Braves start with a bang to rout Marlins 12-2

Nice two-game start for the Bravos. Historically they've had games where they pound the other team but follow by losing some one-run games the same week. With the rebuilding in process there's really no telling what they'll do next and that adds some mystery and excitement. Just what kind of team are they and when will they find this year's identity? I do think they have reason to over-achieve like the 1991 Braves did. LA was the team to beat that year and the Braves ended up getting a premature start to their run of greatness. 160 more to go and many things can happen, but I will take two wins on the road to start the year any time. Also, thanks for running this story JT!

Isn't Ichiro with Marlins this year? He is not playing?

That's right, he is. I had to go check. Ichiro isn't starting. They'll be using him as a bench player looks like. He checked in as a pinch-hitter in the 7th inning of the second game and grounded out to short. I hope he gets some ABs this year. I'd love to see him wind up his MLB career with 3,000 hits.

SI is back with his familiar 51 jersey (nifty alpha/numeric code, right?), which he didn't get to wear with the Yankees. He had a sweet bunt single in the game today that the Atlanta pitcher didn't even risk trying to throw him out at first. Ichiro must have a little left in the tank to be racking up the hits at age 41. But as the previous person said, he needs to get hundreds of ABs or it will take years to reach 3,000. I'd like to see him go back and do it with the Mariners. At least the Ichimeter woman would give him a big ovation, and probably lots of other long time fans. Kind of like Torii Hunter going back to retire as a Minnesota Twin this season.

Even though I'm a Braves fan, I would have loved to have seen Ichiro get that hit. Nice to hear he still has wheels at 41. I was hoping I'd finally get to see him in action now that he's in the NL, but no trips planned back this summer and he may be playing somewhere else by the time I get to another game in person. Guys like him are special and it's a privilege to watch them play. I never got to see Ken Griffey, Jr. play, either, and that's a big regret. The idea of Ichiro getting to 3K and retiring as a Mariner has a lot of appeal, too.