Happy Opening Day!

Happy Opening Day everyone!

Although we got to enjoy a two-game exhibition against the St. Louis Cardinals at Target Field over the weekend, it's just not the same, is it? Today (and last night for Yankees and Red Sox fans) is quite possibly the best holiday ever. It's the gift of baseball, which keeps on giving for at least 162 or 163 games a year.

Opening Day is special because each team has wiped the slate clean. Each team starts with an 0-0 record and fans generally don't become pessimistic for at least a few weeks. It's Spring, it's baseball, it's everything that's good and right with the world.

The Twins have headed to Anaheim to take on the Angels tonight at 9:05pm (if it ever stops raining there today) in the first of a four-game series at Angel Stadium where each game lasts well past my bed time. Scott Baker gets the ball against fellow right-hander Jered Weaver, who, according to Elias, has managed to hold the players in this year's Minnesota lineup to a .236 batting average with just two home runs: one each by Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel. Everyone from top to bottom has enjoyed at least one base hit off of him at one time or another, though. Yes, even Nick Punto.

Weaver dropped his only other Opening Day start back in 2008 at the Metrodome and is a career 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in six starts versus the Twins. Joe Mauer, who smoked one to straightaway center on Saturday, is 6-for-15 (.400) lifetime with two doubles and 3 RBI off of him. Man Muscles!

In seven career starts facing the Angels, Baker is a not-so-great 0-4 with a 5.59 ERA, which includes a 0-0 mark and 2.08 ERA over two starts the past two seasons. However, the players in this year's lineup have a collective .180 batting average against him with nine hits, including two longballs, over 50 total at bats.

Any predictions for the Twins first game of the 2010 season?