Tune in Sunday at 8:00 PM EST as the Atlanta Braves take on the Philadelphia Phillies on opening night of the 2009 Major League Baseball season. Drew Fairservice from
Ghostrunner on First will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
What's up everybody? Drew aka Lloyd the Barber here ready to guide you through Opening Night! The World effing Champion Phillies take on the Atlanta Braves.
Starting tonight is Brett Myers for the Phillies and Derek Lowe for the Braves. Too bad Phillies ace and dreamboat Cole Hamels elbow will keep him out of tonight's lineup. He'll only miss the one start and will start his season later this week.
Story on Rinku and Dinesh running before the game. Awesome.
What do people think about Derek Lowe as a staff ace? He'll certainly eat some innings and induce some ground balls; but leading you into battle? I'd worry...
Good call, maybe Javy Vasquez can finally put up "traditional" numbers in line with his peripheral numbers.
Nice shots of Phillie players making their way through the crowd. Opening Day for the World Champs is nothing but a party. Remember the PLAYOFFS!!
If only his Montreal numbers could line up with his Ks and ground balls, he'd be a stud
Lineup notes: Braves super rookie Jordan Schafer hits eighth, Toronto's promdate Chipper Jones hits third.
The Phightins hit Chase Utley (Chutley from here on out) third, big Ryan Howard and free agent Raul Ibanez follow. Former Jay-son Werth gets his first start as a full timer hitting second.
I can't look at Joe Morgan and not think of Michael Schur. I wonder if Parks & Recreation will be any good?
Indeed it is. He and I are tight.
Braves lineup:
K. Johnson 2b
Y. Escobar ss
C. Jones 3b
B. McCann c
G. Anderson lf
J. Francoeur rf
C. Kotchman 1b
J. Schafer cf
D. Lowe p
Phillies lineup:
J. Rollins ss
J. Werth rf
C. Utley 2b
R. Howard 1b
R. Ibanez lf
S. Victorino cf
P. Feliz 3b
C. Ruiz c
B. Myers p
The Phillies infield defense is incredible, Ibanez is terrible in left. Good thing Pat the Bat was even worse last year
Oh Chipper, you've been around forever. If Myers keeps throwing that two seamer on the corner, you won't be around for long
Chipper guides one into left field for a single. Good piece of hitting for an old guy
Brutal pitch, missed by a foot
Garrett Anderson in a non-Angels uniform. So strange.
Hard hit ball to end the inning, Braves up two!
What do ya think folks? Can Jimmy Rollins bounce back?
Pretty much, he was out of his mind in 2007. He got his numbers in 2008 but it wasn't the same
Casey Kotchman is certainly no Mark Teixeria, despite being traded for him. He makes a nice play to get Rollins for the first out.
Jayson Werth was once traded for Jason Frasor, let that sink in.
Jason Frasor is a serviceable right arm, but Jayson Werth can hit. Except right there, he popped out to Kelly Johnson at second. Two out!
OMG Chutley! Chase Utley is really, really, really good.
Chutely gives the crowd a reason to shout, but the formerly awesome Jeff Franceour reeled it in for the third out. On to the second inning! 2-0 Braves!
It's a little bit surreal that real baseball is back. I'm a little too excited. JUST LIKE JEFF FRANCEOUR. Rocket to left goes yard. 3-0 Braves!
