So, I was told there is a new sport debuting today?

16 team playoffs?

I’m watching!
But saw on Twitter that the Yankees are asking the ‘President’ to throw out the first pitch at home this year...surely that’s not going to happen?

Stanton!

KABOOM!

Goodness Stanton!, 450feet..!

[3] yep I’m pissed.

But hell yeah to Giancarlo!

ESPN Announcers really dreadful to me--- wish wish wish I could have John and Suzyn synced up.

Gianclarlo!

Popped up ball 4. Good.

Just great to see real baseball. But nats missing Soto due to virus. Could make it real tough for them to make WS. Got the feeling lots of teams are going to lose players. I really don’t think we’ll have a full season.

So they are using 2019 baseballs.

Gerrit Whitson, he can’t handle NYC

How the hell does Hernandez get to ump the opener? He may be the worst umpire ever!!

It's so surreal. Sounds ok when not in the room, but watching the empty stands and no real crowd reaction is just... weird.

That was Voit? How much weight did he lose??

Mad Max looks mid season form

I watched an NBA game highlight from Florida last night. The entire length of court where the usual big money seats are, there was a big screen of oversized fans. That was bizarre.

Since Betts signed for a gazillion dollar extension, seems like it’s time for contracts for a couple of Yanks.

[3] I heard the Nats asked Dr. Fauci to throw out the first pitch tonight. Did it happen?

[19] Yup. Not a good throw

[20] to be fair, his expertise is in helping people not catch things...

I’m sorry but this is NOT the baseball I’ve been used to for more than 60 years.

Is that a BLM on the mound or am I getting a mirror image?

Guess Sánchez forgot about the no spitting rule

Yep BLM

I went to Nats Park two years ago when visiting my sister in DC. They had good spicy French fries, but the beer was too expensive ($10 for a DosXX).. wonder when we can go to a game again?

Hey Boat, you see the NPB games are on here too?

Yes that’s a BLM on the back of the mound

I go to Nats Park about 5 times a year. Some great food (love the schwarma, excellent crab cakes.)

Tyler can fly!

There is a place close to me that makes great vegan schwarma!

That was nice. Good hitting. Good base running. Great speed.

Is schwarma the same as kabob?

If so, that's what they call it in Japan.

No, schwarma is usually beef sliced off of a rotating hunk of meat. Not really ndividual chunks like kabob

[26] Yes I watched an NPB game the other night. However, it's difficult for me to get control of the home TV set. It's the wife's domain.

The game was great but it ended in a tie!

(32) Basically kebabs, schwarmas and gyros are all the same sandwich family..and now I crave one at 9am here..

[33] That's what what I'm talking about. It's called kabob out here and also in the UK, I think.

They have stands all over Tokyo, always run my Middle Eastern guys.

Hernandez is awful

[35] Yes, it's always the right time for kabob or whatever. Until after I eat it.

Angel Hernandez. Sucking since 1991.

(38) Azabu Market in Hiroo sells fresh falafel and pita bread from the Pita The Great guy, hummus and tahini sauce packs too..feck, may make a run there this afternoon to buy some.

Gary in mid-season K form..

Those shots of empty seats are not working for me.

[41] seriously! I kinda liked the cardboard fans in Citi Field.

which remind me of the empty buildings with painted drapes on the way to Yankee stadium from my younger years...

[40] That's a hike, dude. Even I would go that far for pita. ;>)

[43] Yes. I remember that.

I heard a great story on NPR yesterday about EA Sports piping in fan sounds at soccer matches. So, I'm assuming it's EA doing this. I've always liked baseball on the radio. This year I think I'll listen even more because I forget that the background noise is fake; I guess I'm comforted by it somehow. And despite Sterling's and Waldman's limitations, which I recognize, I like them both.

It's nice to have baseball back; and I think this might be the only sport we get until next baseball season.

[3][7] It would be fun to have him throw out the first pitch if they hit the EA Sports "Boooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!" button. They could even use the recording from when he threw out the first pitch at the Nats game from last year.

Tv wastes too much time showing fans anyway. Lol... The $%pn game last night in Chicago mentioned you could send in a selfie and they'd put you on a cardboard cutout in the rattle your chains seats. (I think that's what AB calls them)

Wade is terrific

Come on, Hicks.

Stanton the early rbi leader.

Nice work, Stanton. Stay healthy, dude.

A-Rod basically calling Stanton a weenie?

10 ks in 5. Dayyyum.

[53] Another food reference. You're killing me.

We tried to have weenies tonight for the game but they went bad. Very odd.

[48] I like the idea.

It turns out, cameramen are important.

(BTW, Hi all!)

[59] Hey RIYank!

Maybe Cole will be good. Like Arods comment about lack of fans being a benefit for Stanton

(59) Yo! Wow, plenty of the Banter gang are here.
We’re on. 4 day weekend in Japan, planned for the now cancelled Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Plenty sofa time ahead now we have baseball again

Gary really looks lost.

[59] Howdy.

So basically every game this season is a Rays home game.

Max is back ou there.

God, ESPN is so terrible.

Oops! Okay, well, officially under rain delay...

Uh oh, rain and lightning. Official game though.

Really dumb-ass playoff system.

[62] I think you guys should be fine to hold the Games next year at this time.
Oh, well, as long as you don't let Americans come. Or I guess Russians. Or Brazilians.

Crap. Thunderstorms in DC in the summer. Who’d a thunkit?

[69] It is. I'm anticipating being really pissed off that the Red Sox sneak in as the 8-seed, and don't even have to win a play-in game or anything.

Under this year’s “rules” they start the game from when it ends. So it’s not official yet

Did I hear correctly that home field advantage means playing no road games? Not that it really matters without fans

Well, that was fun while it lasted. I wish it was official.

Hey all
A fun if weird start

In any normal year where the Yankees started the season ten miles from my house I’d be there with bells on. Would have loved a Bens Chili Bowl half smoke tonight.

Radar doesn’t look good for the rest of the night. Finish tomorrow?

raining here now...

apparently tarp off and game at 11

Not waiting up. Cole and Scherzer are out.

Game was called I just saw. The YAAAAANNNNNKKKKKKEEEEEEESSSSS WIN!

Guess ESPN had it wrong. Game over, Yankees win. Night all

[82] They had it wrong, despite interviewing the actual commissioner of baseball, during the game broadcast.

[83] sup RI! I was confused about that because I haven't followed all of the rules changes. Too appalled at the nonsense I heard about extra innings.