There is nothing quite like Opening Day, particularly when Ryan Zimmerman can hit a walk-off home run. But like most fans, I spent much of my time oggling the new stadium, checking out the concessions, and attempting to determine just how the field would “play.” It’s an all-important question, of course, because you build a team to fit a field — and not the other way around. Even so, the assumption here is that National’s Park will be a hitter’s park: primarily because it’s not RFK. I noticed this on opening day: the place looked positively small. The fences seemed on top of the field, just right there.

But honestly? The fences are not in all that much. And from where I sat on Opening Day (just up the third base line beyond the dugout and twenty rows back) it seemed to me that National’s Park looks small only because the fans seem on top of the field, though they are most decidedly not. It’s the same for the players, who commented on this in the wake of the exhibition game versus the Orioles. So my guess is the field will play “long” — that it will be a slight pitcher’s park except in the alleys, where the ball will travel 370 in right-center and 377 in left center (it was 380 at old RFK). That’s a ways to go for someone like Wily Mo. Here tis:

A pitcher’s park? You mean like PETCO? My comment is based on observation, on what I saw: I could be wrong. There’s no question that Zim’s walk off would have been a long out at RFK, but that does not disprove my point: while the actual dimensions of National’s Park are nothing compared to cavernous PETCO Park in San Diego (an astounding 402 feet in the alleys), they are hardly the bandbox dimensions of Wrigley, Houston’s Minute Maid and the positively claustrophobic Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. So what’s the best comparison?

St. Louis’ new Busch Stadium is 375 in left-center and right-center — presumably reachable distances and very much like Nats Park — and 400 in straightaway center. The dimensions in DC and St. Louis are almost exactly the same down the lines. In fact, Busch II (as they call it) is close enough to National’s Park to be almost a replica, and no one (no one) views it as a hitter’s park. Guys like Albert Pujols are easily strong enough to hit the long ball at Busch, but that’s not the point: last year Pujols hit more home runs in Pittsburgh, Houston and Chicago than he did in St. Louis — where he plays half his games. Not scientific enough? The Cardinals ranked 25th in homers last year and while it’s true their line-up is not stacked with big boppers, total home run production at Busch (or Busch II, which opened in April 2006) actually dropped 27 percent last year. That’s for everyone, not just the Cards.

At the end of the year we’ll look back and say “wow” — look what National’s Park did for the team’s hitters compared to RFK. And while that’s a true comparison, the Nats aren’t playing other teams at RFK, they’re playing them in San Diego and San Francisco (where the distance in the gaps is a breathtaking 421 feet), in St. Louis and now in Busch II’s replica stadium along the beautiful Anacostia.

The question is not whether Ryan Zimmerman and Austin Kearns and Dimitri Young will hit more home runs in Nats Park than they did at RFK (they will), the question is whether that means the “Learners” (as Tom would, appropriately, spell them) should start drafting clones of Dave Kingman.

The answer is obvious. This is a game of pitching and so the Nationals should build the team by building their pitching. But my bet is that that is as true for the Nats now as it might have been had they stayed at RFK (God forbid). It might not yet be totally clear, but it appears the Nats are playing in a stadium that will favor strong arms and quick outfielders.

Fine by me.

I know I’m supposed to comment on Mark’s AL predictions, and I will, but after attending this evening’s pre-season contest at Nationals Park I thought it best to offer some impressions for those of you who will soon see a game in the new venue.

Despite the cold (if you’re going to attend Opening Night wear winter clothing) it was an excellent night of baseball. The sight lines are very good especially from the concourse where you can continue to watch as you get to where you’re going. The exception being that if you are in the first row of the 300 Level seats, the top of the plexiglass wall (which is clad in metal) obstructs the view of the infield if you are in the range of 6 feet tall. I am 5′ 11″ and my friend is 6′ 2″ and it was a problem for both of us. Luckily our seats were two rows behind and we had no problem from there.

From section 313 the Capitol Dome was clearly visible and is a beautiful addition to the atmosphere of the park.

Some general observations:

Home Run Potential - With the fences 336ft. down the lines and 377 ft. to the power alleys the park won’t necessarily give up a lot more home runs than did RFK — especially with the wind blowing in as it was tonight. But only time will tell.

Staff - From the ticket takers to the beer guys to the food people in the concession stands everyone had a smile on and greeted fans as guests. A great touch if the Learners can maintain the feeling past the honeymoon period.

Getting There - I was lucky enough to ride with a friend who had a parking pass at Ft. McNair. A four block walk was all it took to get to the park. It will not be that simple for most people and from what I could tell the bulk of the crowd came from the Metro and streamed into the center field entrance. Most seats were full for the start of the game so I assume getting there by subway was not a problem. I don’t know how people fared getting home by Metro but reports will no doubt be in the newspapers. Two fans I spoke to said they parked at RFK and took the shuttle and thought it worked wonderfully. Being free was no doubt an added bonus.

