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CNN Live Today

Major League Baseball Begins Today

Aired April 01, 2002 - 14:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The boys of summer are playing ball! Ten games are on the schedule for today's official opening of the 2002 major league baseball season. CNN national correspondent, Gary Tuchman, doing tough duty at Turner Field in Atlanta, where the Braves are hosting Philly. Hey, Gary.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, they say spring officially began on March 20. But all true baseball fans know it really began today. April 1, particularly here in Atlanta, because there are 10 games around the United States today, one of them being Atlanta. Spring began in Anaheim, California last night, because the first game of the season, against Cleveland, started last night. And then four more games will have spring beginning tomorrow.

But it is the beginning of the baseball season. We come to you from the concourse of Turner Field in Atlanta. We can't actually show you the game going on right now, per our agreement with major league baseball. We can tell you, though, that at the bottom of 6th inning, the Braves are leading the Phillies by a score of 7-0.

But while we talk about baseball and the enthusiasm about baseball taking place, we can tell you there's still no collective bargaining agreement. You've heard that before. In 1994 the World Series was canceled. There have been eight labor stoppages since 1972. The owners pledge they won't lock out the players this year. But inherently, inside that claim, they might be saying that when the season is over, they'll lock out the players.

Meanwhile, the players are saying there's a possibility they might go on strike. So will they finish the season? At this point, we don't know. But we know there's a lot of enthusiasm all over the United States and Canada -- Toronto and Montreal have teams -- for the beginning of the baseball season. The lines are long. People are buying their hot dogs. Here people are buying their beers.

Let's listen to this guy, one of the sights and sounds of baseball.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Budweiser!

TUCHMAN: This isn't going to be a commercial, but this gives you an idea of the loudest guy at Turner Field, this guy drinking the Budweiser. By the way, how much are the Budweisers?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're only $7, sir.

TUCHMAN: Only $7. You used to be able to buy a brewery for $7. One of the guys able to buy a brewery right now here is Gary Sheffield, new (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Atlanta Braves this year. His first game today, he hits a home run for the Braves. We asked him a short time ago, before the game started, how he felt about opening day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY SHEFFIELD, ATLANTA BRAVES: You always have jitters. Opening day is always a special moment. This lets you know the season is going, the blood is flowing. And you just want to get that first fly ball out of the way and that first hit, you know, all those things -- first home run. Once you get all that out of the way, it's just smooth sailing after that.

TUCHMAN: Are you a little nervous?

SHEFFIELD: Always. You know that's a good sign.

TUCHMAN: I think a lot of fans out there are saying, you know, these players just think it's a business, they get paid a lot, they don't care. But do you care a heck of a lot, don't you?

SHEFFIELD: Yes. You have pride in anything you do. You want to go out here and try to perfect this game. But you know, sometimes this game can humble you. But you go out here and that's what makes it so special. You go out here and you work hard, and good things happen. And then you know the hard work paid off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: Some great story lines in baseball this year. Can the Diamondbacks repeat as World Series champions? Can the Yankees come back after a heartbreaking loss and win another World Series? Can Barry Bonds hit more than 73 homers? He set the all-time one-year record last year. And can Sammy Sosa come close again? He's the only player ever to hit more than 60 homers in a season for three times.

A lot of stories. Hopefully they'll all be able to be played out. Carol, back to you.

LIN: Let's keep them on the field. Don't let them go on strike, Gary. Enjoy the game today.

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