Finally, the season is here! Following a season-opening snow-out, the Brewers travel to Toronto to get their first taste of regular season baseball during the 1982 season.
Match-ups
April 9 at 2:30 pm: Pete Vuckovich (14-4, 3,55 ERA) vs. Mark Bomback (5-5, 3.89 ERA)
April 10 at 12:30 pm: Mike Caldwell (11-9, 3.93 ERA) vs. Dave Stieb (11-10, 3.19 ERA)
April 11 at 12:30 pm: Moose Haas (11-7, 4.46 ERA) vs. Jim Clancy (6-12, 4.90 ERA)
1981 Records
Milwaukee Brewers: 62-47 (1st in AL East)
Toronto Blue Jays: 37-69 (7th in AL East)
We’ve waited three extra days, but Opening Day is finally here. Like Brewers fans, Blue Jays fans have waited an extra series due to winter weather postponements before finally getting under way.
Let’s do this.
On paper, this shouldn’t be a contest. The Brewers had the highest winning percentage (.569) of any American League East team in 1981. The Blue Jays, at 37-69, were the worst. Not only in the AL East, but in all of baseball.
But anything can happen on Opening Day. While, on paper, the Brewers are a much better team based on last season’s results, last year is last year. Both teams are 0-0.
If you want to keep an open mind, pitching is the one area where this match-up may be close to even. The Brewers were not a good pitching team last season, other than the AL MVP and Cy Young award winning Rollie Fingers. Offense ruled the day. But it’s offense where they are hobbled.
While the Brewers should have enough fire power to win this series, they aren’t at full strength. Ted Simmons is out for the series with a calf injury, and Charlie Moore should get at least two of the three starts. Star shortstop Robin Yount may play, but he’s limited by a hamstring injury.
So might the Blue Jays get an advantage from their sparse crowds in Toronto? Unlikely. But this match-up may be closer than we’d like. And nothing that happened last year matters.
Play ball!