April 1, 2008 - Expectations were low for the San Francisco Giants this spring. The no-chance-to-compete, lucky-to-win-60-games kind of low. And yet, 15 minutes into their season opener at the Dodgers, the bar appeared to have been set too high. 

Starting pitcher Barry Zito looked like no ace in getting lit up from the outset. His spring struggles carried over into the second year of a 7-year, $126 million he signed last winter. Jeff Kent launched an 84-mph Zito fastball into the left field stands of Dodger Stadium to complete a three-run first inning.

The Giants' offense, which could challenge some of Major League Baseball's records for offensive futility (see below), had two runners taken off the basepaths and grounded into one double play. For a lineup that lacks home run power, most notably all-time home run leader Barry Bonds, the margin for error for the Giants to win games is incredibly slim.

Far too slim to handle with a starting infield that consisted of 3B Jose Castillo, rookie SS Brian Bocock, 2B Ray Durham and 1B Rich Aurilia. New free agent acquisition Aaron Rowand is a nice defensive fit for AT&T Park, but won't come close to matching the 27 home runs he hit with the Phillies last season. Dave Roberts and Randy Winn in left and right field, respectively, aren't scaring a lot of National League pitchers.

The Giants managed to create a quality scoring opportunity off Dodgers starter Brad Penny in the third, putting runners on first and third with one out. Invariably, Castillo grounded into an inning-ending double play, and the game was effectively over.

We knew the talent was poor, but if the Giants can't create any breaks for themselves, the 2008 season may be even longer than we originally thought.

The record for fewest single-season records scored by a team is 590 runs, which was set by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1915. Check out Baseball Almanac's work in compiling this list.

Rain Wreaks Havoc on East Coast Games
The third, and the real, opening day got off to a rough start when rain was cause for postponements in New York and St. Louis and for multiple delays in the Cubs-Brewers' contest in Chicago, according to various Associated Press reports.

The final Yankees opener in venerable Yankee Stadium never had much hope, as heavy rains drenched the field early and lasted nearly an hour and a half beyond the scheduled 1:05 p.m. start, the New York Times reported. According to the Denver Post, the Rockies and Cardinals began playing, but an hour and 39 minute rain delay washed it out in the third inning with the Cardinals ahead 5-1.

At Wrigley Field, there were 90 total minutes of delay between pregame and third-inning stoppages. The Brewers won the game 4-3 in 10 after both teams' closers, Chicago's Kerry Wood and Milwaukee's Eric Gagne, allowed three runs - the first scoring by either team - in the ninth inning. After blowing the save, Gagne vultured the win after Craig Counsell scored on a Tony Gwynn Jr. sacrifice fly.

Nationals Win Second Straight
The Washington Nationals again found some ninth inning magic versus a National League East foe, plating five in the final frame to break a 6-6 tie and beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-6. Four Nationals hit RBI doubles to break the game open, sealing Washington's second straight win at its new stadium, Nationals Park.

Lastings Milledge hit a 2-run homer in the sixth, scored the winning run in the ninth on a Nick Johnson double, and finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. For Johnson, who won the starting first base job over 2007 All-Star and Comeback Player of the Year Dmitri Young, the two-bagger was his second of the day and third of 2008.

Braves Bullpen Looks to Be Trouble
As much darkhorse talk as the Atlanta Braves are earning as a sleeper to win the National League East, they've looked to be in trouble. The Braves fell to 0-2 on Monday after losing to the Pirates 11-10 on their home field. Atlanta's previous loss was to the Nationals, on a walk-off home run, by Washington's Ryan Zimmerman.

It's early yet, but the Braves' bullpen ERA inflated to 10.39 (10 ER in 8.2 IP) in losing to a couple of the NL's cellar dwellers. Closer Rafael Soriano extended the game versus Pittsburgh into the 11th with a scoreless inning of work, his first of the season. He hasn't been the problem some were hyping him to be. It's everyone else.

Leading up to Soriano, four Braves relievers allowed runs and turned a 4-2 lead in the fifth into an 8-4 deficit entering the ninth.

Pirates right fielder Xavier Nady hit a three-run homer off Blaine Boyer in the top of the 12th. It held up as the game-winner when the Braves scored two in the bottom half of the inning, then left runners on first and second to end the game.