Monday, March 31, 2008

Play ball!

"I love Opening Day. I think we all do, whether it's the players, coaches or front office. It's just a special day in our American culture. It's weaved into the fabric of what we are, and I think it's a great day." - Padres manager Bud Black

Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball - a day our family really looks forward to! The Astros are in San Diego tonight (can you take your pets to PETCO Park?), then Chicago, so their Home Opener won't be until next Monday the 7th. Bubba and Bubba's Dad will be there - it is a tradition that they go to the Astros' Opening Day game every year, and have since Bubba was just a little kid (now he's a big kid).

The Astros are a new team this year - we've lost a few players, including Craig Biggio who retired at the end of last season, and we've gained some new ones, including second baseman Kazuo Matsui, who is on the D.L. and won't get to start playing until mid-April. He is recovering from surgery to repair an anal fissure. Bubba and I think that there should be a big promotion at Minute Maid Park when he returns - a giveaway of inflatable doughnut cushions for the first 10,000 fans! It could be sponsored by one of the local hospitals. It's brilliant.

So buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and root root root for the home team - it's time to PLAY BALL!

*An interesting fact - the song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" turns 100 this year! Read about it here.

10 comments:

Jenny86753oh9 said...

I find people who LOVE baseball intriguing. I grew up on football and no one I knew was into baseball so I don't know a thing about it. I've actually tried to get into it but it just doesn't get me. I just love watching faceless guys pile drive each other!

Kim said...

Love me some good baseball. It's too bad we don't have a good team up here. Hubby and I have spent most of the day watching different games. Our team is the St. Louis Cardinals. But we won't be able to see them much this year.

Editor in Chief said...

Bubba had the donut cushion idea and sold it to Sissy.

Tomas Boswell wrote a book, "Why Time Begins on Opening Day."

Anonymous said...

As a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I can't hear "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" without visions of a drunken Harry Caray singing with the crowd and leaning so far out of the pressbox that we actually made bets on whether or not he would fall out :) Ah memories!

Best of luck to your Astros! Play ball!

Stacey said...

Have fun girlfriend!

Unknown said...

Have a great time, wish I was really into baseball. Seriously, sounds fun!

D... said...

Bear will be at that game too. He is so excited that he'll be checked out of school early.

cjm said...

YEA! The Brother, SIL, The Boyfriend, and I will be there as well. Can't wait!!!

StaceyG said...

93.7 played the "birthday scam" on the Astros' announcer (whose name escapes me right now). He sounded so cool over the phone.

Misty DawnS said...

So, Hubs was going to pay for us to get the Major League Extra Innings channel so I could see my beloved Indians. Then, we found out how much that channel costs... ummmm, nope, I don't think we'll be getting that channel.