Concessions - Lots of ‘em and lots of variety with the best-named food stand being “Slice Down the Line,” a pizza joint along the first and third base lines. I didn’t try it but the kid three seats away seemed happy with his choice. The Ben’s half-smoke with chili, onion and mustard was very good and the coffee was tasty as well (no kidding). The service at the stands I used was attentive but slow; no doubt a result of tonight’s contest being the shake out cruise. Hopefully that improves since it was no better than the service at RFK. Fans put up with it in the old stadium — they won’t put up with it for too long in the new. On the upside, and this is no small matter as far as I’m concerned, there were plenty of condiment stands (unlike at RFK) and much like the system at Dodger Stadium (and Costco) you can churn out onion and relish to your heart’s content from stainless steel containers. Also, mustard and ketchup is available in almost limitless amounts from what I’m guessing is a tube-fed system from below the condiment counter. No more stupid packets of relish and plastic gallon-sized containers of ketchup!

Video Screen - In a word: awesome! Huge. Bright. Instant replays. Tons of information (although pitch speed wasn’t provided tonight). Like being at home in front of a 50-inch plasma.

Bathrooms - I only used the men’s of course but it was large (six stalls, 12 urinals) and had plenty of soap and papers towels. At RFK the dearth of washing items made me think the team was trying to save pennies to get a good arm in the bullpen. Alas, they were just skimping.

Disability seating - I didn’t do a count of spaces (I’m sure its on the Nats site somewhere) but since I have a friend in a wheel chair I made a point to look. There appeared to be plenty and several elevators service the upper decks.

Quibbles - A plastic cap for my coffee would have been nice — especially since it cost $3.50. And the much-touted cup holders are an improvement from the old place down the street but rather than being at the front of the arm rest on your seat they are on the rear of each arm rest of the seat in front of you. It’s not a huge problem but when people pass in front of you it will be easy for them, especially if they have food in their hands, to not see your draft beer cup at ankle level and give it a good kick and, in the process, soak their feet and waste a good chunk of your $7.50.

More than a quibble - Screech, that mangy, dirty, creepy-looking thing they call a mascot ought to be eliminated. And you can take that any way you wish. I’m not the first to make the recommendation and I won’t be the last. The worst thing about the franchise is that ridiculous pigeon masquerading as something lovable.

A secret - The elevators are separated from the concourse by a wall of glass with glass doors providing access which creates a vestibule for those waiting for the cars to arrive. That vestibule is heated (and I assume cooled in summer) providing a great respite from whatever the elements dish up. There is a very nice flat panel t.v. in the vestibule so you can still watch the game. Don’t tell anyone or they’ll be packed in April and August.

Teddy lost. “Sweet Caroline” played and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was sung at the stretch. Baseball is back and it is wonderful.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2008 Florida Marlins:

Okay — well it’s not that bad, but with Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis gone to Detroit (a salary dump, in essence, that saved the team $18 million), whatever the Marlins have left will probably cost them a decent season. And just to make it clear, here’s what they have left.

The Marlins project Ramirez at shortstop and the newly acquired Dallas McPherson at third (maybe), with Mike Jacobs at first and Dan Uggla at second. I hate Jacobs — he’s just the kind of grating “pepperpot” player that I can’t stand. The newly acquired Cameron Maybin is the great hope in center (he has to be at least a year away — at least), with Josh Willingham (who I think is actually one heck of a player), in left and Jeremy Hermida in right (Hermida is also a year away, come to think of it, though he’s been in the majors now for three seasons). At catcher, the Marlins have inserted a former Tiger, Mike Rabelo, who has played in 52 major league games. To help the kids, the front office has brought in Luis Gonzalez — who is 40.

Yikes.

Everyone raves about Ramirez, of course, and dubs him the next superstar, a future hall of famer. Maybe, but he reminds me of George Bell — which is, come to think of it, saying a lot. Bell was a hell of a hitter back in the ’80s for Toronto (he once hit 47 home runs), but he tailed off quickly and could never keep his wind. He was relentlessly booed by the Blue Jays fans (they’re Canadians) and he responded by telling the press: “They can kiss my purple butt.” Watching him run the bases that last season for the White Sox wore me out (he was traded there by the Cubs, for Sammy Sosa). Bell and Ramirez are built almost exactly alike and have a similar swing, something I noticed about Ramirez last year, when I had to suffer through three, count em, three Marlins’ games at RFK. (I got three this year too — after going into my draft with only one goal: no Marlins games.)

But the Marlins less-than-mediocre team will surely be offset by a stellar pitching staff of Mark Hendrickson, Sergio Mitre (Sergio Meat Tray), Scott Olsen and Andrew Miller.

Who?

The good news is the Marlins will soon have a new stadium, which will cost them all of $480 million — tops. Here’s what it looks like:

I told my friend Tom: “It must be made out of wood.” Nope: it’s made out of concrete, and glass, and “stucco.” No kidding. It looks like it’s made out of bubble gum. There’s this description: “The stadium breaks the trend started by Camden Yards of the ‘old time’ or retro look. It features a sleek 21st century design meant to capture the architecture in South Florida.” We have no idea what that means. It might mean this:

In truth, it’s about mid-range in cost for a stadium of that size and it will keep the Marlins in Florida, where they will soon be known as the Miami Marlins. About time. There is this: in all of the years that the Marlins have been playing this game, they have only been good twice — and both years they’ve won the World Series. But not this year. Compared to them, the Nats look like the ’27 Yankees.

Projected Finish: Dead Last.