Shire Conference Opening Matchups
Well, here we are, finally — the preseason injuries catalogued, the rosters reshuffled, the predictions all made and already half-wrong, and now, blessedly, the actual baseball begins. The Shire Conference opens with a handful of matchups that have been circling on the calendar for months, and the one drawing the most eyes early is Bucklebury at Mirkwood, where the Fairies, bless them, visit a Sylvan side that has spent all spring trying not to look at the hole left by Csharynn Nhaéslal, now confirmed out for the season with that strained Achilles. Mind you, the Elf Division felt wide open before a single pitch was thrown, and nothing in the injury reports has narrowed it.
Over in the Hobbit Division, I'll say this much: I predicted Bywater would be in second-breakfast form by mid-April, which means any slip here is going on my permanent record. The Bounders' preseason trade spree, covered at some length in these pages, has rebuilt the roster from the outside in — and today we find out whether that construction holds.
Mordor Conference Openers
The Misty Mountain Hops open without Seredic Black, whose elbow situation remains troubling, and without an easy answer in the bullpen. The Orc Division has no sympathy for such problems. Meanwhile, Dunharrow features Misagenes "Snooks" Foebinder, who arrives at Opening Day one stolen base shy of career number 200 — a nice way to sharpen the focus heading into the first game.
Questions on the Field
Gildor "Exile" *Inglorion of Rivendell needs just two more wins to pass Galugol Eliolas for second all-time. That race begins today. And here's the thing: the calendar is only just turning, which means whatever happens next has months of consequences still attached to it. Play ball.