Play ball!

(Original, huh?)

Actually, we just had the national anthem. I'll give you the first innings when it's in the books.

Among the things to note: Wind blowing way, way, way out today. Could be a long one. "I might as well not play right field," Austin Kearns said. "I should just play 40 feet behind second and field grounders. Everything over my head is going out."

"Thanks," starting pitcher Shawn Hill said.

And, as a final thought, you haven't lived until you've ventured into the Dodgertown press/executive dining room (the finest facility in the Grapefruit League) and seen Tommy Lasorda eating at a white tablecloth with Jim Bowden, Bob Boone, Don Sutton and others -- wearing his entire uniform.

Talk to you at the end of the first.