MLB: Opening Day!

[DerSchwarzfalke]

Look across the league: all the former Yankees are doing well. Javier Vazquez, Brad Halsey, Jose Contreras, and El Duque all have sub 4.00 ERAs; Nick Johnson and Tony Clark are both hitting better than .300; and, Mets fans are dreaming of the day Miguel Cairo finally replaces Kaz Matsui at second. Cashman seems less and less like a genius every day ...

Of the above players, the two I miss most are El Duque and Cairo. El Duque is one of the few pitchers in the league that is genuinely fun to watch, while Miguel Cairo turned himself into my favorite player of the 04 season. It is a shame his agent did not tell him about Cashman's offer.

I have always expected good things from the Nats this year. I do not expect them to win the East, but I will not be surprised if they are in Wild Card contention.

So, how about Ugueth Urbina getting booed in his very first outing in Philadelphia? Oh, Phillies fans ...

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think everyone knew that Vazquez just wasn't ready for the NY market. Another year would have helped him, but alas.

Anyone that followed baseball KNEW that dealing Nick Johnson was a mistake. Of course that is how they got Vazquez, but based on his On Base Percentage you knew he was going to be a good player. They sure wish they had him now.

[DerSchwarzfalke]

Oh, I always knew Nick Johnson was an outstanding player. I loved him when he was in pinstripes; it was just a shame that half his time as a Yankee was spent on the DL. I am really glad he put it all together.

To the point, half the reason the Yankees are sucking right now is that they are getting almost no production out of first base. That and they make stupid ****ing field mistakes against great teams

Captain October did not look very pleased last night, and I really hope he ripped Jason Giambi a new ******* in the locker room last night. Cashman was talking earlier about "eating contracts" still being an option; I hope he lets Giambi's tragically steroidal ass go and trades for Mike Sweeney somehow.

[/rant]

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think most people realized that at some time he was going to be healthy. He seems to be kind of like a John Olerud like 1B. He won't lead the league in homeruns, but he can hit, he can get on base, and he's a decent defensive 1B (Olerud was an excellent defensive 1B though).

[DerSchwarzfalke]

What do the baseball fans here at Apolyton think of the Joe Buck/Tim McCarver broadcasting team Fox has assembled? I have to know if I'm the only crazy sob that thinks they are the worst thing currently in baseball. Joe Buck is a pretty boy who has his job solely because of who his father was, and Tim McCarver is up there just saying the most asinine idiocies I have ever heard. Maybe I am bitter that this delightful couple always winds up broadcasting Yankee games, but I really cannot stand these guys. I would mute the TV and listen to Sterling on the radio if there weren't a two second or so delay between radio and television broadcasts.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Anything is better than Sterling and his braying "The Yankees Win". Most annoying call in all of sports.

And at least it isn't Bob Costas who'll tell you all about the guy's mother and then realize that 3 batters have gone by since then.

I like the ESPN guys most.

[DerSchwarzfalke]

You clearly have never heard Sterling call an entire game. He's one of the best, imo. And "The Yankees Win" grows on you.

The ESPN guys are great, I agree. I love it when Chris Berman gets in the box. But man, Joe Buck ... I can't get over my hatred of this man. I want him fired and sent off to broadcast NFL Europe.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You clearly have never heard Sterling call an entire game.

Oh, I have. I don't like him. He's grating.

[Ned]

I haven't done a complete analysis, but there are only 5 AL teams under .500. The AL must really be doing well this year in the inter-league games.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ned, there are only SIX NL teams under .500. It isn't interleague play. It is that the worst teams are really, really bad.

[lord of the mark]

Mid Atlantic Annus Mirabilis Part 3

Ok, so having both the Nats and O's in first place in their divisions is no big deal. Y'all can go on about weakness in each division.

But at least as of the other day, each one had the second best record in their respective LEAGUE.

This. Is. Not. Possible.

[DerSchwarzfalke]

Sure it is. No one ever denied the power of the O's line up, it was always their pitching staff. With their pitching staff finally gelling, they are going to be a powerhouse in the East for the next few years to come. As for the Nats, they have always been underestimated. The pitching staff was always solid, and their GM made a number of key acquisitions to make them competitive. I just hope whoever their new ownership is does not turn them into the Royals, but allows our capital to have a solid team.

As for Sterling, I admit he's love/hate. Even a lot of Yankees fans hate him. Listen to Mike and the Mad Dog, too; sometimes, half their radio show involves hating on Sterling.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I still don't believe the Nats will hold on. Their hitting is atrocious. They have given up more runs than they've scored. They are supposed to be worse than their record (Pythagoran Record). They'll come back down.

[DerSchwarzfalke]

They will come down, but they will be legitimate contenders in the Wild Card race. They have no chance of making it out of the Division Series in such a case, though.

[Ned]

The AL is +32 against the NL as of this evening.