It's Not Your Father's Opening Day

Bob's Backstop for April 2, 2004
My heart beats a little faster from April through October. There's a bit more spring in my step, and the air tastes a little cleaner, a little fresher. Breakfast tastes better with box scores, and updating the Belfry becomes less of a chore, more of a passion.

Despite the ongoing two day downpour, it feels right to wear spring colors. I've put down lawn fertilizer, signed a contract for a deck to be built, taken a half dozen trips to the batting cage. I'm ready to go, ready for the hibernation of winter to step aside for the blooming possibilities of spring, the languorous pleasures of summer, topped off with the crisp rush of the fall.

There is one glaring difference this year, however.

No Opening Day.

This is not something totally foreign to me, even as an Oriole fan. During the strike year, the O's opened on the road in Kansas City. One year, Opening Day was cancelled because it was too windy. Another year, I gave up my tickets so that clients could go to the game, instead.

But, for all the other twelve openers I was able to attend, I was there, the anticipation welling up in me like a kid awaiting Christmas morning. Not this year, though. I am looking forward to the start of the season, sure, and I'll probably attend a game next week, just to get my feet wet, weather allowing. But, I'm not planning to attend the first game, even though I have chances to do so.

Why?

Because the Orioles have become part of the destruction of the traditional rituals of the game. I am aware that the Orioles do not have a lot of say in the matter (if any), but I am disappointed that Opening Day is replaced by Opening Night. It's just not the same.

Opening NIGHT?

Would a Broadway play open with a matinee?

Do movie moguls plan a ten a.m. show for their Premiere Gala?

Are the Oscars given out over lunch?

Of course not.

There are natural rhythms and established rituals involved with all of these events. Baseball seems intent on forgetting all of that at every opportunity.

They change a mid-season exhibition into "something meaningful" in an attempt to create some sort of artificial excitement.

They hire consultants to design and package "excitement packages" consisting of Jumbotron exhortations, loud music, and inappropriate markers for chanting and cheering, such as the "Two Strikes!" notation being flashed on screens on an 0-2 count, as if the next pitch was the one likely to determine the result of the at-bat.

And now, they have bastardized Opening Day. First, with a 5 AM EST pair of games in Japan, on artificial turf, with ADVERTISING LOGOS on the sleeves and batting helmets of the players! (That won't be the last time we see that.)

And then, with the Orioles staging something called "Opening Night," complete with Bowie Kuhn - type weather, and lots of hype.

Will I watch? Sure! It's better than nothing...but it's not the same. The first game of the season should be played in daylight; that's part of what it's all about. Not only is it too cold at night most of the time during April (I recall wrapping my feet with newspaper on one cold, windy Opening Night in Richmond many years ago...current forecasts are calling for temps in the low-to-mid-40's, while the daytime high Monday is projected at near 60), it just doesn't feel right. It's a day to wake up with expectation, to skip school with your dad, to cut out of work early to go to the game, or to watch it at home or in a bar with friends...to greet your new team in the glow of the afternoon sun, with the promise of the future looming upon the dawning of the day.

Instead, I'll probably be fighting to stay awake by the seventh inning, like I have to do all too often in the post-season.

I don't open my Christmas presents on Christmas Eve, and I don't like opening my baseball season on Sunday night.

All that being said, I look forward to having real games to talk about next week, with old in-season readers and posters hopefully creeping back into the mix as they arise from their off-season hibernation. If this is your first season with us, we have a couple of daily features...one is "Faces of the Game", where yesterday's game is captured in picture and short hosannas and razzberries..."Orioles News" offers tidbits, gossip, and ongoing commentary, and "Stats and Numbers" offers ongoing analysis, while "The View from 334" offers accounts of games attended (any Belfryite is welcome to provide those, if they'd care to, just drop us a line), while "Orioles Day by Day" offers a running account of the season results, and upcoming tilts...all this in addition to the regular features you've seen during the off-season.

So, welcome to the 2004 season, the first one since the beginning of the Belfry that gives real cause for optimism. The Orioles are doing their best now to steer the ship in the right direction; let's hope that their efforts will be rewarded.

Play Ball!