When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

04.07.2008
4/7/08: A Curmudgeon's Guide

Padres 8, Giants 4: I give to you five things I hate about Opening Day.

1) The military flyover. Fourth of July? Sure. Fleet Week? Of course. Opening Day? Why?

2) The amateurs. Thousands of people who don't pay attention the rest of the year will assume that a team's performance on Opening Day is indicative of their essential nature. That's ridiculous. The Giants usually don't score until the 7th inning.

3) Greg Maddux.

4) The media. With huge headlines and wall to wall coverage, the press can influence a fan's perception of the team's entire season. Getting one baserunner from the second through the eighth innings has nothing to do with it.
5)  The 4pm sun-and-beer headache.

The Upside: Eugenio Velez might set a record for triples playing 81 games at Mays Field. Hit a gap and watch him fly.
 
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[April 7, 2008 9:50 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Johny Disaster said

So, with regards to item #3...
Was the strike zone a bit different between the top and bottom of the inning? Not that it necessarily would have changed the outcome, but I got the impression Maddux was benefiting from what I used to bitterly call the Atlanta expansion. Man I hate that guy. (Although to be honest, I often use him as an example of a great pure pitcher - varying speed, spot and spin to disrupt a batters timing rather than overpowering the batter with stuff.)
I was at work and had to listen to the game, so I have only the description and my personal prejudice to inform my question...

[April 7, 2008 9:57 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

I don't know. Maddux walked two in the first inning -- the first time he's done that in two years -- and apparently gave the ump some attitude. I think the zone was small for both pitchers.

[April 8, 2008 11:42 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Chris replied to ELM

The zone was very tiny to start the game, it looked like it loosened up some in the later innings.

Maddux is so amazing to watch, the guy throws 82mph but still competes.

[April 7, 2008 10:10 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Johnny Disaster said

OK, thanks for the reality check. Although I've seen him whine about pitches that were not even very close. I was hoping that knowing Matt Cain didn't get jobbed by the ump would make me feel better, but not so much.