutive start in an Orioles home opener, while the Twins counter with right-hander Carl Pavano.

FOR THE ORIOLES:

Nolan Reimold - LF
J.J. Hardy - SS
Nick Markakis - RF
Adam Jones - CF
Matt Wieters - C
Wilson Betemit - DH
Mark Reynolds - 3B
Chris Davis - 1B
Robert Andino - 2B

Jake Arrieta - RHP


FOR THE TWINS:

Denard Span - CF
Jamey Carroll - SS
Joe Mauer - C
Justin Morneau - DH
Josh Willingham - LF
Ryan Doumit - RF
Danny Valencia - 3B
Chris Parmelee - 1B
Alexi Casilla - 2B

Carl Pavano - RHP

[crissfan172]

I promise I will only complain about this once all year. Hardy hitting 2nd? C'mon Buck.

[OFFNY]

.
2011 .................................................. ............... 2012

Brian Roberts - 2B .................................................. ... Nolan Reimold - LF
Nick Markakis - RF .................................................. ... J.J. Hardy - SS
Derrek Lee - 1B .................................................. ....... Nick Markakis - RF
Vladimir Guerrero - DH ................................................. Adam Jones - CF
Adam Jones - CF .................................................. ..... Matt Wieters - C
Luke Scott - LF .................................................. ...... Wilson Betemit - DH
Mark Reynolds - 3B .................................................. .. Mark Reynolds - 3B
Matt Wieters - C .................................................. ..... Chris Davis - 1B
J.J. Hardy - SS .................................................. ........ Robert Andino - 2B

Jeremy Guthrie - RHP ................................................ Jake Arrieta - RHP

[Don Quixote]

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

[scOtt]

Boog Pow-well strikes another mighty blow!

[scOtt]

mcgraw-robinson.jpg




On Maryland soil...






A digital phone picture... of a glossy paper hardcopy picture... from some museum in upstate NY. 1890's Trophies.

[scOtt]

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

I can't NOT post this. I AM scOtt after all...

[bobmc]

A coolish day but no rain today in Bawlmor, hon. 58 degrees with sunshine at game time.

http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/21201

[Dipper9]

Something Magic Happens.....

Saturday's Headlines:
O's Win Big on Opening Day, Beat Twins 11-3
Arrieta Replaces Guts, Go's 7 Strong Innings in Opening Day Win
Weams Can't Control Excitement, Streaks Naked Across Infield

[bobmc]

The Bohettes are completing their bikini waxes at this moment....

http://twitter.com/#!/SydKleinberg/s...50020525772800

[bobmc]

Something Magic Happens.....

Saturday's Headlines:
O's Win Big on Opening Day, Beat Twins 11-3
Arrieta Replaces Guts, Go's 7 Strong Innings in Opening Day Win
Weams Can't Control Excitement, Streaks Naked Across Infield, JustD in tow

Sure if she's not unclad .....

Note: Edit approved by DW!

[andrewochs615]

Ugh its gonna be a long day at work until game time.

[OFFNY]

Those early years were lots of fun,
and though they lost more than they won,
baseball had returned to Baltimore.
Put 2 Robbys in the mix, and by 1966,
the Orioles had put the Dodgers down in 4.

We’re talkin’ baseball, Gentile and John Orsino,
Oriole baseball, Hoyt and Aparicio,
the kiddie corps of Triandos and Billy Loes,
where was Jackie Brandt? Nobody Knows.
I’m talkin’ baseball, baseball and the O’s.

Earl came upon the scene,
each year they had a winning team,
play it small, the breaks will come your way.
1970 champs, Grich, Davis, May, and Graham,
whenever you saw Baltimore, they came to play.

I’m talkin’ baseball, Belanger, Ellie, Palmer.
Oriole baseball, Belle and Buford, Hall,
Cuellar and McNally poised to throw,
Boog Powell strikes a might blow,
I’m talkin’ baseball, baseball and the O’s.

When you’re talkin’ Baltimore baseball,
with Dave, and John McGraw,
Twenty games by 4 was done, Brooksie robs another one!
Frank’s Triple Crown the year they won, now Robby’s in the Hall.

The Orioles have tradition, and with Ken and Eddie switchin’,
they’re aiming for the Series in the fall.
New names, Johnny O., another team unfolds,
I’m a believer in Palmer and Weaver, so let’s play ball.

I’m talkin’ baseball, Rick Dempsey and Richie Dauer,
Oriole baseball, Roenicke, Ayala,
Bumbry, Scottie, Mike, and Tippy, Stone.
The wings will tell how far the Birds will go.
I’m talkin’ baseball, baseball and the O’s

I’m talkin’ baseball, baseball and the O’s (the Birds!, the Birds!, the Birds!)
I’m talkin’ baseball, (the Birds!, the Birds!, the Birds!),
Murray’s the man, ball’s in the stands, yeah. (the Birds!, the Birds!, the Birds!),
I’m talkin’ baseball, [very faintly – In Baltimore], (the Birds!, the Birds!, the Birds!),

Cotton candies and gum, the job gets done, (the Birds!, the Birds!, the Birds!)
I’m talkin’ baseball, down in Baltimore, (the Birds!, the Birds!, the Birds!)
I’m talkin’ baseball, down in Baltimore , (the Birds!, the Birds!, the Birds!)

[backwardsk]

I'm not going to try to be a negative Nellie because I'm excited about opening day, but wouldn't it make sense to start Johnson over Betemit when they have lefties going tomorrow and Sunday? And to a lesser extent, the same thing applies with Chavez/Reimold.

[PaulFolk]

I'm not going to try to be a negative Nellie because I'm excited about opening day, but wouldn't it make sense to start Johnson over Betemit when they have lefties going tomorrow and Sunday? And to a lesser extent, the same thing applies with Chavez/Reimold.

Why? Johnson hits lefties better than Betemit does. It makes more sense this way.

Reimold should almost always be starting over Chavez, especially on Opening Day.