Opening Day: Baseball Season Begins

Nothing says America like baseball. And opening day in baseball is like putting the official seal on Spring. Everybody can then come out of hibernation (Punxatawney Phil notwithstanding). The boys of summer have finished their spring training and decided that everything is going to officially count. The long march to October begins. And it all starts with a ceremonial first pitch and two words spoken by the umpire.

"Play ball!"

President Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch in Washington for the Nationals game against the Braves on March 31. He was booed heavily as he made his way to the mound. But baseball fans are quick to forgive -- or maybe realized that baseball season had truly begun -- and they cheered when the president fired one high and wide. (At least he didn't throw it in the dirt like his dad.) The Nationals won, 3-2.

Over on the East Coast, Johan Santana made his debut with the Mets, striking out 8 Marlins in 7 innings, leading New York to a 7-2 victory over Florida.

America's favorite underdog, the Chicago Cubs, started off in true form: they lost.

The 2007 American League also-ran Cleveland Indians started up the new season with a win over the Chicago White Sox 10-8, but they lost their All-Star catcher Victor Martinez to a pulled hamstring.

The World Series Champion Boston Red Sox started a little earlier than everyone else, debuting against Oakland on March 26 in Japan. This guarantees that the 2008 season will be the longest season on record. Boston won in ten innings, 6-5.

Their perennial nemesis, the Yankees, began their season on April 1, due to a March 31 rain cancellation, in the fashion New York fans have grown accustomed to: they won, beating Toronto 3-2. This will be the 84th and final opener at Yankees stadium. Next year, baseball's winningest franchise will move into the $1.3 billion new Yankee Stadium.

Former Yankees manager Joe Torre was at the helm for the first game of the Los Angeles Dodgers fiftieth season in L.A. He picked up pretty much where he left off -- winning. The Dodgers beat San Francisco 5-0.

The 2007 National League champion Colorado Rockies were also rained out on March 31. But they prevailed on April 1, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1.

All the teams have now had their openers. Baseball season is underway. And America's pastime is in full swing again to help us get away from the world's craziness for a couple hours a day. Well, except for the Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens thing, that is...

Sources:

Sportsline.com

ESPN.com

SportsIllustrated.com