BBRT Rant: Season opener in Japan – thought good, execution less so.
Okay, let me start out by admitting I am “old school” when it comes to the opening of the MLB season. I recall fondly the days when there were two leagues of 8 teams and, year after year, opening day featured two games – the NL in Cincinnati (honoring the first professional team) and the AL in Washington (honoring the national past time in the nation’s Capitol). Day two then featured a full slate of games, anticipation was served, and the season was off and running.
Baseball Was Beautiful in Black and White
We’ve come a long way since thedays of 16 teams, the black and white “Game of the Week” on our big box, small screen televisions and the radio as our primary source of live major league coverage. And, I appreciate the progress. I can now get a baseball “fix,” live and in color, every day of the week – usually with multiple choices. There is baseball news (and views) year-round and the internet makes the exchange of info and insight on our national past time both immediate and (usually) interesting. More fans, in more cities, have access to major league baseball. There are more players from more places – and we know more about them – than ever.
Still, somehow, on opening day, I yearn for tradition. This year, as baseball continues to become increasingly international, MLB chose to have the Seattle Mariners and Oakland As open the regular season March 28 in Tokyo. Turns out, there was nothing “regular” about it.
First, it was – at its foundation – a good idea: a tribute to Japan, its zealous fans, love of the game and increasing presence in MLB; a logical connection to the Mariners and their ownership; and a great gesture given the continued aftermath of the tsunami devastation. By all accounts, in Japan, it was a great success. Large enthusiastic crowds on arrival and at the games (which sold out in 8 hours); Ichiro jerseys everywhere (and four hits for the Japanese star in the opener); a visit to tsunami-ravaged Ishinomaki; the honoring of a group of true heroes of that disaster; and even the Mariners’ Brendan Ryan’s successful marriage proposal.
The thought was good and, as an exhibition, the games would have been a great success. But as the MLB’s season opener, the pitch was high and outside. From a timing perspective, few American fans were up to watch or listen to game coverage (started at 5 a.m. in my time zone). The games also interrupted (rather than signaled the end of) the exhibition season – spring training games continued and even the Mariners and As came back and played additional games that didn’t count. So, other than some rather weird AL standings that will remain stagnant for a while, it hardly seems the season is underway.
Ultimately, the 2012 MLB season opener seemed like a non-event and I am anticipating the April 5 slate of games, my true season opener(s).
[…] Note: BBRT held these predictions until after the opening series in Australia – and is still referring to them as “preseason” picks – to express my disapproval regarding these early overseas openers. Not much of a protest, I admit. However, you can see my last season’s rant on this topic here. […]