This year, is no different.
There are high-hopes in several I-95 regional baseball nations. There is the anticipation of warm weather and sunny days ahead [even in the Deep South!]. There is the crack of the bat, the 'thump' of a power pitcher's fastball landing in the catcher's mitt to the tune of "Strike!".
But, this year, Opening Day [in at least 6-locations] was on March 31st! Perhaps they thought that April 1st was fool-hardy? In the Northeast, mother nature is playing "April Fool's" with the weather, as the baseball fans sit through another N'oreaster [getting 6 - 12 inches of the white-stuff in many parts of New England].
It is a good thing that the Red Sox are beginning their hopeful quest for another World Series Title in the Heart of Texas this year. They are looking at 80+ degrees and sunny, but their fans will warm up if they provide their 7th opening day victory in the last 7 years.
The Yankees began their season with a win on opening Day [March 31st]. Tampa Bay has high-hopes [as well] with their version of "the Idiots" [starring Manny-Ray and Johnny Damon]. It appears that Toronto will be much improved from last season, but that the Orioles [even under new 'management'] will still be the celler-dwellers everyone predicts they will be.
The American League Central appears to be up for grabs. The White-Sox always seem to contend right down to mid-September, and the Tigers appear to be better than people gave them crddit for. Cleveland does seem to need more help then they can muster, but the Minnesota Twins are always competitive until play-off time. The Kansas City Royals occasionally put together streaks of wins and can appear to be in the lead of their division, but they rarely hold it together long-enogh. Their depth is the culprit. They do not have the Farm System they used to have.
In the AL West, it appears to be the Texas Rangers division to lose. While the Rangers did shed some talent in the off-season, they are up against a few other struggling franchises in the Angels, A's and Mariners. The Mariners appear to have pitching depth. The A's always seem to cobble together 'scrappy teams' that can hold their ground in a sinking Division such as the AL West. The Angels do not appear to have signed as many power hitters as they would like and have lost alot of thier speed. Pitching is always a premium, too. No team in the AL West appears to have a lock on things. We will need to revisit this in mid-season to see where they each stand.
The Phillies and the Giants are hoping they will each have Play-off caliber seasons, again. However, the Atlanta Braves are becoming a potential NL East Division winner, again. Several Baseball experts are predicting that the Phillies Injuries will prevent them from winning, while the Braves are improving and have several hot-prospects to push them to the top. Milwaukee has hopes [amid it's pitching superiority] while the Cubs and Astros wallow around free-agency. St. Louis always seems to contend, and this year should be no different.
It's anyone's guess how the NL West will compete. San Francisco will wish to repeat getting into the Play-offs [and winning the WS if possible] but the Colorado Rockies appear to have their Act in-gear enough to challenge them [at least for a Wild-Card berth] and you never know what to expect from the Diamondbacks or the Padres. Either of those two teams could pull themselves together and make a run at the play-offs. You just never know.
The Mets and Marlins appear to be moribund. The Nationals are just a minor-league team in disguise. The Pirates have been pulling one over on the Pittsburgh fans for decades, and remain profitable even though they have not had a winning season since the early 1980's.
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