For the past 4 years, the Mets have disappointed me with a metronomic consistency, and yet somehow when late March rolls around, I’m somehow still excited for Opening Day. I, along with all Mets fans, am a living, breathing contradiction to Pavlov’s work. After all of the constant disappointment, Opening Day should have a similar feel to the beginning of college football season to me: just the beginning of another season following an optimistically average team. If the predictions hold true, and the Mets finish well under .500, this feeling of anticipation and hope will probably fade around the all-star break when Reyes is shipped off to cut payroll. But for now, starting today for fans of 12 other teams and tomorrow for me, illogical hope is the emotion du jour.
Football may now be the stereotypical American sport, but no sport trumps the pageantry and significance of baseball’s beginning. Groundhog day and daylight savings may be harbingers of the end of winter, but for sports fans, this is the definitive start of spring. After all, how is it possible to enjoy hot dogs and beer when it’s 50 and cloudy outside? The reason that baseball fans are so enraptured with Opening Day isn't just their team. It's the story lines for players and fans alike.
Opening Day is Livan Hernandez warming up in the bullpen to supplant Washington’s most established southpaw. It’s not the Yankees, but the team New York let get away out by the bay area trying to prove that they have staying power. It’s marveling at Aroldis Chapman’s ability to make a joke out of the radar gun. Jason Heyward announcing his presence on the big stage with all of the subtlety of Gilbert Gottfried. Kaz Matsui earning a yearly stay of execution by doing an exceedingly convincing Ken Griffey Jr. impersonation. It’s wondering if Derek Jeter recognizes the irony of asking the umpire for extra time when he toes the batters box at age 36. It’s heavyweight pitching matchups with enough star power to make Lou DiBella and Bob Arum green with envy.
For the fans, it’s tradition, the sick day to end all sick days for kids of any age. Visiting modern marvels such as the new Yankee Stadium, or functioning museums like Fenway and Wrigley. The return of AM radio on long car rides narrated by John Sterling, Howie Rose, or for lucky Dodger fans the golden standard that is Vin Scully. Knowing that you look ridiculous trying to snare an autograph in a group of 10 year olds, but ignoring it. The taboo subject of not commenting on a pitcher’s performance until he’s given up his first hit, and reacting with absurd exuberance to the first well struck fly ball.
While football may be weekend warfare, and the NCAA tournament is Sensory Overload as narrated by Gus Johnson, baseball is what sports fans crave the most: consistency. Baseball games are on par with the sun rising in the east in terms of reliability, and for all of the surprises and inconsistencies there are in life on a daily basis, that’s comforting. Regardless of whether you win the lottery or lose your job, baseball will almost always be there as an anchor for the day.
So whether you’re glued to your game cast of choice at a 9-5, or are amongst the fortunate minority taking in batting practice, the wait is almost over. Predictions are quickly becoming a thing of the past, and statistical analysis will be tabled. Just as soon as the man in blue kicks it off with those two all-important words.
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