Reactions to Thursday's game, anticipation for today's

Yesterday marked the first live Rockies game of the spring of 2014. Yes indeed, everyone is done reporting and the hot stove has finally cooled off; it's time to actually play ball.

In a game with few expected regulars but many intriguing prospects, the Colorado Rockies took on the Colorado Rockies at beautiful Salt River Fields. There wasn't any television or radio, so all accounts of the game are based on reports from sportswriter's tweets and stories, but it sounded like a relatively laid back affair. It seems like players are just readying themselves for game speed.

This was the lineup:

The most interesting names on that card are probably "Gray" and "Butler". They're the top two pitching prospects in the Rockies system and have been getting rave reviews in camp. If I had a nickel for every time someone said a variant of, "the ball sounds different when their pitches hit the glove" then I could probably buy, like some gum or something. But that still takes a handful of nickels.

For a recap of most of the notable events, look here. Jon Gray worked out of traffic, Eddie Butler looked sharp, there were back-to-back homers, and a scary moment when a come-backer clipped Jason Aquino. The game ended after six innings, in a 4-4 tie. If a tie is like kissing your sister, is a tie against yourself like kissing your identical twin sister? Next season on Game of Thrones...

But yesterday was just an appetizer; today we're getting the main course. At 1:10 MT the Rockies are squaring off against division rival Arizona in their first official Spring Training game. Below is the lineup:

#Rockies Cactus League opener 2/28 at ARI: LeMahieu 2B Cuddy RF CarGo LF Tulo SS Rosario C Morneau 1B Arenado 3B Barnes CF Morales LHP

— Rockies (@RockiesPR) February 28, 2014

That could very well be the Opening Day starting nine (though substitute Barnes with Stubbs, who is out with an illness). It's interesting that DJ LeMahieu is leading off; Walt, this is really not a good idea. Presumably Stubbs will be in that spot normally. Either way, it's concerning.

But it seems silly to nitpick right now, because baseball! The game won't be broadcast on TV, but our excellent radio guys, Jack Corrigan and Jerry Schemmel will be calling the action on KOA. That's music to my ears. We may still be in the grip of winter, but the sounds of summer will be coming out of my radio today.