Barry Bonds wants to stay focused on his stroke. Jimmy Rollins hopes to keep alive a streak. And President Bush? He’ll be happy just to throw a strike.
The major-league season swings into full action today, with Bonds returning to San Francisco’s opening-day outfield, Philadelphia’s Rollins trying to keep his string of hits in 36 straight games going and Bush throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in Cincinnati.
A little more than five months after winning their first World Series title since 1917, the White Sox began the major-league season at home Sunday night against Cleveland. Chicago raised the World Series flag, then took a 3-0 lead.
Eduardo Perez, playing his first game with the Indians, hit the season’s first home run, a two-run drive off Mark Buehrle that tied the game in the fourth inning just before rain delayed the game.
But baseball openers are supposed to be played on sunny spring afternoons, so for many fans today is the day to celebrate. There will be 13 openers, starting with Washington’s game at the New York Mets and ending with the New York Yankees’ West Coast night game at Oakland.
Rollins will work to extend his streak when the Phillies open at home against St. Louis, and Seattle’s Kenji Johjima will become the first Japanese catcher in the majors when the Mariners play the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
Red, white and blue bunting will be out, hot dogs will be grilled and beers passed around the stands.
“The grass seems greener, the colors are brighter,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said Sunday at Coors Field.
After another winter dominated by steroids and 6 1/2 weeks of spring training punctuated by the first World Baseball Classic, which was won by Japan, baseball returns for another long season of 162 games over 183 days. It’s the first year of testing for amphetamines, so players may be downing extra coffee to perk up.
After missing most of last season with an injured knee, Bonds enters this year with 708 homers and trails only Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) on the career list. He resumes the chase at San Diego against Jake Peavy, who gave up Bonds’ 700th homer on Sept. 17, 2004, in San Francisco.
“I’m going to get him out, and he’s going get his hits and hit homers off me, if you pitch to him long enough,” said Peavy, who led the National League with 216 strikeouts last season. “It’s different for those guys who are in the East and come out here and face him once a year. I have to face him five, six times a year. I’m going to challenge him and try to get him out.”
A three-time all-star shortstop, Rollins nearly helped the Phillies reach the playoffs by hitting .379 during his streak. Now Rollins has his sights on breaking Joe DiMaggio’s 65-year-old record of 56 in a row.
The major-league marks for longest hitting streak in one season and longest hitting streak spanning two seasons are separate records.
“You have to start over in your approach,” Rollins said. “There’s no pennant chase now, so I’m going to have to find other things to focus on.”
