Opening. Day. Female. Odges.

[Kerm]

Why the hell was Crane Kenney ALL OVER the goddamn place?

Also, It's Gonna Happen Guy must be stopped.

From the Jockey:

When Kosuke Fukudome hit a three-run homer off Milwaukee closer Eric Gagne to tie the season opener in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday, fans all over Wrigley Field held up professionally made signs with English words on one side and Japanese on the other.

It was meant to be a two-sided version of the phrase "It's Gonna Happen." But something got lost in translation, and the Japanese side read: "It's An Accident."

Doh

Holy shit, that's awesome.

Awesome and really sad.  All the Japanese watching probably thing we are just a complete bunch of dumbshits.

Of course, if 200 million Japanese think we are dumbshits, do we care?  Probably not, but lump that in with the 45 million Iraqis and the 75 million Iranians and the 1.6 million Chinese, and then you're talking some real numbers here.

Pfft.  Let me know when the numbers are significant, and when I should be concerned with them.

[flannj]

After returning from spring break family vacation (fuck you very much American Airlines) me and Mrs. flannj were in attendance yesterday.
I currently have no voice left, a pretty fair hangover, some very drenched clothes, and a big positive for the rest of this season.

Some observations.
The new field;
The grass is really short and very brown, it obviously has some greening up and thickening to do.
Kind of a bummer because seeing and smelling fresh cut green grass at this time of year in Chicago is always one of the more romantic parts of opening day.
The larger warning track is very obvious, and the mound seems to have a more gradual and longer slope towards homeplate.
I couldn't perceive the field being any lower from the view in my seats, but I'm blind as a bat.
The new CBOE seats on the 3rd. base line seem to really crowd the Cubs bullpen.

The opening ceremonies;
The tribute to Ernie was cool and long overdue.
It was obvious that he had little voice left after all the interviews and speeches he made over the course of the morning.
I was really happy that it was Wayne Messmer singing instead of someone with no connection to the team.
And yes I belted out a Braaaaaave as loud as I could.

FUKUDOME!!!
When he came out on the field at the start of the game and after his first hit the right field bleachers went nuts.
Both times he removed his hat and gave a polite little bow. Very cool.
The baserunning mistake, you guys watching it on TV could probably tell more than I could. Missed sign? Not aware that Kendall has a rag arm? I'm sure that will get corrected but it sure brought back some memories of some other great Cub baserunners.
The homerun, what the fuck am I going to say about that? It's the reason I have no voice today.

The pitching;
Carlos = balls. The place went crazy with the first at bat / 3 pitch strikeout.
Marmol = balls. The place went crazy after his first out. This is going to be fun.
Wood / Howry. It's opening day, get off the ledge clowns.

The crowd;
I've been to enough opening days to realize that this is not the typical everyday crowd and the rain delay makes it worse. But the drunk asshole quotient was WAY up this year. Beside that aspect there does seem to be a much more positive outlook for this year, at least by the more knowledgeable regulars who sit near me.

The weather;
Did you know Wrigley makes it's own gravy when it rains?
A pit doesn't begin to describe the conditions after a couple of hours, but its always been like that.

The neighborhood;
What kind of asshole goes to the Cubby Bear? Or Sports Corner? Or Murphys?
Christ, just walk a couple of blocks.


Without sounding too Yellonesque, it was a good day despite the loss, can't wait until this weekend.
And me and Mrs. flannj only ran into Ronnie Woo once during the day.

[Thrillho]

The first YouTubings...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaJBtrsz5rA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D30IbAShOMY

That second YouTube was from Huey Country.

I have no sound at work, so can't promise you that the first one isn't gay, but...

Further Fuku YouTubings:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hwDogxgo-y8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J_o4A4tCC0s
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6aAIE4kqiL8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QMfWwMRJ1_I
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YwF0DgYh5ZI

[MidgetSellingWater]

I was worried that he could never live up to the hype.   But after the opening day he had, he's going to be a folk hero aound the Confines now - even if he bats .230 for the rest of the year.

But I don't think that will happen.  He looks like he'lll be able to make the adjustment to MLB ball just fine. 

And, oh by the way, I've got a little t-shirt business now - www.fukudometee.com.  Sitemail me for a special Desipio discount code.

[Thrillho]

And, oh by the way, I've got a little t-shirt business now - www.fukudometee.com.  Sitemail me for a special Desipio discount code.

I predict you make millions.

You do accept money orders, right?

[Waco Kid]

And, oh by the way, I've got a little t-shirt business now - www.fukudometee.com.  Sitemail me for a special Desipio discount code.

I predict you make millions.

You do accept money orders, right?

I smell a conspiracy here.

[MidgetSellingWater]

I'm not looking for millions - just enough to cover my season tickets.  It's Fukudome and Jim Hendry approved!

[Kerm]

The baserunning mistake, you guys watching it on TV could probably tell more than I could. Missed sign? Not aware that Kendall has a rag arm?

The ball skipped in the dirt away from Kendall, but unfortunately it hit Soto and bounced right back to Kendall.  Fukkake actually got a good read on it, but it was bad luck.  I liked the way he tried to bait Kendall.

[LoneStarCubFan]

And me and Mrs. flannj only ran into Ronnie Woo once during the day.

You couldn't back up and run into him a couple more times?

[Mike Douche]

And, oh by the way, I've got a little t-shirt business now - www.fukudometee.com.  Sitemail me for a special Desipio discount code.

I thought you sold water?

[Simmer]

After returning from spring break family vacation (fuck you very much American Airlines) me and Mrs. flannj were in attendance yesterday.
I currently have no voice left, a pretty fair hangover, some very drenched clothes, and a big positive for the rest of this season.

Sounds like a great time flannj, thanks for sharing your experience!

I'm not looking for millions - just enough to cover my season tickets.  It's Fukudome and Jim Hendry approved!

IT'S GONNA HAPPEN!

[MidgetSellingWater]

And, oh by the way, I've got a little t-shirt business now - www.fukudometee.com.  Sitemail me for a special Desipio discount code.

I thought you sold water?

Better margins in tees.  Though water can be available upon request.

[Thrillho]

And, oh by the way, I've got a little t-shirt business now - www.fukudometee.com.  Sitemail me for a special Desipio discount code.

I thought you sold water?

Better margins in tees.  Though water can be available upon request.

Desipio discount?

[MidgetSellingWater]

And, oh by the way, I've got a little t-shirt business now - www.fukudometee.com.  Sitemail me for a special Desipio discount code.

I thought you sold water?

Better margins in tees.  Though water can be available upon request.

Desipio discount?

It's not really a discount for water.  It's more of an instruction manual for an exclusive water-harvesting process involving your hands and an ordinary kitchen faucet.

[Thrillho]

And, oh by the way, I've got a little t-shirt business now - www.fukudometee.com.  Sitemail me for a special Desipio discount code.

I thought you sold water?

Better margins in tees.  Though water can be available upon request.

Desipio discount?

It's not really a discount for water.  It's more of an instruction manual for an exclusive water-harvesting process involving your hands and an ordinary kitchen faucet.

I don't see a link on your website to subscribe to your newsletter.

How do we make this happen?