The Quest for 162-0

It'll be interesting to see what the atmosphere is like for today's second game of the season, Thursday's Home Opener was electric. The vibe felt like 2008 or 2009 and CBP was packed, just like it was every night from 2009 until 2012.

The weather today is supposed to be fantastic–party cloudy with highs in the mid 70s and a breeze out of the south to help balls in the air. I'd be surprised if there are fewer than 40,000 people at the game.

Nick Pivetta gets the start today as the team continues its quest to go undefeated in March. Pivetta had a solid spring, allowing 6 earned runs and only 10 hits in 16 innings while striking out 14 and walking 5. Pivetta has great stuff, with a fastball hitting the mid to upper 90s. He was victimized by awful defense behind him last season, so he should be a major beneficiary of better glovework this season.

Game time is 4:05 p.m. on FoxSports1.

And It Begins

So we're finally here, having survived another winter (but not one of discontent) for Opening Day 2019.

All of the moves over the winter have done wonders do erase the awful taste of last September, when the Phillies free-fell out of playoff contention to below .500.

But optimism is off the charts this year. Adding Bryce Harper, JT Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, and David Robertson will do wonders for a fan's attitude. The weather is even cooperating. It's supposed to be sunny with a light breeze and 60 degrees in Philadelphia for today's game against the Braves.

We're heading out to the ballpark in about 5 hours. Blogger is a real pain in the butt to update from an iPhone, so look for updates on Facebook and Instagram.

It's Opening Day. I'm so freaking happy. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this is the 40th straight year I'll be attending the Phillies home opener. There's no way in hell I could possibly be this old. Whatever. Let's play ball and #RingTheBell

Time to Get Real

The Phils won their final spring training game of the year today thanks to a walkoff HR from Malvin Matos. Who? Doesn't matter. He was the minor leaguer du jour on the bench for today's finale.

And the games count for real starting on Thursday. And predictions and power rankings are starting to appear. MLB.com has the Phillies ranked 10th, ahead behind the Nats but ahead of the Braves and Mets. Sports Illustrated picks the Phils to go to the World Series but lose to the Astros. World Series? Yes, please.

Anyway, barring anything goofy happening between now and Thursday, here's whats you'll probably see on Opening Day.
LF - Andrew McCutchen
SS - Jean Segura
RF - Bryce Harper (still feels weird typing that. I'll get over it.)
1B - Rhys Hoskins
C - JT Realmuto
CF - Odubel Herrera
2B - Cesar Hernandez
3B - Maikel Franco
P - Aaron Nola

I love the lineup. Harper and Herrera are the only left-handed bats and Cesar is a switch-hitter, so there's lots of versatility. Disclaimer: If everyone stays healthy and the pitching behind Nola and Jake Arrieta doesn't crater, I can see this team winning 92 games this year and making the playoffs. October baseball? Yes, please!

Holy Trout!

Bryce Harper should stick to baseball and leave the recruiting to those who write the checks. 

Philadelphia Eagles super fan and multiple AL MVP winner Mike Trout has agreed to a 12-year, $430 million extension with his current team, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim but Not Inglewood.  

Harper, as you may recall, signed the biggest contract in U.S. sports history a couple of weeks ago when he joined the Phillies. He was accused of tampering by the Angels when he tried to convince Trout to join him here. 

Trout, who grew up just 43 miles from Citizens Bank Park in Millville, NJ, decided to stay put. 

I’m really happy on a couple of levels. Trout absolutely deserves to be the highest-paid player on the planet. He’s the best player in the game, hands down. And I’m also happy he won’t be a Met, Brave, Cub, or Dodger. That would mean seeing more of him against the Phils. 

But I’m bummed that he won’t be a Phillie. It was a fun fantasy, but one with virtually no chance of happening.  

Let's Fix the Weather

I've solved MLB's early season cold weather issue.

The season starts Thursday, March 28. And the following cold-weather cities will be hosting games. Cincinnati, Minneapolis, New York, Washington, Kansas City, and Philadelphia.

