The Sandspur

Issue date: 4/8/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: DAN HONDA / KRT CAMPUS LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Streamers fire off at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco on Opening Day as the Giants faced the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Media Credit: JOANNA JHANDA/ KRT CAMPUS HATS OFF: Giants outfielder Barry Bonds doffs his cap to the crowd as San Francisco fans give him a standing ovation. Bonds sat out with an injury but promised to return soon.

Media Credit: CHARLES FOX / KRT CAMPUS INTRODUCTIONS ALL AROUND: Washington Nationals players exchange greetings during the introduction of team lineups before first Nationals game in thirty years against Phillies.

The Major League Baseball Season began last Sunday with a rematch of last years American League Champion Series as the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox faced off against their archrivals the New York Yankees in New York.

In perhaps a sign of things to come, Randy JohnSon, newly acquired from the Diamondbacks in the off-season, dominated for the Yankees while picking up the victory.

Johnson is one of many players joining new teams this year. Former Boston ace Pedre Martinez joined the New York Mets as a free agent. Sadly for Martinez he joins a team with a shaky bullpen as his strong opening day performance was blown by the Mets' relievers.

Sammy Sosa, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, Carlos Beltran are among the other big name players who joined news teams this offseason.

The big story this opening day was the return of the Washington Nationals. The Nationals lost to the Phillies in their first game in 30 years but just the fact that the city has a team again was enough for most Washingtonians.

This being baseball, something had to overshadow the opening day festivities. Tampa Bay outfielder Alex Sanchez became the first player to be suspended for testing positive for steroids, the first player to be punished for using steroids under baseball's new policy.

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