>> Technically “opening night” was last night, but today’s full schedule marks the opening of the 2005 MLB baseball season. Washington D.C.’s own Nationals open their season at 3:05 p.m. in Philadelphia against the Phillies, the first of nine straight road games the Nats have to open the season (thanks MLB!).

Yesterday marked the Nats final pre-season game, and the first at their new home at RFK Stadium. The home team sprinted to a quick 3-0 lead, courtesy of a three run dinger from Mark Church, but lost to the Mets 4-3. However, the final score was of little import to a city that has been without the national past time for so long. Besides, we here at DCist thought the off the field stories were much more interesting. Like how the stadium still wasn’t fully prepared for yesterdays home game (the electronic scoreboard hasn’t been installed and there were no functioning ATM’s inside the stadium) or how most of the players don’t even have a place to live yet. But according to team sources, everything is on track for the April 13 home opener when President Bush will throw out the first pitch.