Gardner homers, A-Rod booed

Brett Gardner led off this afternoon's exhibition opener with a home run off lefty Brett Cecil.

Alex Rodriguez, on the other hand, was booed. Pete Caldera said the reaction was 50-50, while Peter Abraham said he was booed "loudly."

Brett Tomko retired the side in order in the bottom of the first. Abraham said he has a chance to make the team as a long reliever. We'll see.

All very fascinating, but at least they're on the field playing baseball now.

I have a paper to write, so you can follow the game here. Also, apparently Melky Cabrera switched numbers. He will wear No. 53, while Tomko is now wearing Cabrera's old No. 28.

And once again, I laugh at anyone who ever bought the "Got Melky?" T-shirts.