Opening Day!!!!

So, as a Cardinal fan its been a pretty dang good day!   As a baseball fan I am going to work hard to not only focus on the Cardinals but focus on baseball as a whole... today is an exception considering there was only one game and it was indeed the Cardinals.

I'd like to start off with just saying that I didn't get to enjoy watching the entire game... I had to spend the first 5 innings listing eagerly to the game on my phone... which based on where I was driving, wasn't an easy task.  I drove through several 'dry spots' where I had no signal and became frustrated quickly to know I missing the game regardless of how significant it was to the final. 

So, based on what I was able to listen to, I was excited to hear Beltran got his first hit as a Cardinal during his first at bat, second I was ecstatic to see Freese come out in clutch form and pull a 2 out double to score 2 RBI's to start the 1st.  Congrats to our MVP!

The game didn't change much after we scored 2 in the first and followed the 2nd with another run.  I finally made it to a restaurant that was showing the game in Ft Worth and they weren't happy to see me cheering on the Cardinals but respected my knowledge none the less.  Of course when I stated that this was the first game since 1909 that the reigning world series champions played opening day in a new opposing stadium they thought I was a little too involved, until I reaffirmed that I just learned that stat while listening en route.

Regardless, the game was great and the Cardinals proved that we can win without Pujols and that is the last I will mention of 'Prince Albert' as a Cardinal.  Congrats to rookie coach Matheny and the great crew he has worked so hard with in the offseason.

Now, to mention the parts of the game that I feel could have changed the outcome - Omar Infante, the Marlins 2nd baseman, had some struggles tonight.  The opportunity to tag out Berkman, and pick off another shortly thereafter were key moments in the game... with those two plays executed the way they were planned, it could have been a different ballgame.  He did make up for it later in the game with an amazing grap to prevent another run for the Cardinals.

Kyle Lohse pulled off an amazing game going scoreless and hitless into the 7th before he gave up his first hit.  I was fortunate to finally find a place to watch the game in the 6th inning.  The craziest part is the very second that ESPN mentioned the last no hitter in an opening day game being in 1940, is the minute Lohse gave up his first hit to Jose Reyes in the 7th.

All in all, Josh Johnson came out strong and worked hard to try to bring his new team to their first win in their new stadium but fell short. 

I am glad I was able to see this game and, of course, proud to be the Cardinal fan that I am to see a great win to start the new season.  I can't wait to see how the season goes and may the best team win... which, of course, I hope is the Cardinals!

Most importantly, baseball season is on and I am happy as a child on Christmas morning... until the next time...