Cameron Maybin lost some lumber to a learning experience. On the
fourth pitch of his 2012 season, the Padres’ center fielder
fractured his bat trying to launch from the leadoff spot.  “It
was a hitter’s count and I went too big,” Maybin said following
the Dodgers’ 5-3 Opening Day victory at Petco Park. “It was the
first inning and I was hoping to set the tone.”  Let the record
show that Clayton Kershaw’s 2-and-1 fastball splintered Maybin’s
bat and produced a meek grounder to shortstop, and also that
this could have happened to anyone. Though Kershaw was afflicted
by a stomach virus Thursday afternoon, the National League’s
defending Cy Young Award winner made it through eight batters
before the Padres produced a baserunner.  Let the record show,
too, that Cameron Maybin was not yet a finished product on the
day after his 25th birthday; that he’s still evolving as a big-
league ballplayer, still prone to surprising errors, and still
adapting to an offensive role that has been thrust upon him
largely by default