Play ball! (2012)

I am aware that there have been two games in Japan. I am aware that there was a game last night.

But tradition doesn't recognize restless America's annoying habit of tinkering with every last thing. Opening Day is Opening Day. And that means more than one game in a 24-hour period and that some of those games actually happen during daylight hours.

Today -- April 5, 2012 -- features the real Major League Baseball openers. And I'm not just saying that because the Dodgers begin the season today.

So, without any more ranting, here is the yearly tradition. As promised last year, I even threw in some Score cards:



The last time the CARDINALS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the GIANTS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the YANKEES won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the PHILLIES won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the RED SOX won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the WHITE SOX won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the MARLINS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the ANGELS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the DIAMONDBACKS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the BRAVES won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the BLUE JAYS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the TWINS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the REDS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the A'S won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the DODGERS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the METS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the ROYALS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the TIGERS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the ORIOLES won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the PIRATES won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the INDIANS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the CUBS won the World Series, cards looked like this:

The last time the ASTROS, BREWERS, MARINERS, NATIONALS, PADRES, RANGERS, RAYS or ROCKIES won the World Series, cards looked like this:

Hoo-boy, I really hope that someone who hasn't won a Series in the last 10 years will finally win one this year.

But that's what Opening Day is all about, right? Hope.

Everyone is at zero-zero!

Well, except for you, Marlins.

And you, Mariners and A's.

And don't get cocky, Cardinals. I'm pretty sure your win last night doesn't actually count.

...

(*sigh*)

Happy (third) Opening Day everybody.