Categories: Gameday 2009Posts

Gamenight: Braves (0-0) At Phillies (0-0)

Atlanta Braves (0-0) at Philadelphia Phillies (0-0)
Derek Lowe vs. Brett Myers

Time: 8:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Weather: Mostly clear, 59
TV: ESPN2
Twitter: Phillies Nation

It’s all behind us: The incredible 2008 season, the world championship, the parade, the offseason, spring training. Here we are, with the bright lights of baseball glowing on Citizens Bank Park to open the 2009 baseball season. The eyes of the world are focused on the world champion Phillies, opening season No. 127 as the top team in the land. Brett Myers will throw the first pitch for the third season in a row; he’ll oppose Derek Lowe, who the Phillies defeated in game one of the 2008 National League Championship Series via home runs by Chase Utley and Pat Burrell.

The latter is no longer a Phillie; now Raul Ibanez is on board, with Chan Ho Park, Miguel Cairo and Jack Taschner joining him on the 25-man roster. Say goodbye to Geoff Jenkins and So Taguchi from the year-ending 25-man roster. JC Romero is also not on the roster, serving a 50-game suspension because of breaking the league’s drug policy.

The Braves return with a revamped pitching staff that includes Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami and Javier Vazquez, who the Phillies will see Wednesday.

Your gamenight beer: Truly the signal of a new season. Everyone turn your attention to the Grey Lodge, where tonight they’re serving Dogfish Head Red & White. A Witbier, it smells and tastes of citrus – oranges, lemons very evident. It’s clearly the wonderful taste of spring, rebirth, new life … and yes, baseball. Here’s to the world champions and a successful title defense in 2009.

Go Phillies!

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.