4/02 - Opening Day 2007 thread (Oakland vs Seattle)

[Nat]

It will get interesting Tuesday, as Esteban Loiaza will be out for at least a week with back pains...but here's what we have on deck for Monday afternoon:

MLB - Oakland Athletics/Seattle Mariners Preview Monday April 2, 2007 - Yahoo! Sports

Dan Haren vs Felix Hernandez

Will update the batting lineup when it becomes available...

Lineups:

Mariners:
CF:Ichiro
3B:Beltre
DH:Vidro
LF:Ibanez
1B:Sexson
RF:Guillen
C:Johjima
2B:Lopez
SS:Betancourt

Athletics:
C:Kendall
LF:Stewart
CF:Bradley
DH:Piazza
3B:Chavez
1B:Swisher
SS:Crosby
RF:Buck
2B:Ellis

[bedir than average]

The thread on Felix


This game is so important for the Mariners. It might be the most important series for Seattle in four years. With a series win over Oakland it can get rid of a lot of demons in the minds of players and fans here in the Puget Sound.

Felix, Washburn and Batista slated to throw for the Seattle Club.

[RotatorCuff]

Who is Nat?

[bedir than average]

Ah, he's the Oakland Athletics Moderator (formerly known as NatSFBay). The AL West teams here on FanHome are going to try something a little different and have the Home teams host Gamethreads with both team's communities. The Away team mod will will usually start the thread.

[Nat]

And since I'm on the Mariners board I'll refrain from speaking too much on the A's record vs Felix

[Goose]

Yeah, but that was fat Felix.

You haven't faced slim Felix yet.

[bedir than average]

Last year you saw the Prince, this year ...

Originally Posted by Nat

And since I'm on the Mariners board I'll refrain from speaking too much on the A's record vs Felix

And that wouldn't be much fun if you and yours can't talk about our players failures, just treat the posters and fans with Respect. Our last three seasons in Seattle don't deserve much respect though.

[Nat]

Yea man I won't add insult to injury....but I do expect the Mariners to be better this year; all the ALWest teams should be improved, actually.

[RotatorCuff]

I like the whole concept. Welcome Nat.

[Goose]

I've always said this day should be a holiday.

Opening Day is something I look forward to every single year with the same anticipation as Christmas or my birthday. In the grand scheme, opening day is just another baseball game, number 1 of 162. But Opening Day has always had that kind of magical quality to it. That special something.

The same could be said for the game itself. It's captured the imagination and dreams of millions for over 100 years. The crack of the bat, the green of the grass, and the sense that you might just see something that you've never seen before.

To steal a great line from a great movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. It's brung us all together, from all different walks of life, to root for the same thing, the same team. Today the Mariners begins season #30, as they continue to search for their first World Championship.

Coming off arguably one of the worst offseasons in franchise history, the M's are a team possibly in transition. Their biggest identifying symbol may be leaving after season's end if they don't win now.Their manager and General Manager may be following him. Alot may change if they don't turn things around quick.

But there is a silver lining to this dark cloud. Or perhaps it's a blue and teal lining? Felix Hernandez, the boy who would....no, the boy who will be King takes the mound to become not only the youngest OD pitcher in franchise history, but the 3rd youngest that this game has ever seen. Coming in fitter and hopefully smarter, the King looks to ascend to the top of the baseball world, hopefully taking the Mariners with him.

Weather your optimistic or pessimistic about the Mariners chances this year, this day is still something special. It's the start of another season of Mariners baseball, and I for one can't wait.Baseball's back!

It's the Mariners versus the Athletics at 3:35 PST on FSN.

Happy Opening Day everybody.

GO MARINERS!

[Jim Potable]

I got a new computer two months ago. Finally got around to loading in some backed up data about two weeks ago.

And just today, re-discovered this old text file. I must have made it back when posting on the old board (some post about opening day, no doubt; used Retrosheet for the data) -- no idea why I kept it. Strange serendipity to rediscover it just today, FWIW.

77 vs CAL L 0-7
78 vs MIN W 3-2
79 vs CAL W 5-4
80 vs TOR W 8-6
81 vs CAL L 2-6
82 @  MIN W 11-7
83 vs NYY W 5-4
84 vs TOR W 3-2 (10)
85 vs OAK W 6-3
86 vs CAL W 8-4 (10)
87 @  CAL L 1-7
88 @  OAK L 1-4
89 @  OAK L 2-3
90 @  CAL W 7-4
91 vs CAL L 2-3
92 vs TEX L 10-12
93 vs TOR W 8-1
94 @  CLE L 3-4 (11)
95 vs DET W 3-0
96 vs CHI W 3-2
97 vs NY  W 4-2
98 vs CLE L 9-10
99 vs CHI L 2-8
00 vs BOS L 0-2
01 vs OAK W 5-4
02 vs CHI L 5-6
03 @  OAK L 0-5
04 vs ANA L 5-10
05 vs MIN W 5-1
06 vs ANA L 4-5
-------------------
Opening Day 15W-15L

Live TV here (Tuesday, 7:30AM JST), but I'm going to have to record it anyway. Got to work.

Go, M's.

And go, FanHome. Will be checking in to this thread when I can from work.

[Goose]

I added the lineups to Nats original post.

[Goose]

Meche's post Mariners career starts like this:

K
Single
Double, run scores
fly out
Walk
K

[The Iceman Cometh]

Here I was at work, ready to listen to the game through a crappy static-filled radio.... then my boss comes in with tickets to opening day! Awesome. It's just about time to catch a cab... see you guys on the other side!

[RobDogBucky]

Hello Mariner Fans;

We here at the newly re-constituted FanHome board for the A's extend a welcome after the Spring Training season, and hope we can repeat our relationship from last year. I think Blanton gets to throw against you guys in this first series. Just kidding.

How have the M's changed since last year? The A's have added a new skipper in long-time coach Bob Geren, Mike Piazza at DH, Shannon Stewart in LF, and rookie Travis Buck, from Washington of all places, gets his MLB debut today up in his home state.

What a great day for Buck, just announced as part of the roster yesterday at noon. Hear he had to scramble to get mucho comp tickets for interested family/friends up yonder, and it should make him feel very proud to have a contingent cheer him on when he first steps onto the field.

What is the weather like there today? Will the roof be open or closed?

I see where former M Gil Meche has held sway against Schilling and the ReddSux so far today, and it is 5-1 in the 6th. Meche still pitching and doing quite well in his KC debut.

I'll be checking in from time to time as work allows during today's season opener.

Good luck to both teams, and may the season begin with no further injuries!

Go A's!


Later,
RDB