The sun is high in the sky. The snow has melted away.
Flowers are starting to bloom and children playing in the yard.
The grass is cut, fresh dirt is put down, the white lines are drawn.
Hotdogs being cooked, bags of peanuts and boxes of crackerjacks are ready to be sold and the gates are ready to be opened.
Tonight will start the 140th season of National league baseball when the 2008 championPhillidulphia Phillies start their defense against the Atlanta Braves on ESPN.
“Let us enjoy life a little. Let us go forth a while and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our close rooms and the dust and corruption of stagnant places, and taste some of the good things Providence has scattered around us so liberally. … In our sun-down perambulations of late through the outer parts of Brooklyn, we have observed several parties of youngsters playing 'base,' a certain game of ball. We wish such sights were more common among us." (Witman, 7-23-1846, Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
“Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it,for it's money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers,sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. And the memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game....it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray, people will most definitely come.” (field of dreams, 1989)
On Monday in Boston, the oldest baseball park will open its gates for the 98th season as the home town Boston Redsox welcome the defending American league Champions, Tampa Bay Rays to town.
I wont be there in person, but you better believe, I will be sitting in my Fenway Park chairs I bought in December that are in my room, while eating peanuts and wearing a David Ortiz Redsox jersey, smiling and cheering on my boys of summer.
I can start to smell the freshly cut grass, feel the old wooden chairs, taste the peanuts and hear the crack of the bat. ah, heaven. no wait, that's Fenway park. same thing.
I JUST WISH THAT PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH BASEBALL TRULY MEANS TO ME.
I love baseball and baseball loves me in return.
PLAY BALL!
PREDICTIONS
American League East Boston Redsox
American League Centrol Chicago White Sox
American League West Los Angeles Angels
American League Wild Card Tampa Bay Rays.
National league East New York Mets
National League Centrol Chicago Cubs
National League West Los Angeles Dodgers
National League Wild card Philidulphia Phillies.
Centerfield - John Fogerty
Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the Mighty Casey struck out.
So Say Hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio;
Don't say "it ain't so", you know the time is now.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
Yeah! I got it, I got it!
Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment in the sun;
(pop) It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
Yeah!
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