Opening Day

In real life, the World Series has just been played. For for 30 of us, this marks opening day. And, at least for me, it's the final day to gloat about the Yankees winning. Yes, they spent $200+ million. Yes, they couldn't find more than three serviceable starters to go in the playoffs. Yes, Joba Chamberlain is the next Hideki Irabu. I concede all of those things. But, it doesn't matter. The Yankees won. The Red Sox didn't. And for a little while, all is well in the world.

Let's take a peek at what's happened during days one and two of the WO:

• The steroid era is over, so said the forums. 54 home runs in two cycles. Chicago (A) has eight. Portland has four.
• Portland, by the way, is 2-0. The Beavs posted consecutive 11-1 and 7-1 wins against Los Angeles.
• Aging juicer Nerio "I'm not hear to talk about the past" hit a pinch-hit, ninth-inning, two-out homer for his new club in DC. The tater forced extras, with Washington beating Charlotte in the 13th.
• Speaking of the Webs' loss to DC, Kyle Merritt struck out eight and earned a ND in that start.
• Chicago's Carlton Miller notched the major's first two-homer game against Montreal.
• Alvin O'Brien and Les Carroll have started their respective Cy Young campaigns convincingly. O'Brien led Arizona to a 9-3 win against KC, notching six K's. Carroll won the season opener for Chicago (A), striking out nine at Montreal.
• And, because it's my blog, Texas won its season opener after forgetting to reset its pitcher's settings from spring training. Three pitchers through 2.1 innings, (only Benny Pujols topped 40 pitches) with Ryan Witt collecting a two-inning save. D'oh.

Chicks dig the long ball

Minor League Opening Day Results

LoA
KC over Colorado, 19-8
Burlington over Chicago, 17-0
Santa Fe over Austin, 12-1, including three homers from Sean Snow

HiA
Minnesota over Detroit, 13-3
Chicago over Cinci 11-2
Phila over Buffalo, 12-7

AA
Boston 19, Pittsburgh 0 with 8 RBI from Jamie Yamamoto
Colorado over KC, 1-6
Monterrey over Nashville 11-10
San Juan over Atlanta 13-4
Buffalo 11, Charlotte 5

AAA
Vegas 11, Seattle 7
Colorado 11, KC 7
Memphis 14, Richmond 12

Opening Day Notables

Opening Day Power:

Rich Shipley (Columbus), Paul Sung (Chicago), Armando Martin (Cinci), Pablo Johnson (Cinci) each jack two homers on opening day.

Skeeter May (Columbus) is 7-9 in two days of play.

From the hill:

Pat Stein (Colo. Springs): CG, SHO, 6H, 6K vs. Portland.

Three complete games tossed on opening day.

Floyd Brock (Nashville): 6 IP, 10H, 7ER, 12K in a loss to Memphis.

Midre Navarre (KC): 7IP, 5H, 1ER, 10K in a no-decision to Seattle.

Stump Grace (Montana): 2G, 2.2 IP, 2 Saves