Few events brings out big opinions like the first game of a season. And in most cases — particularly the 162-game marathon that is the MLB season — those big opinions need to be put on a shelf for 6-8 weeks until we have gathered a reasonable sample size from which to draw meaningful conclusions.
Would you draw a hard conclusion about the Vikings after one drive of the first game (a comparable portion of that league's season)?
Wait, don't answer that.
What I really want to get at, and what I talked about on the Daily Delivery podcast Friday, is this: There are reactions to be had from the way Thursday's 6-5, 10-inning loss to Milwaukee unfolded. But let's differentiate them from overreactions.
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For instance: It was unfortunate that Andrelton Simmons made a key error on a routine play on Thursday, but that's not indicative of the type of player he is. We can expect based on history that he will be a superior shortstop over the course of the season and save far more runs than he allows with his glove.
And while it was a good sign not only that Byron Buxton hit a long home run but also drew two walks — after having just two walks all last season — we shouldn't get carried away about that positive development in just one game.
But there were a couple question marks heading into the season that flared up undeniably in the first game.