Whatever your sport of choice, the first game of a season is special. Tonight the Blaze open their season, and the Texas Rangers  have placed several top prospects here, many who figure to eventually make it to the major leagues.

It's unfortunate that a prehistoric stadium and no real promotions of note keep the crowd numbers down. But the California League has alumni joining the majors every year. The Jam has former NBA players on its roster, and ex-NBA players come to town. But the majority of those players would be considered the fringe-level players.

The Cal League has up-and-coming players, players who will eventually be stars in the major leagues. The Blaze has a center fielder, Julio Borbon, who was a supplemental first-round pick last year who is already on the Texas Rangers' 40-man roster (no doubt from his agent's efforts when Borbon signed with the club). Tonight's starting pitcher Tommy Hunter was also a supplemental first-round pick, as was Beau Jones, another starter who was picked by and signed with Atlanta and was traded to the Rangers' organization last summer. Kasey Kiker, a 2006 first-round pick, will be assigned to the Blaze when he shakes off a sore shoulder.

Supplemental draft picks are awarded to teams that have lost free agents to other teams. Hunter, for instance, was a pick given to Texas after the Rangers lost infielder Mark DeRosa to free agency. DeRosa is now with the Cubs.

Speaking of Opening Day, I was at the Dodgers-Giants opener at Chavez Ravine on Monday. The Dodgers did a good job celebrating the team's 50th anniversary of the move to L.A. by bringing back many old-timers. The final player introduced was Sandy Koufax. Too bad Mike Piazza wasn't there. He was such an impact player with the Dodgers before his trade to Florida.

Enjoy the season.