Each baseball game equals less than 1% of the regular-season games to be played. So does Opening Day really matter? Does opening a peanut shell with three nuts in it really matter? Does putting on a spring jacket for the first time in a year and finding $20 in the pocket really matter? Does taking nine guesses and going 9-for-9 on the weekly quiz matter? YES! Opening Day does matter. The hoopla (my word of the day), the ballyhoo (my word of the week) and the ceremony mean something special. It means baseball is back, baby. Jimmy Rollins, the outstanding shortstop, sagely said: ‘‘The good thing about Opening Day, at the end of the day, it counts. It’s in the record.’’ In other words, Game 1 counts as much as Game 161. This Opening Day will be special because on March 30, for the first time since 1968, all teams will be in action on one Opening Day. So enjoy the day. Enjoy the experience. Enjoy the quiz. Have fun and learn a lot.
1. So you say you love your teams, huh? Last Opening Day . . .
