2 p.m. -- Yeah, still a while 'til game time. I'm probably going to update this by half-inning, rather by time, because it's easier that way.

Pregame
I started reading a Phillies book over the weekend called The Fall of the 1977 Phillies: How a Baseball Team's Collapse Sank a City's Spirit about how much Philadelphians hate the Phillies; it also mentions how the Phillies were partly responsible for Philly's attitude as a racist city. It examines baseball in Philadelphia alongside 1977's crushing 6-5 loss to the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS, aka Black Friday.

So, yes, a whole book essentially about the history of hating the Phillies. Totally awesome.

Exactly 3:00 p.m.
There is a Barack Obama ad on during my Phillies game.

3:03 p.m.
The Phillies just ran a nice promo package that somehow inexplicably ended with a bunch of baseball players lined up in starting blocks at Citizens Bank Park. Some guy then said, "Major league baseball teams, take your marks" and fired off a starter's pistol.

The Phillies play the Washington Nationals today, who for some reason opened their season last night at the new stadium in a one-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Ryan Zimmerman hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to win it.

Mid first
And baseball season has begun! Brett Myers left a breaking ball out over the plate to Lastings Milledge, but Pat Burrell made a nice running catch in front of the track. 1-2-3 inning and the Phillies are coming to bat.

Top second
Jimmy Rollins opens the bottom of the first with a double, gets bunted over by Shane Victorino and scores on a Chase Utley sac fly. He's on pace for several hundred RBI, and the Phillies end the inning up, 1-0. Good start!

Mid second
That was a befuddling half-inning. Myers gave up a double to Nick Johnson, then hit Paul Lo Duca and walked Willie Harris before getting the pitcher (Matt Chico) to strike out to end the inning. But the strangest comment came from sideline/stands reporter Tom McCarthy, who said that Jayson Werth was making his first major league start.

Bottom second
Ahh, this is a good start for newcomer Pedro Feliz. After a Pat Burrell walk -- zOMG Pat the Bat and his constant getting on base -- Feliz gets a pitch almost as bad as the one Myers threw Lastings Milledge and hits it straight back. A pitch later, he grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

Bottom third
Ryan Howard's fan club, Howard's Homers, is here, yet its members do not have their Homer Simpson masks when they're on.

Mid fourth
Pedro Feliz just threw out Ronnie Belliard on a nice play; despite my plan to rag on Feliz' low on-base percentage all season, I have heard he's slick with the glove. Meanwhile, Michael Nutter threw out the first pitch with his jersey tucked in.

Bottom fourth
The Phillies open the bottom of the fourth with three straight singles; Chase Utley scores on Pat Burrell's hit to make it 2-0. By the way, if you haven't seen President Bush being booed at the Nationals game last night, you need to. (Bush is also a fantastic pitcher when he delivers the first pitch, honestly.)

I remind you it was Philadelphia fans who booed and chanted "We want beer!" at the President Bush of the 1930s, Herbert Hoover, at a World Series game during Prohibition.

Top fifth
Hey, a military guy parachuted into Citizens Bank Park today; Tom McCarthy says when the fans found out there were no more parachutists after him, they booed. Myers has gotten into a bit of a jam, giving up two hits up the middle and hitting Milledge. Uh-oh.

Mid fifth
Crap. Myers gives up a sac fly and a 2-RBI double to give the Nationals the lead. A really sloppy Jimmy Rollins bobbles the easy third out of the inning and another run scores. 4-2, Nationals, after Ronnie Belliard pops up, and even the on-screen scoreboard is messed up.

Top sixth
Phillies go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth.

I hate the Phillies.

Mid sixth
Lastings Milledge hit the first homer of the season at Citizens Bank Park, a 2-run shot that made it 6-2 Nationals. The Phillies should probably just pack it in and try to get a good draft pick this season.

Bottom sixth
Chase Utley hit a solo homer. Also, the first "Phillies players trying to be funny" ad has aired. It features Charlie Manuel cursing and stubbing his toe. Goosebumps!

Top seventh
Harry Kalas is back announcing, ending the joy that is a Tom McCarthy/Chris Wheeler sixth inning booth pairing. Chad Durbin is now pitching. I already forget why I was excited for baseball season.

Bottom seventh
And the Phillies ever so slowly begin coming back! Jayson Werth starts 0-2 and works a walk, and scores on a Carlos Ruiz double. It's now 6-4 and the Nationals are bringing in noted fat reliever Ray King.

Bottom seventh, still
Tie game! Jimmy Rollins hits a two-run homer to left center to send Harry the K and the crowd into convulsions. Ridiculous. Now don't screw up again, Jimmy!

Mid eighth
J.C. Romero shuts down the Nationals in the top of the eighth; it's still 6-all with Ryan Howard coming up for the Phillies in the bottom half of the inning.

Top ninth
Tom Gordon is in and gives up an infield single to start the inning. Once again, I realized I should have been better prepared for this.

Top ninth, still
The relay throw from Jimmy Rollins is just a bit too far offline. It's 7-6, Washington, and there's a guy on third. 0-162!

Top ninth, still
Let the boos begin. Tom Gordon implodes, giving up three more runs to make it four runs in just a third of an inning. 10-6.

Mid ninth
Dimitri Young added an RBI double for good measure. 11-6, Nationals. Gordon's ERA is now 135.00.

Bottom ninth
Ballgame. 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth, and the Phils ended up getting smoked on Opening Day. They always do, it seems like.