I am enthused and excited to be named the honorary starter. Waving the green flag is like swinging a bat; it's all in the wrists.

Finley's been swinging the bat a lot better, ... It's good to see him chip in.

I might not have done it had he been really swinging the bat well, but sometimes you need a mental break when you're having a tough stretch. Most of his days off will come on day games, but he will play on long stretches when he will be rolling good and won't get as many days off.

Everybody was a little worried at first with the whole guys not swinging the bat, but you know what, there's a different light switch on opening day and this group showed up to play. It's a lineup that doesn't run well, but we can hit the baseball.

It's a combination of things. Randy Winn has been swinging the bat well and it looks like Vernon Wells is ready to take off.

He's swinging the bat now, no question. He's starting to sting the ball.