some other tidbits around Opening Day

Derek Jeter started at short for the Yankees against Detroit. Jorge Posada was the DH. Mariano Rivera came in in the top of the 9th and earned the save. When Rivera entered the game to things happened.

That made Jeter, Posada, and Rivera the first 3 teammates in the history of any Major League Baseball, NHL, NBA, or NFL team to play in a game together in 17 consecutive seasons. 17 straight seasons for 3 guys to be playing together is impressive in any era of sports. In the modern era of free agency and common player movement it's incredible.

Rivera's save made him the oldest Yankee to ever earn a save. He'll be adding to that record with every save.

In St. Louis, Albert Pujols, who came into this Opening Day Game with around a .480 batting average in openers, went hittless. He also grounded into 3 double plays It was the first time that Pujols had ever grounded into 3 double plays in a game. He also became the first player in Major League history to do that on Opening Day. Dubious record for such a great career, and Pujols certainly wouldn't be a guy you'd think would do that.

St. Louis lost only 2 games all last season when they lead in the 8th inning. They lost 1 today, when San Diego's Cameron Maybin hit a monster home run to dead center field to tie the game with 2 outs in the 9th. Maybin had that huge homer, a nice hit in the 11th that led to San Diego's winning run, and also made a couple tremendous defensive plays in center. Maybe this season is the year that Maybin achieves the potential that Asheville has been waiting to see (he played high school baseball at TC Roberson) and the potential that both Detroit and Florida gave up on. Maybin is still young and has time to put it all together. But Detroit gave up on waiting and could get Miguel Cabrera for him instead. Florida got something in the way of a productive starter in a trade this off-season as well. It came down to slow developing potential vs. getting something that was producing now.