2013 MLB Opening Day Frosty Mug: Let's Get This Started

Some things to read while standing your ground.

After months of suspense and a spring training that felt like it would never end, Opening Day has finally arrived. The Brewers and Rockies kick off the 2013 season at 1:10 today, and Tom Haudricourt has the starting lineups for both teams. We talked to Bryan Kilpatrick of Purple Row as part of our series preview: You can see his answers to my questions here and my answers over there.

The final preparations are underway at Miller Park, where it appears everyone was up early this morning: The Brewers Twitter feed has a picture of activity on the field at 5:49 am.

I don't know if Yovani Gallardo was up at 5:49 am, but I'd bet he's at the ballpark by now getting ready for his fourth consecutive Opening Day start. Mark Townsend of Yahoo ranked Gallardo as baseball's 15th best Opening Day starter, while Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin is 29th.

He's not in the starting lineup, but today is Khris Davis' first chance to make his major league debut. John Sickels of Minor League Ball has a look at Davis as a prospect.

Meanwhile, Aramis Ramirez is appearing in the starting lineup on Opening Day for the 14th time. Benjamin Orr of Reviewing the Brew suggests Brewer fans can expect a repeat of his 2012 performance in 2013.

Alex Gonzalez is also making his 14th Opening Day appearance, but his first at first base. Tom Haudricourt talked to him about the adjustment to a new position this spring, and revealed that he's still using a first baseman's glove he borrowed from Martin Maldonado.

Haudricourt, by the way, also has a ten question Q&A with Brewers owner Mark Attanasio.

Looking further ahead, the Brewers have clarified their plan and announced that Kyle Lohse will make his Brewers regular season debut on Friday in the series opener against the Diamondbacks. Adam McCalvy notes that, assuming the rotation stays in order following that game, Lohse would then miss the April 12-14 series against the Cardinals.

When the Brewers face the Cardinals, by the way, it could represent their first chance to win the new (and fictional) Intercontinental Baseball Championship.

If you're just checking in for the 2013 season and you've missed hearing how the Brewers got to this point, Zach Links of MLB Trade Rumors has a review of the 2012-13 offseason.

In the minors:

• Someone pointed out last night that 2012 first round pick Victor Roache isn't on a full season team to open 2013. I'd expect that to change soon.
• Fellow 2013 draft pick and first baseman Adam Giacalone also hasn't been named to a team yet. Alec Dopp of Brewers Rumors has a great story on Giacalone's road to professional baseball.

If you're heading out to today's game and you're going to be in the press box, you may see noted leisured gentleman Carson Cistulli of NotGraphs hanging around. Yesterday he was scoping out the free dessert options.

It's also Opening Day for the Racing Sausages, who will have their first "official" race after months of exhibitions. On Facebook, Big League Stew is asking fans to vote for their favorite in a matchup between the Sausages and Washington's ripoff, the Racing Presidents.

Today in predictions, power rankings and stuff:

• Eight of the nine writers at Disciples of Uecker have the Brewers finishing at or above .500, but only one has them making the playoffs.
• All 21 predictors at The Hardball Times show the Brewers finishing third or worse in the NL Central, and they're fourth in the site's consensus prediction.
• David Pinto of Baseball Musings has the Brewers finishing third in the Central, with a 25% chance to win it.

If you haven't checked the site since Friday you missed out on yesterday's Special Edition Frosty Mug. Go back and check it out now for the full update from the final days of spring training.

Around baseball:

Athletics: Placed infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima on the DL with a hamstring strain.
Blue Jays: Placed pitcher R.A. Dickey on the DL with a UCL strain.
Dodgers: Placed shortstop Hanley Ramirez (thumb) and pitchers Chad Billingsley (right index finger contusion), Ted Lilly (recovery from shoulder surgery) and Scott Elbert (elbow inflammation) on the DL.
Indians: Designated pitcher David Huff for assignment.
Mariners: Designated outfielder Casper Wells for assignment.
Marlins: Placed pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez on the DL with shoulder inflammation and designated third baseman Zack Cox, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and pitchers Scott Maine and Evan Reed for assignment.
Pirates: Placed infielder Brandon Inge (shoulder) and pitchers Jeff Karstens (shoulder inflammation), Francisco Liriano (fractured humerus) and Charlie Morton (recovery from Tommy John surgery) on the DL.
Rangers: Signed shortstop Elvis Andrus to an eight-year, $120 million contract extension to cover the 2015-22 seasons.
Rays: Designated catchers Robinson Chirinos and Stephen Vogt for assignment.
Red Sox: Designated infielder Mauro Gomez for assignment.
Reds: Designated infielder Jason Donald for assignment and placed pitcher Nick Masset on the DL to recover from shoulder surgery.
Yankees: Designated pitcher Clay Rapada for assignment.

The major league season officially opened last night with the Astros' first game in the American League, a win over the Rangers. The game also featured an interesting statistical anomaly: Erik Bedard recorded the final nine outs for a save, the Astros' first three-inning save since 2003.

Game of Thrones isn't really my thing but I know some of you like it, so you may be interested in seeing Larry Granillo of Baseball Prospectus' shot at house sigils for MLB. John Axford is one of the featured players.

If you're looking for something to root for during commercial breaks in today's Brewer game, flip over and cheer for Pirates starter A.J. Burnett. Bleed Cubbie Blue notes that it's been over 7500 games since a pitcher threw a no-hitter against the Cubs, a streak that dates back to 1965.

Last week I mentioned that friend of the site Plunk Everyone was working on a Twitter feed for live updates of HBPs during the 2013 season, but I accidentally promoted it before he was ready to unveil it to the public. The new system is now ready for Opening Day, so go follow it again if you had issues doing so the first time. Also, check out Plunk Everyone's announcement post for more on the signal and how it works.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find a new gym.

Drink up.