Play Ball

I need to talk about baseball. I realize that many people could frankly give two shits about baseball this time of year, but there is to much going on in my mind right now about the American League for me to not talk about!

I'll try to limit the Cleveland Indians talk, but no promises.

Let's start with the Yankees. I have several friends who ask will the 2009 Yankees really be that much improved? Fuck yes they will, everyone that mattered at all in that line up is back. Anyone lost is very easily replaceable and they signed a couple of guys. Did they not hear about that? And, in my opinion, CC is the off season acquisition that pays off big. This is a young superstar that a team can ride for an almost guaranteed 20 wins, especially with the run support he should get. And we are all left wondering, o why o why did he have to become a Yankee? Money. The Yankees got it, athletes like it, pretty easy concept. Let's face it, we need a salary cap but it just doesn't seem to be possible. You can't tell teams like the Yankees to cut half of there team, that's just not fair.

With all that being said, the flash in the pan Rays will drop off and the Yankees will return as A.L. East champions. As far as the West goes, who the hell knows. No teams have greatly improved in my eyes so I guess the Angles win it. I'm a big Vlad fan.

And finally the A.L. Central. Well, it's a bad division but as an Indians fan I know WAY to much about it. Much more than any division in baseball. Here is what I will say, watch out for the Royals. Seriously. They had good pitching all year last year, they just couldn't score. Any team with good pitching is going to win games, especially in a bad division. The Tigers are another year older and that much worse. Last year was a disappointment and I don't look for this one to be much different. I will say, the Tigers can score some runs and play some defense (especially at the CF position). Curtis Granderson is fun to watch play, he plays all out and hes good, if it wasn't for Grady he would look even better. I look for the Twins and WhiteSox to have seasons very similar to last years. And now....I've held off as long as I can, The Cleveland Indians. Carl Pavano.... come on tribe. They already signed Kerry Wood, I guess they are hell bent on signing pitchers to get injured and litter the DL so they have a plethora of excuses. Nevertheless, I've said it before and I really believe it, The Cleveland Indians will make a real push to win this division. It really may come down to whether or not Martinez and Hafner are healthy and swinging the bat all year. How odd, the Indians and the Royals. Am I a genius? Or do I eat paint chips? Time will tell....But, I am excited, football season has been over for a long time for me and basketball leaves a bit of a void for me, so i guess it's baseball season. Right?

The National League is a cluster fuck. I know next to nothing about the teams and my predictions would be stabs in the dark. I do my research on the NL once the playoffs start or a few teams start to look dominant. I will say this, go Cubs! I have a trip to Chicago to to visit Wrigley this summer and I'd like to enjoy the game with happy Cubs fans.