Plenty of intrigue surrounds opening day

Barry Bonds will be back in San Francisco’s opening-day outfield, President Bush will take the mound in Cincinnati and Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins will try to extend his 36-game hitting streak as the major league season swings into full action today.

A little more than five months after winning their first World Series title since 1917, the Chicago White Sox began the major league season at home Sunday night against Cleveland.

But baseball openers are supposed to be played on sunny spring afternoons, so for many fans, today is the day to celebrate. There will be 13 openers, starting with Washington’s game at the New York Mets and ending with the New York Yankees’ West Coast night game at Oakland.

Rollins tries to keep his streak alive when the Phillies open up at home against St. Louis, and Seattle’s Kenji Johjima will become the first Japanese catcher in the majors when the Mariners play the visiting Los Angeles Angels.

Red, white and blue bunting will be out, hot dogs will be grilled and beers passed around the stands.

“The grass seems greener, the colors are brighter,” Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

After another winter dominated by steroids and 6 1/2 weeks of spring training punctuated by the first World Baseball Classic, baseball returns for another long season of 162 games over 183 days. It’s the first year of testing for amphetamines, so players may be downing extra coffee to perk up.

No extra adrenaline is needed for the openers, however.

After missing most of last season with an injured knee, Bonds enters this year with 708 homers and trails only Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) on the career list. He resumes the chase at San Diego against Jake Peavy, who gave up Bonds’ 700th homer on Sept. 17, 2004.

“I’m going to get him out, and he’s going get his hits and hit homers off me, if you pitch to him long enough,” said Peavy, who led the NL with 216 strikeouts last season. “It’s different for those guys who are in the east and come out here and face him once a year. I have to face him five, six times a year. I’m going to challenge him and try to get him out.”

In Cincinnati, baseball’s first professional franchise will have a sitting president throw a ceremonial pitch to start the season for the first time. Bush plans to visit the clubhouses, then take the field before the Reds play the Cubs.

Marlins’ moving talk ‘serious’

Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said discussions with San Antonio officials about the possibility of relocating the team are serious.

San Antonio has been trying to lure the team and county officials have offered to put up $200 million toward an estimated $300 million ballpark if voters approve extending a tax on hotel and car rentals.

The Marlins slashed their payroll to about $15 million in the offseason because of poor attendance and no progress in Loria’s bid for a baseball-specific stadium. Florida plays at Dolphins Stadium, home of Miami’s NFL team.

“We’re still looking at all our options, but our talks in San Antonio are serious,” Loria said in Houston before addressing his team.

Loria said several officials from San Antonio would join him today, when the Marlins open the season against the Astros.

Clearing the bases

Milwaukee signed closer Derrick Turnbow to a $6.5 million, three-year contract, replacing the $488,000, one-year deal he signed in February. … Colorado placed right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim and catcher Yorvit Torrealba on the 15-day disabled list and designated pitchers Jaime Cerda and Mike Esposito for assignment. … San Francisco starter Noah Lowry signed a four-year deal that guarantees at least $9.25 million.