Opening Day, Take 3

The budget is smaller, the town in smaller, but Binghamton (AA) treats Opening Day as the Special Occasion it is.

There was bunting around the park, and a beautiful, respectful rendition of the National Anthem. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by the club's director of stadium operations who had just returned from more than a year's tour of duty in Iraq as an MP. (He threw out the pitch in his desert camo uniform, but later in the game he was inside the giant plastic mouse ball, rolling across right field in a computer-related promo activity.)

The former GM, now special advisor to the president (in other words, the man in charge of fun), started things off, wishing the crowd "Happy Opening Day," and inviting us to turn to the person next to us and wish that person the same, "Like we're passing the peace in church" the person beside me noted.

Some of last year's players are back, as are most of the front office people, the ushers, and the vendors, not to mention the usuals in the stands. Some of the old promotions are back, like the musical toilets game and the pasta pitch, familiar sound effects, but new theme music for older players, and the railyard and skyline beyond the outfield fence are the same.

It's good to be home.