So, Spring Training is officially for fat guys to get in shape and kids who need to win jobs...

The Dodgers came out in force tonight with Furcal leading off the game with a double (no surprise here), Kemp singled him in (again, not a big surprise), and Jeff Kent hitting a bullet 2-run home run off Barry Zito. Now, Jeff Kent played in parts of 3 spring training games. That's right, over 2 months of spring training he barely compiled enough at bats for 1 game. But he started his season 2 for 3 with a 2-run home run and a single. Blake DeWitt got a hit in his first appearance ever above AA ball, Loney went 2 for 3 with a stolen base (is that weird to anyone else? Loney stole a bag?), Rafael Furcal went 3 for 4 with a walk, and Andruw Jones broke the ice with his first hit in Dodger Blue. No long ball for Andruw, but that's just a matter of time.

A couple of great plays defensively too. With Ray Durham on 1st and one out, Aaron Rowand hit a single to left field that Andre Ethier cut off. He had a VERY good chance of catching Durham trying to stretch it out at 3rd, but opted to throw the ball to second to keep Rowand from trying to advance. As it turned out, he made the right call as Penny got the next batter to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. Rowand put on his best takeout slide, but Jeff Kent's hamstring managed to hold up and he made the jump and throw to first look like he was 25 years old again. Rafael Furcal's grab of a real worm burner up the middle with a full 360 turn and throw to first just in time to beat the runner served to confirm that his ankle truly is healed. If you haven't already, you should expect to see that one on "Web Gems" soon.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night is the fact that Penny was not satisfied with his outing, saying that he struggled with his control the entire game. 6 2/3 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 walks, and no runs. Yeah, I'd be disappointed too...

If this is what we can expect on a bad day from our new ace, I'm interested to see what we get on a good day...

Tonight: April 1 - The Dodgers put Derek Lowe on the hill to take on Matt Cain and the (now Bonds-less) Giants.

Opening Day is HERE!!! There should be cookies, cake, punch, and presents. There should be parties and songs and confetti and noisemaking toys and whatnot. We should all be dressed up in cute little sweaters that show everybody our holiday spirit. It should be a nationally celebrated day off from work!

Alas, there is no cake and punch, just beer and hot dogs for me. Presents? Well, my team could win. No parties, but I will hear the National Anthem before the game and stand to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with Vin Scully in the 7th. No snowflake-ridden sweaters, just a blue and white button up shirt with a couple names and numbers on it. I won't be taking the day off from work, but I will watch the entire game in high definition thanks to the miracles of modern science and this wonderful thing called a DVR when I get home (and I get to fast forward the commercials).

No, it's not a nationally recognized holiday, but it should be. Now, I just need to figure out how I'm going to get out of this whole "work" thing...

God Bless us, every one! (Especially the ones who root for the Dodgers)