The Gwynn Opener

Most Padres fans are aware of what Avenging Jack Murphy dubbed the "Gwynn Opener". Tony Gwynn has made it clear that he loves the 2nd game because anyone will show up to the Opener but the "real fans" are the ones who show up the next day.

The day after the Padres' home opener typically was Tony Gwynn's favorite day of the baseball year, so it was only appropriate that Mr. Padre walked into Petco Park on Wednesday afternoon, smile on face one day after San Diego sold out and won its home opener.

"This is my day, yeah, ha, ha, ha," Gwynn said. "You find out who's who. Sellout crowd yesterday, so we'll find out today who the real fans are."

Usually this is a true statement. Home Openers often fall during the work week on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays and are always sellouts. People take off work for this and make a whole day out of it. Game 2, on the other hand, usually posts dismal attendance figures as per the norm for mid-week games. There is no pomp and circumstance for that game, if you are going, it's for the game itself. This year though it just so happens that the Opener falls on a Thursday followed by the 2nd game on a Friday, oh did I mention the Opening Series is also against the Dodgers? I don't think the Padres will have any problems selling out the whole opening series this year.

With that said, I call for the Tuesday April 10th game against the Arizona Diamondbacks to be the Gwynn Opener this season. Of course show up to Petco Park for the entire Dodger series and chant "BEAT LA" until your head explodes and sport the Blue & White Brown & Mustard all series long. Because remember....you don't want to look like a dirty Dodger fan do you? But also come to the game on the 10th and be a "real fan" with me.