Baseball season is here, and that means the phone calls from my mom have begun. After nine calls and a few texts on Opening Day, I was forced to tell her that she's no longer allowed to call during games. I promised her that after the game, I'd give her a few of my thoughts from around the league, but only if she'd leave me alone afterward. Here's what I told her:
1. Were you watching the radar gun readings during CC Sabathia's first start as a Yankee? His fastball was barely hitting 90 miles per hour. I know it was cold in Baltimore, but that's got to scare any Yankees fan. Sabathia is a guy who has admitted in the past that when he puts too much pressure on himself, sometimes his mechanics get out of whack. Sabathia is going to take a little time. Everyone, including my mom, needs to be patient.
2. The Orioles are getting close. Brian Roberts and Adam Jones are one of the strongest 1-2 combinations in the league. The great Matt Wieters will be up soon, and it's just a matter of time until the Orioles' stock of arms in the minors makes its way to the big leagues. The AL East has been baseball's strongest division for a while, and in the next couple years, it's going to get even more competitive.
3. The Mets' revamped bullpen is going to do wonders for them. J.J. Putz has incredible stuff, and the throw-in of that trade, Sean Green, has the potential to make Omar Minaya look like a genius. K-Rod is going to make it interesting every night, but that's K-Rod. If that rotation can hold it together, the Mets should be in the mix all year.
4. I know the Marlins only swept the Nationals, but you've got to like what you see from this team. Their offense looks fantastic, and they have one of the best young pitching staffs in the league with Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Chris Volstad. The Marlins won't win the division, but there's no doubt they will play a big role in deciding who does.
5. It's hard to bet against the Angels, but it looks as though injuries and a plain lack of talent are going to hold them back this year. Mike Scioscia is the game's best manager. Every year, he creates an environment that's conducive to winning and brings the best out of every player on the roster. And in the past, it often felt like this club could piece together great baseball teams because of the attitude Scioscia brings. But, with John Lackey and Ervin Santana injured and Nick Adenhart's tragic death yesterday morning, it would be pretty shocking if the Angels make the playoffs.
6. The Cleveland Indians are a team that's built around two pitchers: Fausto Carmona and Cliff Lee. The only problem is Fausto Carmona and Cliff Lee are totally unknown quantities. Both guys have a single Cy Young-caliber season under their belts -- Carmona in 2007 and Lee last year. But when you look at their career numbers outside those seasons and their awful beginning to this year, you have to wonder just how ugly things might get for the Indians.
7. I'm scared of just how crazy things might be at the trading deadline this year. As teams that are hurting from the financial crisis start falling out of contention, we could see a Florida Marlins-type fire sale from multiple franchises. It seems like a matter of time until Jake Peavy is a Cub. The Tigers could be dismantled at some point, and if the A's don't stay competitive, expect to see Matt Holliday on the move. I think this is going to be a July 31 to remember.
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Gideon Jacobs is a sophomore majoring in English. He can be reached at Gideon.Jacobs@tufts.edu
