In honor of Shea Hillenbrand, 29 random observations from watching last night's ballgame...

Okay, I don't know if Gustavo Chacin and Scott Kazmir faced each other in Manchester or Binghamton in 2004, but they'll do so in St. Petersburg in 2005. You can catch the game on TSN today, as your undefeated world heavyweight champion Toronto Blue Jays play the pitiful, destined-for-162-losses Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

A little break between now and Game 2, so here is some (mostly) non-Jays material to ponder:

Bauxite Kevin Pataky remembers the 2003 divison champion New Haven Ravens well, and has tracked them down for us. Thanks for the pinch-hit, Kevin.

The photo of the week shows us just how close the new season is -- sure, they're already playing ball all over the place, but here in Toronto we have a couple more days until we can see the game up close and personal.

These aren't the same Blue Jays of Opening Days past. Remember last year, when Jason Johnson -- Jason Johnson! -- outpitched Roy Halladay?

Or the Derek Jeter Affair in 2003? These were sad, sad days in the Greater Toronto Area, my loyal and loving readers. Oh, not Jeter getting hurt, the loss. The loss was sad.

The long winter is finally over. It's Opening Day 2005, and the Toronto Blue Jays are back. Roy Halladay opposes the Devil Rays and Dewon Brazelton in Tampa in an unusual 4:15 pm Opening Day start. Few openers will be watched as closely by Blue Jay fandom as this one.

The Jays start playing games for real today as they kick off a three-game set at Tropicana Field. The Advance Scout, however, won't begin "for real" until the Jays' home opener this Friday.

Spring training is finally over, as the Blue Jays (and most other teams) start the regular season today. And there was much rejoicing.

Spring training at Batter’s Box is over, too. We’ve worked out the kinks in the new Box 3.0, and we’re ready to start a brand new regular season with higher-quality content than ever before. To that end, today we’re releasing and implementing new Guidelines for our Game Threads.

It would be a mistake to overlook the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Since the Jays are opening the season on the road, it seems like a perfect opportunity to take over a bar and watch baseball on TV. And so, the first Beer Club of the 2005 baseball season is upon us!

On this most gloomy of Sundays in Toronto, some good news is always welcome. And that there is a Canadian angle to both stories is a bonus.

They went from fifth place to a world championship. Their manager had taken over the team for the last two months of the previous seasons. They were a team with two, but only two bonafide stars - a starting pitcher and an outfielder. They also featured a switch-hitting second baseman who provided outstanding defense, but the rest of the lineup consisted of solid journeymen and a few youngsters...

This all sounds strangely familiar, for some reason.

Most of this spring training I've been saying that Spring Training results and statistics are virtually meaningless. However, even the biggest cynic has to be impressed with a 16-10 record, the best in the American League, during these exhibition gamess. There would no doubt be a lot of carping if the Jays went 10-16, so let's take a moment to enjoy their fine record.

This is the last pretend game. Next time, it's for real.

And about time, say all of us.

Today, let us amuse ourselves in the following manner. Let us make sure everyone on the team has a nickname worthy of them. Something worth cheering and yelling about.