Phillies vs. Nationals

Nationals Park, 1:05 PM EST

Well if you're an Eagles fan like I am, the Phillies' season could not have begun any sooner. Less than twenty-four hours after the Eagles dropped the bomb that they traded McNabb within the division, the perfect distraction falls into place (Coincidence? I think not).

Well you know what? F-them. It's baseball season baby and honestly there is no move that the now second favorite Philly sports team could make to distract me. How was your holiday weekend? Trick question, it still hasn't ended. Roy Halladay will take the mound in D.C., as Phillies fans will see for the first time in a while a true and proven "ace" on Opening Day. All we can hope for is an early Spring Training version Doc, as a couple of his starts lately have been far from perfect.

What about the Nationals? They suck. They don't have a chance. Didn't they win like four and a half games last season? Not so fast. All is fair the first couple weeks of baseball. The Nats definitely have some young talent in Ryan Zimmerman, and the first game of the season will be sure to draw a full stadium (I would hope). The Phils will see lefty John Lannan (9-13, 3.88 ERA last season). Interestingly enough, the Spring Training slumper Raul Ibanez feasts off Lannan, with seven hits in ten at bats, two of them homers. Sounds like a great way to open the season.

This team knows what's going on. The expectations have been set and this team knows its potential. All we can hope is that they throw it straight in the trash can and play like a team who doesn't deserve to be handed the division (because they don't).

The likely Opening Day batting order:

1. Jimmy Rollins
2. Placido Polanco
3. Chase Utley
4. Ryan Howard
5. Jayson Werth
6. Raul Ibanez
7. Shane Victorino
8. Carlos Ruiz
9. Roy Halladay

Go get 'em Phils.

Fun Phact - The Met's will have "The Situation" from MTV's Jersey Shore throw out the first pitch tomorrow at Opening Day. Oh my Lord...