words_Nick Engvall
Baseball fans around the world have been waiting for this week for quite some time. The 2010 MLB Season began earlier this week and today the last of the opening day games were played, giving every team in the league a chance to start off on the right foot for the new season. No matter who your team is, the early months of the season bring new hope for every team. This season is no different.
Like always there will be surprises around the league, like the Pittsburgh Pirates taking their first victory, thanks to Garrett Jones’ two home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last year, the Pirates right fielder gave a preview of his capabilities over 82 games, yet few would have predicted Jones to be tied for the league lead in home runs after just one game in the season.
Although Jones may have surprised some people, the other man who blasted two long balls on opening day, is no surprise. Last year’s National League MVP, Albert Pujols, teamed up with newly hired batting coach and former slugger, Mark McGwire during spring training and it apparently paid off. Pujols went 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI’s in the Cardinals opening day victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
On the defensive side of things, opening day saw the return of last year’s National League Cy Young Award Winner, Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants, as he took the mound looking to continue on the success of last season. Lincecum tossed seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out seven, on the way to his first victory of the 2010 season.
In the American League, Chicago White Sox southpaw Mark Buehrle stepped up big on opening day. The White Sox pitcher, who threw a perfect game last season, started off this season on the right foot by throwing seven shut out innings, giving up only 3 hits along the way. Not a bad way to start the season for the fans from Chicago’s south side.
No matter who your team is, you can get all your Major League Baseball fan gear at Eastbay’s MLB Store.
images via yahoo
Great to see baseball back again, *fingers crossed* for a controversy free season.
Buehrle’s between the legs play was incredible. If we see anything better this year, we’ll be lucky. Opening day was just fun. So many big plays, storylines, great players. Pujols hitting 2 out, Matsui hitting one in his LA debut, Heyward going yard in his first at bat, etc etc.
I’m a Rockies fan. They’ve split the first two. For a team that usually plays their best ball as underdogs and with their backs against the wall – I wonder how they play now that there are some expectations for them to do well.