Opening Day!!!

Ahh, the smell of Opening Day!!! I've been to one Opening Day in my life and it was the Phillies 20th Anniversary of opening Veterans Stadium in 1991. Other than that, I've never been to an actual Opening Day. Still after a long cold winter of waiting and watching, checking the paper every day for trades and signings, monitoring the waiver wire and playing GM via email and internet postings, Opening Day is here and with it a season of promise. 162 games loom out ahead of the Phillies and it all starts this afternoon. They haven't lost yet this season and hopefully I'll be able to say the same thing tomorrow.
Brett Myers will take the mound as Opening Day starter in a surprise decision by Charlie Manuel which technically makes Cole Hamels the #2 starter. In reality, they will be co-aces of the pitching staff and the move was made purely out of concern for Hamels' long term health. The lineup will be as fearsome as always featuring two MVP winners and the best 2B in baseball along with key contributers in the form of a 30 HR LF (Pat Burrell), a 20 HR 3B (Pedro Feliz) and a 20 HR RF (Geoff Jenkins) and the potential to steal 50 bases in CF with Shane Victorino. Offensively, this could easily be a historic season for the Phillies and there is no doubt that they will score a ton of runs. Hopefully the questionable pitching will give them just enough to contend and win the NL East. It will be a daunting task as both the Braves and Mets have improved in the off-season and will look to challenge the Phillies for the division crown. It all starts today!!!