Last season, dozens of early season games were postponed due to snow, cold weather, and unplayable conditions. It doesn't have to be like that any more. There are 13 teams that classify as having warm weather/retractable roof ballparks. They are Miami (retractable roof), Houston (retractable roof), Texas, Tampa (dome), Milwaukee (retractable roof), San Diego, Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle (retractable roof), Arizona (retractable roof), Anaheim, and Oakland. That's 13 cities where fans and players can enjoy the early season in comfort.

Ideally, that leaves just two games to be hosted in cold-weather cities. Unless MLB schedules those games in tropical locales like San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Mexico City; or even Havana, Cuba.

It would a fantastic way to share the game in non-MLB markets while giving players optimal playing conditions. And the games would be road games for all the teams involved, so they wouldn't lose out on home-game revenue once they get back to their home fields.

Do it, MLB. Games could still be televised. There's a little more travel involved, but I'm sure the players (especially the scores of guys from those cities) would prefer the warm weather over frostbite. Do it.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't update the Philadelphia forecast for Opening Day. AccuWeather says clouds giving way to sun with a high of 66.

Back At It

Bryce Harper returned to action today just two days after we feared the worst when he crumpled in a heap at the plate after getting hit in the ankle with a pitch.

Harper, still wearing his No. 34 sleeve from his days with the Nationals, wasn't wearing any kind of extra plastic guard over the ankle. Harper was called out on strikes on a 3-2 fastball in his first at-bat and is still looking for his first hit of the spring.

Still, it's good to see him upright and in the lineup.

Update:  Harper came up again in the bottom of the 4th and grounded out to short.

He's Not Quite Dead

The news was good Saturday for the most famous ankle in Philadelphia. One day after getting nailed by a 96-mph fastball, the Phillies listed outfielder Bryce Harper as "day-to-day"–just like the rest of us.

Philly.com reported that Harper was experiencing minimal swelling and he was feeling better. He's out of the lineup for today, but manager Gabe Kapler expects him back tomorrow. Which is a really good thing, because Harper needs all the at-bats he can get before Opening Day on March 28. Kapler says the team has no long-term concerns about the injury and Harper should be ready to go.

And speaking of Opening Day, it's time to start obsessing about the forecast. AccuWeather is calling for cloudy skies with a high of 64 degrees and light winds out of the south. I'll take it.

Harper Down!

Ouch.

Bryce Harper exits today's game after being hit in his right ankle. pic.twitter.com/RIZHGluHQM

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) March 15, 2019

Danny Tartabull. He's the first thing that came to mind when I learned that Bryce Harper got hit on the ankle by a 96-mph fastball in today's exhibition game against the Blue Jays.

Early reports say he has a contusion, which is doctor speak for boo-boo, but X-rays were negative. He's getting more pictures taken and hopefully we'll know soon about the extent of the dame and if he's going to miss any time. He came into camp last week and Opening Day is in less than two weeks. This is not the greatest timing in the world.

Anyway, back to Tartabull. He was a slugging free agent signed by the Phils before the 1997 season. In his very first at-bat of the season, he fouled a ball off his foot, breaking it. Tartabull went 0-7 as a Phillie before going on the disabled list and never returning. Ever. He never played again. So yeah, that's the sad story of Danny Tartabull. Hope things go better for Harper.

Harper Speaks

Bryce Harper's introductory news conference has wrapped up and I have to say, I'm really impressed with the guy. I always thought he was a douchy asshat dude-bro kinda guy. But he said all the right things today.

What really sold me was when he was talking about choosing to wear 3 as a Phillie, since he wore 34 when he played in DC.

Bryce Harper on why he choose to wear #3 instead of #34. Pure class. pic.twitter.com/LJSRFQjT4J

— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) March 2, 2019

He also made a barely veiled reference to having Mike Trout as a teammate. “I'm making 26 a year. That’s going to be able to bring some other guys in as well to build up this organization. There’s another guy in about two years that comes off the books. We’ll see what happens with that.”

This thing could not have been scripted any better. He said all the right things and seems genuinely excited about being in Philadelphia for the next 13 years. Of course, $330 million would make anyone excited.

Speaking of excited, I can't freaking wait for Opening Day. Citizens Bank Park is going to be the place to be this summer and for many summers to come.