Hardball this week

Now the season begins. That Japan excursion was just an appetizer to the main dish, a diversion if you will, from the real opening which is all across America where Opening Day is a beloved annual event. Early observations from the first week:

Just as we can get excited by the games, along comes Jose Canseco who plays his own game. After seeing him last week on Fox & Friends, I am convinced that he is on a mission to do to MLB what MLB did to him which is not only destroy reputation but inflict total humiliation, that and to make as much money as possible. He’s a mean guy out to hurt people.

Detroit has the most powerful opening day lineup of any team since, well, last year’s New York Yankees but somebody forgot to tell Kansas City Royals pitchers who swept them in Comerica Park to open the season, allowing only five runs in three games. The Tigers will try to become the first MLB team in history to lose the first four games at home and make it to the World Series.

Johann Santana makes the Mets the favorites in the NL East.

Feel Real Good Story: Rico Washington labors eleven years in the minor leagues before making the roster as the 25th man due to an injured player and then gets a base hit in his second at bat for the Cardinals.

If they made a television show about Kerry Wood, it would be named Bewitched.

Joe Torre looks fantastic in Dodger Blue.

The San Francisco Giants have the worst batting lineup I can remember, worse than the Royals or Devil Rays ever used to be. When Bengie Molina is your clean-up batter, you are in trouble. Shame too, because they have a decent pitching staff. And they saved a ton of money not signing Bonds.

In the NL Central, the Cubs have the best team on paper but the Brewers play like winners. Like Colorado in 2007, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Brew Crew surprise all this season but only if they get a reliable closer. Eric Gagne doesn’t seem as good as when he was on the juice. No wonder he seemed superhuman only a few seasons ago. Red Sox fans, relieved to finally dump him, laughed when he went to Bratwurst City.

A-Rod makes more than the whole Marlins team. So what? He’s better than the whole Marlins team.

Boston is primed for a repeat, loaded everywhere with the perfect blend of offense and defense, power and speed, veterans and youth, lefties and righties, etc, which makes them the team to beat. Cleveland is a popular alternative.

The Yankees biggest off-season need was pitching, and yet inexplicably, they didn’t go out and get it. Honestly, who expects Mike Mussina to dominate? Now that I think about it, I’m surprised they didn’t go after Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens (insert laughter). No, they’ve decided to go with young home grown arms. If Hughes comes through and Joba gets the ball every five days, then they can challenge the champs. The offense is fine, at least until October.

The T. Bay Rays will score some runs.

Ahh, can’t wait for week two. Nope, not week three. Those games in Japan didn’t count as opening week Last week was. I could feel it.