'Dad' and Thom share the call

John Kiesewetter reports:

Today I've got the job many of you would want: Being paid to listen to Opening Day. I was a bit surprised that Marty didn't say more about doing his first Opening Day game with his son, Thom, before the game began. It certainly wasn't as emotional or long as his comments for the the spring training opening March 1. Maybe its because they've been working together for a month. Marty spent more time talking about the gorgeous weather than about Thom as his partner.

Marty said he was thrilled to be working with Joe Nuxhall again (the Old Lefthander will do the 6th and 7th innings today). And then he said, "I'm equally thrilled to have my only son, Thom, sitting next to me." That was about it.

Thom, who did Opening Day for Channel 5 in 1989 (with Johnny Bench), then chimed in: "I've been gone so long I almost forgot how big Opening Day was here."

Then they quickly began talking baseball -- about Aaron Harang, the team improving its defense, the Cubs off-season spending spree, etc. Their timing was unnoticeable, meaning that unlike the March 1 game, they didn't step on each other's comments. (That's what they worked on in spring training, Thom told me.) Thom had never done color commentary; he had always done play-by-play. But he's been insightful this spring. He's a natural, having learned from the master (his dad).

Thom called Marty "Dad," as he's done all spring. I'm getting used to it. Although I noted last weekend, Thom opened the an inning by introducing his father by saying, "Here's Marty."