Opening Day 2009

■ I've barely been awake long enough to get my eyes open and drag myself to the computer, and already the first Division I game of the season is in the books. Flordia Gulf Coast beat Central Michigan 4-3 in a game that started 1 minute after midnight this morning. The game ended at 3:13 AM.

■ Listening to the game: All MU Baseball games will be broadcast over the air on KTGR AM1580, or by streaming audio FREE online at either KTGR.com or MUTigers.com

For a different perspective, the Nevada Wolf Pack website has free streaming audio of their broadcast.

■ Weather.com's 10-day forecast for Phoenix and Tempe, AZ shows perfect baseball weather: Highs ranging from 75 to 86, lows 45 to 60, and zero chance of precipitation except for 10% on Thursday

■ InsideMizzou.com has an audio interview with MU sophomore Nick Tepesch:

Q: What do you all hope to accomplish during this trip?
A: Nine wins.

■ The Columbia Missourian's Andrew Dewitt reports that Tigers baseball preps for season-starting road trip:

This summer, Gibson played for Team USA's collegiate program. Gibson went 5-0 for the United States at the FISU World Championships, including winning pitcher honors in the Gold Medal game.

"The thing that I brought back is that fastball command is going to beat anyone," Gibson said. "If you're able to locate your fastball, nobody can really hit it, if you put it where you want and in the right spot."

■ MUTigers.com, as they will for every series, has a preview of the opening weekend for the Tigers. The initial edition of the PDF Game Notes is now up. Some tidbits from the Game Notes:

· The Tigers' first win of 2009 will tie Tim Jamieson in all-time wins with none other than the legendary John "Hi" Simmons

· 74.9% of MU's 2008 RBIs were produced by players who have returned as a part of the 2009 squad. 65.9% of the 2008 innings pitched were by 2009 returnees.

■ The Nevada Appeal has a preview of the Nevada Wolf Pack's opening weekend in Arizona:

Chris Garcia (2-5, 7.49), a junior, will start on Friday night against Missouri followed by junior college transfer Tyler Rogstad, from Edmonds (Wash.) Community College, on Saturday against Gonzaga and Brock Stasis (4-2, 4.85 in 2008) on Sunday against Missouri.

“The one area up in the air right now, and it’s always up in the air at this time of year, is the pitching staff,” Powers said. “Everybody needs to settle into their roles.”

■ The Kansas City Star says "Ping!" Big 12 Baseball opens today:

Metal bats will ping throughout the country today as Division I college baseball
begins its 13-week regular season. If Big 12 coaches are to be believed, Missouri will be one of eight teams to qualify for the conference tournament. Kansas State and Kansas will not.

■ The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, as expected, is apparently unaware the college baseball season begins today.

■ The College Baseball Blog has a Big 12 Opening Weekend Series Preview - more of a quick summary of who plays who.

■ If you're interested in seeing a full schedule of Division I matchups on opening day, check out D1Baseball.com. This website has all the raw data and info a college baseball fan could want. Click on today's date on the calendar for the complete schedule.