Open(ing Day) Game Thread 3/29/18: Mariners vs. Cleveland

One hundred and seventy nine days later, we finally made it. Opening Day 2018. For all of the consternation that this offseason has entailed, and for all of the questions clouding our perception of this season, today is a day to shove all that aside and celebrate that we have REAL. LIVE. BASEBALL. to enjoy.

But of course, we couldn’t have a true Mariners™ Opening Day without a little bit of a snafu...

Rats. Looks like everyone else in the lineup will have to be Good.

Fortunately, it’s still a pretty gosh-darn exciting 1-through-9...

Ichiro in left field! Dee Gordon in center, ready to steal bases, chase down fly balls, and take names! That juicy Segura-Canó-Cruz-Seager middle of the order! Our King on the mound!

Of course, there’s also plenty going on with the Cleveland lineup. Lindor-Kipnis-Ramirez is a dangerous top of the order, with not-so-old friend Yonder Alonso hitting cleanup. And, of course, Cy Thief Corey Kluber will take the bump.

Today is all about the M’s, however. And in honor of the King’s 2018 debut, which will mark his 10th consecutive season opening on the mound for the M’s, a special musical tribute:

Other noteworthy baseball news thus far:

• George Springer hit a leadoff homer and the Astros beat the Rangers 4-1.
• Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Trouts fell to the Oakland Athletics in 11 innings, with the game-winning run coming from none other than BOOG!
• I was in a bar earlier tonight celebrating a work milestone and had to witness Giancarlo Stanton hitting not one, but two dingers in the Yankees’ 6-1 win over the Blue Jays. Yuck. He’s going to be good this year for them, huh?

Game Info:

Time: 7:10 PM (though where I am, it’s a ~fun~ 10pm start!)

Radio: 710 ESPN

TV: ESPN and ROOT Sports