Although salaries and ticket prices have increased throughout the league, attendance figures for most MLB teams have gone up. With so many players switching teams, old and new fans across the Major Leagues are turning out to see what their team is paying for. In Boston, fans are turning out in large numbers to see if Manny Ramirez, the $160-million man, can drive in runs like he did on the first pitch he saw in his first at bat of the Red Sox home opener. In Texas, Rangers followers are praying that Alex Rodriguez, their $252-million man, can overcome his shaky start.
The Toronto Blue Jays ended last season in the middle of their division, behind the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. So far this season, the Blue Jays are ruling the American League East. The Blue Jays had a dismal spring (12-15), but true baseball fans know that a dire spring often precedes a strong regular season. The one bad sign for the Blue Jays is pitcher Steve Parris (0-2), who was hit hard in an 8-1 loss last week to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and saw his ERA skyrocket from 9.00 to 16.88.
"I just pitched like (crap) basically," Parris, who surrendered a first-inning grand slam, told The Toronto Star. "I felt pretty good. I thought I threw the ball pretty well. I just could not get it over for strikes."
Will the pitcher fare as poorly today versus the Kansas City Royals?
While the veteran is having trouble keeping his ERA down, Chris Michalak is finally getting his moment in the sun. On Saturday, the 30-year-old rookie earned his first major-league win. This wasn't just any major league win; Michalak defeated the world champion Yankees. Toronto has some good young talent, but its strong 7-3 start may not be indicative of where its season is headed.
The Blue Jays will have to compete hard to attain that lofty position. The Chicago White Sox are looking for another chance at the top since they claimed the title of American League Central champions last year, but didn't do much after that. So far this season, the White Sox have been perfectly mediocre, with a 4-4 record. Starter Cal Eldred was forced out of Wednesday's game with the Cleveland Indians after two innings because of pain in his surgically repaired right elbow. The 33-year-old underwent ligament replacement surgery in 1995. The White Sox, despite losing their pitcher, hung on for a 7-6 victory.
Alex Rodriguez, the new powerhouse of the Texas Rangers, has had a less than stellar beginning to his season. He ended last season with a .316 batting average and 132 RBI, but this season has posted a measly .242 batting average. On Friday, A-Rod and the Rangers faced Rodriquez' old team, the Seattle Mariners, for the first time since the shortstop traded uniforms.
"Those guys (Mariners) are my friends for life," Rodriguez told The Dallas Morning News. "A whole bunch of them called me and congratulated me after I signed the contract.... If it was just based on teammates and manager and staff, I would have signed a contract there forever."
Rodriguez had five trips to the plate, and collected one walk and two strikeouts. The Mariners played well and a 10th inning homer helped them secure the victory over Texas. Seattle seems to be doing just fine without the All-Star shortstop, leading the American League West with a 6-2 record, while Rodriguez's new team dangles in the center of its division. On Tuesday, on his first road trip with Texas, A-Rod was booed loudly. He went 0 for 4, while the team sleepwalked through a 7-2 loss to the Anaheim Angels. It remains to be seen whether or not the new shortstop will be able to live up to the hype surrounding his signing.
Of course, the season is still young and things seem to even out over the long haul. Teams that are playing above their heads now usually do sink, while the teams that start out lousy, but are predicted to do well - generally succeed. But there is always that one surprising team that will come from, excuse the pun, left field and sweep a division.
