Scott Carson

Stats man Scott Carson is now in his 18th season as "third man in the booth" during Blue Jays telecasts.

Vernon Wells had a big Opening Day at the plate.

The Blue Jays suffered a tough loss on Opening Day, but the news wasn't all bad.

I was going to write immediately following the Blue Jays walk-off loss to the Texas Rangers on Opening Day, but I thought it might be best to wait and let the emotions calm a little bit.

Yes, the old statsman doesn’t enjoy any losses from my place in the broadcast booth, especially ones where defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory.

But after watching a thoroughly enjoyable NCAA men’s basketball championship with the rest of our travelling road crew followed by an excellent sleep with a belly full of chicken, things didn’t seem so bad upon further review.

Quite frankly, the positives far outweighed the negatives in game one of 162.

First and foremost, what a marvellous outing by Shaun Marcum, making his first career Opening Day start and his first Major League appearance in 566 days, with Tommy John surgery having cost him the entire 2009 season. He wasn’t in trouble the whole outing, using a spectacular change-up for six strikeouts and he didn’t give up a hit until Vladimir Guerrero’s single with one out in the 7th.

His only blemish was an off-balance, one-handed swing by Nelson Cruz where the ball got up into the jet stream that flies out to right-centre. The three-run home run basically ended Marcum’s day, but the line was better than even the most ardent Blue Jays’ supporters could have hoped for: 7 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K on 92 pitches. The first Jays’ pitcher not named Roy Halladay to start on Opening Day since 2002 put in a Halladay-like performance. And now the bar has been set for the rest of the rotation during this first week of the season.

Other highlights? Certainly Adam Lind, two days removed from signing a contract extension, going 3-for-3 with a home run. Not quite the 4-for-5 with a home run and six RBI from a year ago, but good enough to make all believe that his breakout 2009 season was not a fluke. Vernon Wells, finally healthy, went 3-for-4, with a home run and three RBI. In my mind, his most impressive at-bat was the bases-loaded single in the top of the 8th after the Rangers had tied the game in the previous half inning.

Last season, or perhaps a couple of seasons before that, Wells would likely have failed in that pressure situation, leaving his growing number of detractors to mutter "here we go again." But not Monday and his performance bodes well for a bounce-back season, something that is essential if the Jays are to be able to compete on a daily basis.

The negatives? Only two in my mind. Lyle Overbay failed to tack on an extra run or two by striking out with the bases still loaded after Wells’ had just put the team ahead 4-3. Many of you commented on various web sites and blogs that Cito Gaston should have pinch-hit for Overbay with the lethal right-handed bat of Randy Ruiz, after Rangers’ manager Ron Washington set up a lefty-lefty matchup by bringing in Darren Oliver from the bullpen. I thought about that as well, but we all know Cito does not pinch-hit for his veterans.

It’s been going on for the 12 seasons that Cito has been running the Jays and it’s not likely to change in this, his final season in the dugout. It doesn’t mean you have to agree with it, but you certainly shouldn’t be surprised. And then, ultimately, Jason Frasor blew his first official save opportunity when he couldn’t navigate through the middle of the formidable Rangers batting order to close the game out. Frasor came into the game with a 10.13 career ERA in nine previous appearances in Arlington and walked off with that number having risen to 11.88.

So there you have it. And judging by the volume of questions on Tuesday afternoon’s live chat, the majority of you liked what you saw on Monday, save for the bottom of the ninth. And while many believe that the Jays will be hard pressed not to lose 100 games, I certainly don’t share that sentiment. This team, while not close to contending, has impressive enough parts to stay away from the century mark in defeats.

At least better days lay ahead for a team that had seemingly lost its’ way over the past eight seasons.