As the U.S. portion of the major league schedule got under way Sunday night, President Bush said he thought December's Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball "was part of the cleansing process."

"I'm happy with the recognition that it was a problem," Bush said Sunday night during the ESPN broadcast after throwing the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park. "I certainly hope the players continue to work to clean up the sport."

A day ahead of most other teams, the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Ryan Zimmerman's ninth-inning homer off Peter Moylan. They opened their new ballpark with a little help from the former Texas Rangers owner, who expressed worry that performance-enhancing drugs will be developed that escape detection.

Wearing a bright red team jacket, Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch — high and a tad to the third-base side of the plate — to Nationals manager Manny Acta before Washington inaugurated its stadium against Atlanta before a sellout crowd of 39,389 paid.

"I didn't want to bounce it, that's for certain. That's why I came in with high heat," Bush said on the TV broadcast.

There was a mixture of boos and cheers for Bush. Those in the upper deck of the $611 million ballpark could see the Capitol and the Washington Monument. The cherry blossoms planted beyond the left-field bleachers weren't yet in bloom.

While the World Series champion Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics started the season by splitting a two-game series last week in Tokyo, it won't feel like opening day in most places until Monday, when 26 of the 30 clubs get under way.

There will be the traditional opening in Cincinnati, where the Reds host Arizona. The Chicago Cubs, who haven't won the World Series in exactly a century, host Milwaukee at Wrigley Field — where fans are worried new owner Sam Zell will sell naming rights for the beloved ballpark to some corporate sponsor before unloading the team.

Joe Torre will manage the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time, and Joe Girardi will manage his first game as Torre's replacement with the Yankees — who host opening day at Yankee Stadium for the final time.

"It'll probably be emotional," New York captain Derek Jeter said. "I really don't know what to expect. I'm sure you'll take a look around and try to remember as many things as you can. It's going to be a special year."

In Chicago, Cubs manager Lou Piniella wore a ski hat over his baseball cap at Sunday's Wrigley workout. It was 40 degrees, not at all like the weather at their spring-training camp in Mesa, Ariz.

"It is cold," new right fielder Kosuke Fukudome said.

In New York, the Yankees will try to get off to a fast start in hopes of World Series title No. 27. The big ballpark in the Bronx opened in 1923, and the new stadium rising across 161st St. won't seem the same.

"We're hoping to try to rock the house here one more season before we get there — or somebody's going to rock my house," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said with a laugh.

Torre will be at Dodger Stadium managing Los Angeles in its opener against San Francisco — which is without Barry Bonds on its roster for the first time since 1992. The 67-year-old Torre managed the Yankees to 12 straight postseason appearances including four World Series championships.

"I'll be excited. When I stop getting excited, I should be doing something else," Torre said. "It never gets old."

In Minneapolis, Torii Hunter plans to wake up early on opening day and head to his favorite pancake place for breakfast, just as he's often done before so many games at the Metrodome.

"I'm going to do all of the other things that I used to do before I go to the stadium, but once I get to that stadium and put on that Angels uniform," Hunter said, "I'm the enemy."

The seven-time Gold Glove center fielder left the Twins to sign a $90 million, five-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels.