Junior goes down again, Sosa hits 500th homer

Despite the sudden change from spring weather back to a wintry mix of snow and cold, the baseball season is upon us.

The first week of the baseball season was not without excitement as career milestones were up for grabs, key players went down with serious injuries and all teams were theoretically still in contention for the playoffs.

Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs was sitting on home run 499 for the entire off-season, and what better place for Sammy to slam number 500 than on opening day against the New York Mets under the bright lights of Shea Stadium. Though Sammy wasn't able to connect against the Mets, he joined the elusive 500-club just three days later, crushing number 500 on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds. With Sosa and the oft-injured Moises Alou both off to hot starts, the Cubs and former San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker look to be a very dangerous team this year, assuming the young pitching staff can hold up.

Before the season started, everyone expected Ken Griffey, Jr. to have a spectacular comeback season. Ever since leaving Seattle to return home to play for Cincy, Griffey has been plagued by one injury after another and some mediocre play in between. Many experts predicted that 2003 would be the year that the former superstar returned to his once legendary form -- until the 8th inning of a 9-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday when he dislocated his right shoulder as he attempted to make a diving catch in left centerfield.

According to doctors, Griffey could be out for anywhere from six weeks to the rest of the season if surgery is necessary. It's a shame that after all of his leg injuries over the past few years, Griffey has yet another physical setback to deal with. Griffey had hit safely in all five of the Reds' games with one home run.

The Atlanta Braves are one team that would not mind erasing all evidence of its first week. After losing longtime ace Tom Glavine to free agency and trading Kevin Millwood to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Braves have a brand new rotation. Newcomers Mike Hampton, Russ Ortiz, Paul Byrd and several journeymen relievers will try to replace Atlanta's lost starters and relievers. If the first week is any indication, the Braves pitching staff is nowhere near what it was last year.

Starting at the top of the payroll, Greg Maddux signed a one-year contract for $14.75 million, the largest one-year contract in MLB history. Maddux has been absolutely horrible in his first two starts, pitching a combined nine innings and giving up 18 hits and 11 earned runs. The Braves are off to their worst start in 15 years after being swept in their first three game series against the Montreal Expos. Maddux better shape up, or this team has no slice of playoff hope.

Can the San Francisco Giants get over the World Series choke in Game 6, and the loss of all-star second baseman Jeff Kent and manager Dusty Baker? If their 5-0 start is any indication, the Giants are definitely over the setbacks. Barry Bonds is back in form, as he has hit two home runs in the first week.

The real question is whether the new players on the team, mainly Edgardo Alfonso, Ray Durham and Jose Cruz, Jr., can provide consistent offense. Closer Rob Nen's absence in the bullpen will also be a liability for the first part of the season. Bonds has not had the hot start that he did in 2002, but with his long ball workin' and the rest of the team contributing, the Giants will be a force to reckon with in the West.

The Houston Astros should be another interesting team to watch this year. With the addition of Kent from the Giants, this lineup should be as potent as its AL counterparts in Arlington. The scary part is that this team actually has some pitching. Houston starts the year as the team to beat in the NL, even with the Giants in the West.

Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Jeff Kent and Richard Hidalgo give the Astros a scary lineup. Kent smashed out a homer in his first at bat with the team and Bagwell has been red hot the last week leading the team to a 4-1 start. Watch out baseball, the Astros have come to play.