MLB Opening Day: Heroes from Baseball's First Day in the Sun
Opening day has come and gone, sparking the start to the 2011 MLB season.
New managers, Air Force fly-bys and highly energetic fans helped culminate baseball's first day into a smashing success.
Thursday's festivities were not only an insight into the future of 12 teams, but it helped every baseball fan across America revamp their love for the game of baseball and get ready for a long and needed 2011 season.
While everybody who participated on Opening Day deserved to be there—whether it was veterans like Derek Jeter and Chipper Jones, or first timers like Buster Posey and Brandon Belt—there were a handful of players who stood out and made everything of their opportunity to suit up for baseball's first action.
Here are the top 10 heroes from Thursday's Opening Day.
10. Don Mattingly, Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers
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"Donny Baseball" has finally made his transition to "Donny Bench".
Thursday marked the introduction of Don Mattingly as the 27th manager in Dodger history.
Mattingly is one of the best hitting coaches in the league, but his potential as a manager has neither been reached, nor is it a guarantee.
However, in his first game as a big league skipper, Mattingly couldn't of played it any better. After running out onto the field early in the game to simply ask about a fair ball, all nerves settled down and Mattingly was able to sit back and watch Clayton Kershaw go to work.
A victory over the defending World Series Champions isn't a bad way to start off your career as a big league boss.
Mattingly's success as a manager may take some time, but the drive and dedication is there. If Thursday was any indication to how he handles himself during games, there is no reason why he can't climb the ranks and become one of the best game callers around.
9. Fredi Gonzalez, Manager, Atlanta Braves
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Welcome to the show, Fredi Gonzalez.
Being the first game as a big league manager, Gonzalez handled the spectacle of Opening Day better than he could have.
Leading the Braves to a 2-0 win over the divisional Washington Nationals, Gonzalez's first win in the MLB was one to remember.
It featured a healthy Chipper Jones, a historic hit by Jason Heyward, and all-around great pitching from a Braves staff who ranked third in 2010.
Gonzalez looked like a natural during Thursday's game, making the appropriate bullpen moves that allowed Braves' relief pitching to throw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless, two hit baseball.
The sky is the limit for the Braves in 2011 and Gonzalez may be the guy to take them there.
8. Cameron Maybin, OF, San Diego Padres
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After a few years off the radar, Maybin might of finally turned the corner.
Traded to the Padres in the off-season, the soon to be 24-year old has found a home in San Diego's lineup.
His two-out home run in the top of the ninth against Cardinals' closer Ryan Franklin, helped tie the ball game and forced extra frames.
Maybin's dead center blast might be the greatest moment to date of his young career.
In the top of the eleventh, following a botched relay throw by shortstop Ryan Theriot, Padres' Chase Headley scored the game winning run on a heads up run to home.
7. Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
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Ryan Braun went off Thursday.
Raking at the plate, making heads-up base running decisions and leading his team to a game leading ninth inning, Braun did it all on Opening Day.
Going 2-for-3 with three runs, two walks, and one run batted in on a solo home run, Braun's performance was near perfect.
If the Brewers are thinking about making any sort of noise in the NL Central, they'll need Braun and they'll need him to hit like this.
6. Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants
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Who's Brandon Belt you ask?
Well, he's a 22-year old first baseman from Texas who deservedly make his MLB debut Thursday night in L.A.
If you didn't think that was special enough, Thursday just so happened to be Opening Day.
Belt, who journeyed his way from single-A all the way to triple-AAA in 2010, was given a chance to bolster down first base for the Giants in one of the biggest games that will be played all year.
How did he handle it?
Do Birds fly?
Belt played his butt off, making heads-up plays at first base all night. He was also able to get into a little groove at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a walk. The rookie was able to take 19 pitches away from Clayton Kershaw's arsenal in only three at-bats.
Belt had a chance to tie up the game in the top of the ninth, but he happened to face one of the more eccentric throwing closers in the league in Jonathan Broxton.
After facing Kershaw and Broxton back to back in his first MLB game ever, you really couldn't expect Belt to belt his first home run on Opening Day and tie the game up.
However, if today is any indication of what Belt might do this year for the Giants, Buster Posey might be gaining some company as the best hitter in the lineup.
5. Mark Teixeira, 1B, New York Yankees
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Mr. Slow Start did anything but that on Thursday.
The Yankees first baseman is a NOTORIOUSLY slow producer to start off seasons, batting .136 with two home runs during April last year.
Teixeira did his best to change that title and make 2011 a different campaign.
His third inning three-run home run ended up in its usual spot, right field at Yankee Stadium. Teixeira's dinger helped break open a scoreless game for the Yankees and was good enough to protect any comeback attempt by the Tigers.
If this home run is the spark that sets it all off, not only will Teixeira possibly be in-line for a career year, but the Yankees might have found the key to out playing the Boston Red Sox throughout 2011.
4. Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves
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Heyward did it again.
After hitting a home run in his first at-bat of the season, the Braves' young phenom became only the second player ever to hit a home run in his first at-bat in his first two opening days.
Last year might of been more amazing and memorable, but Thursday's second inning home run proved to be the biggest hit of the day for either team.
I recently put Heyward on a list of the top 10 most overrated players in the MLB, and to be honest, that was probably a mistake.
Heyward has believable power for his age and after Thursday's win over the Nationals, I'm starting to think he's one of the best young clutch hitters in baseball.
If Heyward can build up his average, as well as stay healthy, there is no reason why the Braves and rookie manager Fredi Gonzalez can't make a push for a NL East title.
3. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Kershaw proved Thursday that not only did he deserve to start his first ever Opening Day, but that he should be mentioned among the best pitchers in the MLB.
Firing seven innings with no runs allowed and nine strikeouts on his way to his first win, Kershaw became the only pitcher Thursday to throw six or more innings of scoreless ball.
If there were any questions coming into the season about his command or lack there of, Kershaw put those rumors to rest. He walked only one batter on 96 pitches, consuming his pitches by the inning and lasting well into the seventh.
After battling butterflies and those annoying Dodger Stadium shadows, Kershaw was able to strike out eight batters through the first four innings, looking down right dominant.
If Kershaw can pitch the way he did on Opening Day, 2011 could be the season of No. 22.
2. Ramon Hernandez, C, Cincinnati Reds
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There's not much more you can do on Opening Day than what Ramon Hernandez did on Thursday.
Coming into his two-out ninth inning at-bat, facing Milwaukee's young closer John Axford, Hernandez was already 3 for 4.
With one swing of the bat, Hernandez smacked a three-run walk-off home run to right field, winning the Reds' home opener and producing the most memorable moment of baseball's inaugural start.
Hernandez was the only player on Thursday to record four hits, making him the biggest star on Opening Day.
With plays like this, you have to wonder what the Reds might be able to do this year with the baseball gods on their side.
1. Fans
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The biggest winners to come out of Thursday's Opening Day were the fans.
Baseball is not only America's past time, but it's America's present and future love.
When the air is filled with fireworks, stands filled with some of the most dedicated fans in the world, ears filled with national anthems, and baseball diamonds filled with the best players around, there aren't many things that can top that spectacle.
The MLB has come to our rescue once again. March Madness is almost over, everything revolving around the NFL lock-out is growing unbearable, and who isn't sick of Lebron James and the Miami Heat.
Today not only marked the start of better weather, expensive hot dogs, and ice cold beer, but it marked the start of something even more special.
Baseball.
