OPENING DAY NOTES

"There is no sports event like Opening Day of baseball, the sense of beating back the forces of darkness and the National Football League." — George Vecsey

"Time begins on Opening Day . . . (when) we know that something fine, almost wonderful, is about to happen" - Thomas Boswell.

I can't put it in much better words than that so I won't even try. Everyone begins with a 0-0 record and hopes are renewed that last years failures will evolve into this years successes. And when there is snow on the ground in places like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and the Northeast cities, this give us more hope for the arrival of spring than Puxatawnee Phil could ever do.

Who will be this years Rays or Phillies?

Who will be the next Jay Bruce or Tim Lincecum?

You guess is as good as mine. But since it's my blog, here goes:

Rookies to Watch
David Price, LHP Tampa Bay
Matt Wieters, C Baltimore
Tommy Hanson, RHP Atlanta
Pablo Sandoval, 3B San Francisco
Colby Rasmus, OF St. Louis
Andre McCutcheon, OF Pittsburgh
Cameron Maybin, OF Marlins
Dexter Fowler, OF Colorado
Matt LaPorta, OF Cleveland
Travis Snider, OF Toronto

Teams to Watch:
1) Rays - it will be interesting to see how they handle the switch from the hunter to the hunted - my guess is pretty well, they are loaded.

2) Cubs - hey, they're due. Peavy would have been nice.

3) Brewers - will the loss of C.C. mean a return to mediocrity?

4) Dodgers - Manny's schizophrenic personality guarantees intrigue.

5) Yankees - New stadium, stratospheric ticket prices in a declining economy means results will matter.

6) Mets - Is this a crossroads year for the Minaya regime? Owners lost a lot of money in Madoff scandal maybe some gains on the field provide a diversion. Another wasted year with a bloated payroll could be too much to handle. Also added Manny-lite candidate in Gary Sheffield.

7) Giants - JK, I have to keep an eye on them. Not many others will is my guess.