Let’s face it. Opening Day is awesome and it also stinks.
Let me explain.
The parking is awful. Most of the crowd doesn’t care about the team or game. They won’t be back for game number two. And for the past 700 27 years, it marked the end of the Royals’ playoff chances.
But, I never been to an Opening Day like this one. In the time it took me to get into the stadium (I’m a “Minor League Blogger, no big perks here”), grab some food and get to my seat in section 425, the game was over.
It was 2-0 when we made it from the outfield to the lower concourse. Five more runs scored on Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar. At the end of 1/2 of an inning, it’s 7-0.
Whaa?
The Royals showed a little life with 12 hits, but only managed one run in the first and two in the fourth, losing 8-3 to Cleveland.
To add injury to insult (no really), Hochevar took a liner from Carlos Santana’s bat off his ankle. X-rays were negative, but he was helped off the field. No word on whether he’ll miss a start.
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As bad as Hochevar fared in the first, he and the Royals bullpen kept KC in it, allowing only one run (an Asdrubal Cabrera homer in the eighth) and three hits after the dreadful start.
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Boy, the confetti idea sure did backfire. It was part of the pageantry of Opening Day at The K. Because of wind, the confetti stayed on the field for most of the game.
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Before we get crazy here, think about this. If the Royals are within 3-4 games of .500 by mid-June, this can be a productive season. The Tigers might win the AL Central, but we just need to start winning. As bad as the last two games have been (Broxton beaning the A’s around the bases and Hochevar’s awful first inning), there are signs that we could be all right. The hitting will click and I think the pitching can be decent.
No really.
If it makes you feel any better, King Albert and the Angels are 2-5. So are the Red Sox.
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