Opinion

Just last night, 22-year-old Nick Adenhart pitched a gem for the Angels against the Oakland Athletics.

In six innings, Adenhart gave up seven hits and three walks, holding the A's scoreless through those six innings. The rookie also struck out five batters.

Although the Angels eventually lost that game, Adenhart handed over the lead to the bullpen, who eventually blew the game.

Just this morning, the Angels up-and-coming pitcher died.

Adenhart, a passenger in a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse, was killed as a result of a hit-and-run car accident.

I've hit a little bit of a lull—the writing bug has stopped biting so incessantly.

When that happens, I find it's usually best to return to the things you really love and hope that sparks things back up a bit.  For me, that means the San Francisco Giants.  Luckily for me, there's a subject that fits nicely right into the inaugural week of the Major League Baseball season.

Is it really Thursday already? It’s hard to believe Opening Day is three days in the review mirror.

What is not hard to believe is on day four, the New York Yankees are 0-2 and everyone in the Northeast is on the brink of suicide.

However, everyone knows—unless you bet your life savings on the Yankee’s first two games—then there’s no reason to worry.

Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel reminded everyone that his club’s opening day loss was just one game. So did Yankees skipper Joe Girardi after dropping his own first stanza to the O’s. And at least one of Girardi’s own superstars knows full well that an auspicious start to the season can’t hold a candle to a spectacular finish.

Following the New York Yankees' opening day loss to the Orioles, the Yankee squad heard about it.

Highly touted starter CC Sabathia giving up six runs in his Yankee debut and Mark Teixeira going hitless in his first game wearing pinstripes are just a couple things you may have heard.

The Yankees lost again last night, but we figured we’d take it easy on them (believe it or not, we can be merciful)

After the Orioles opening day thumping of the Yankees, most expected the Birds to be violently brought back down to earth. Instead, the Yanks bats were quieted for five masterful innings by the O's #2 pitcher, import Koji Uehara. Just as the Orioles learned many valuable lessons on Opening Day, they learned a few more things about how their 2009 season might turn out, on Day Two.

Billy Wagner is working hard in Port St Lucie Florida getting ready to become activated on the Mets roster in either late July or early August after having Tommy John elbow surgery last season.  Wagner was originally not anticipated to be activated until at least late August.

The Mets' bullpen woes, especially the lack of a reliable closer last year, prompted Omar Minaya to acquire both a closer in K-Rod and a set up man in JJ Putz.  The Mets had 29 blown saves in 2008, which were pivotal in making sure that they did not reach the postseason.

Welcome back to the Shakedown!

Last week we introduced our latest “Monthly Mustache Shakedown” with a look at the “Best Hair & Mustache Combo.”

For week one we chose “The Big Mullet” Randy Johnson, just five wins away from 300, and a man who has consistently sported a fine Mississippi Waterfall-style mullet to compliment his fine looking labia sebucula (Latin for “lip sweater”).

The other day, we gave necessary props to the Opening Day festivities at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.  After all, they had professional ballplayers entering the ceremonies through the bleachers and no one got zinged in the melon by an item labeled “Duracell.”

Bucky "f#@king" Dent was given a new middle name by Red Sox supporters after his 1978 home run in Fenway Park. It stuck with him for decades into the future.

Kyle Farnsworth earned that same middle name from Yankee fans as a result of his unreliable and putrid relief efforts.