my predictions as follows
al east- red sox
central- chisox
west- angels
wildcard- tampa
winner- angels
nl east- phillies
central- brewers
west- giants
wildcard- cincy
winner- phillies
world series- angels
al mvp- longoria
al cy young- lester
al roy- mike moustakas
nl mvp- buster posey
nl cy young- edison volquez
nl roy- brandon belt

Baseball is here.....

Heyward starting his year off right with a homer in his first at bat.

Left work early today to watch the Yankees kick it off against the Tigers. We did "plastic beer cup day" at the house with a party keg of Spaten, hot dogs, kielbasa and Italian sausage. Great fun all around, good game. Glad it's baseball season.

Once Lincecum suffers his first injury (and it'll happen before he turns 30), you're going to see a career arc akin to Hideo Nomo. I believe Kershaw (and even Cain) will end up with longer, more productive careers, at least as far as wins and Ks go. Kershaw may not get two Cy Youngs, but he'll probably end up with one before it's all said and done. I think if Kershaw doesn't pass Lincecum this year, it'll be next season at the very latest.

I won't argue that Cain isn't a stud. I think he and Billingsley are pretty even, or even give Cain the edge there. But after that, I'd rather have proven commodities in Lilly, Kuroda and Garland. Sanchez and Bumgarner have both only had a single decent sustained season. Zito is a proven loser. #3 to #5, I'm definitely going with the Dodgers.

Red, look at Zito's career line without holding that horrible horrible horrible contract over him, he's a decent back end guy. 2008 was bad and 2007 not that good, but otherwise, he's not that terrible. For making $120 million or whatever it is you want a guy you can trust to play in the playoffs obviously, but without that contract held over his head he really isn't a bad back end guy.

As to the 2 rotations, I'd take SF's rotation over LA's.

I agree with what your saying about Lincecum, and he did have a drop off last year, but I think what you are talking about is the future until it happens (which is why I'd take Kershow over Lincecum if I built a team). Today, I think the two are close to even, with the edge to Kershow.

I take Cain over Billingsley.

Lilly and Kuroda are the more proven vets, but Sanchez and Bumgarner are the higher upside picks, imo. They've flashed potential already, I think Sanchez is probably emerging now while Bumgarner probably still developing. I take the SF duo personally.

I'll take Garland and his contract, but otherwise I might go Zito.

i think lincecum will be fine after he hurts his arm. he proved last year when his velocity went down that he can pitch. remember he lost his velocity around midseason. he isnt a one pitch pony. if all he had to rely on is his fastball then id be worried but he has 3 other pitches that are above average. the guy is alot better pitcher than people give him credit for

Kyle Drabek looked really good against Minny this morning. Now, I got it turned over to a tight one in KC with the Angels.

Fuck, it's great having baseball back!

Had no idea the Giants defense was going to let us win two tight games or that Davey Lopes was going to turn the Dodgers into the Angels on the bases. I thought Sanchez out-pitched Billingsley, both were decent, but not dominant.

Angels lose 2nd in a row because of set-up relievers to KC. Meh.

Break up the Mariners!

Hey red, are you going to get the baseball package this year? I'm going to get it. It'll be the best $160, or whatever it will cost, that I will spend all year.

Oh yeah, you know it. Been enjoying the free preview the last few days. Money well spent.

It's only five games into the season and including tonight's game we will already have seen the Yankees televised nationally three times. By the end of the weekend it will probably be eight times since they play the Red Sox. I don't mind watching the Yankees but does ESPN, FOX and the MLB Network have to televise every game in which they play. It's already getting to be overkill.

At least you have the MLB package....

I'd sign up for Xtra Innings if I still lived on the East Coast so when I get home from work at 10/11 I'd be able to go to bed to some live baseball, but my schedule kinda messes with my ability to take advantage of the package to make it worth it. I did it a couple years back and didn't feel I got my money's worth out of it.

Panic in Wrigleyville!!!!

first time a home crowd has been under 27,000 since 2002, and it happened on back to back days.

That being said, Andrew Cashner looked REALLY good yesterday in his (shortened) first major league start. hopefully the shoulder soreness is a non-issue.

Went to Yankee Stadium tonight for the first game in my partial season package and it got called for rain. They raised the price of everything this year. $30 to park, $12 for a Sapporo or a Czechvar. The good news is they added bratwurst and that the Loebel's roast beef sandwich didn't go up. Everything else is more $$$.

They'll probably do a day/night tomorrow and I won't be able to go because I have to work late. Bleh. Would've liked to see Garcia pitch against Carl Pavano and the Twins. So it goes.

Why should Cubs fans panic? There's always good seats at the bar come October? lol...

It apparently isn't going to be rescheduled until late in the summer because the Twins have to get out of town for their home opener.

I watched parts of both of the Twins/Yanks games and man, there are a LOT of empty seats in the Bronx nowadays. Being cold weekday nights in April, I guess I should discount this, but man they're in the largest concentrated population in the country. They need to lower those prices!

Doesn't Yankee Stadium have a section of seating set up to be kinda premier seating, right near the field and very visible on tv, that is ridiculously overpriced and often not filled? Thought I remember reading something about that last year when the stadium just opened.

$12 for a beer is ridiculously expensive. Especially Sapporo.

Listening to the game now. It's too bad they didn't do a doubleheader today. Being stuck at the office anyhow, that'd be a decent companion to the afternoon.

Manny Ramirez retires. He apparently flunked a MLB drug test and just decided to quit instead of facing the penalty.

Another tarnished slugger limps into the sunset...this surely kills whatever minuscule chance remained of an HoF induction...in separate news, I wish I sold my Ramirez rookie card five years ago...fuck...

Goddamnit! Not looking like the Rays were gonna have a good season but Ramirez wasn't going to hurt their potential. Oh well.

Classic. He sure had a good drug combo going that first season with the Dodgers, but he was an anchor after getting caught.

in related news greg anderson has been released from prison. he is now a millionaire

Manny could kiss the Hall of Fame good bye for sure now.

His retirement wasn't actually a huge shock when I saw that, but the reasoning why actually was. I didn't see that coming but maybe I should have as he does appear to have lost his magical touch at the plate.