Opening Night!

Fenway Park 2000 prior to a game with Toronto.

The start of the 2010 Major League Baseball Season gives hope to every fan, young and old. Whether you cheer for the defending champions New York Yankees or the Chicago Cubs who haven't won a World Title since 1908, today all fans can say, "this will be the year." From Kansas City to Pittsburgh Spring brings hope.

Force fed to us by ESPN comes a long-time rivalry to open the season in Fenway Park, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. And as the curtain opens on the season here comes my prediction for the 2010 season:

Amercian League:                                 National League

• East--New York Yankees              East--Philadelphia Phillies
• Central--Chicago White Sox           Central--St. Louis Cardinals
• West--L.A. Angels of Anaheim       West--San Francisco Giants
• WCard--Detroit Tigers                    WCard--Chicago Cubs

ALCS: Yankees over Tigers                      NLCS: Cardinals over Cubs
World Series Champion: St. Louis Cardinals

General thoughts: The Yankees will continue their championship ways. I don't feel the Red Sox have done enough to win the East, or win the Wild Card. Look for the Rays to finish second in the division. Since the Twins have lost their closer, Joe Nathan, for the year, they will lose close games down the stretch. The White Sox have the talent to win the division, it will come down to whether or not they have the winning mentality to take it. Jim Leyland will find a way for the Tigers to be successful. In the West, the Angels may have obstacles along the way, but will find themselves atop the division at the end of the year. As long as the Mariners have Milton Bradley, success will escape them.
In the National League East, the Phillies continue to be the dominant team. Bobby Cox's Atlanta Braves team will play hard for him in his last year, but they don't have the talent to match up with the Phillies. The Mets will struggle along with the Marlins and Nationals. The Cardinals will be tough to beat in the Central, but this Cubs team will be better than many expect. It will be a two team race down the stretch, with the Cardinals winning it in the last five days. The San Francisco Giants have a underrated manager and played strong down the stretch in 2009.
The Yankees are the best in the American League while the best playoff series will be in the National League. The Cubs finally find a way to win a post-season series, but will lose to the Cardinals in six. In what will be one of the better World Series in years, the Cardinals will win it at home in 7.

View of the Green Monster from RF.

 

Final Home Opener--Yankee Stadium

Today marks the last home opener of any MLB team. Fittingly it is the New York Yankees and the unveiling of New Yankee Stadium. This photo comes from a game in the old park with the Cubs. It was on this warm June evening, my first and only experience to the one time shrine, occurred the press conference to announce the move across the street.

Sights of Tampa

Driving back from Clearwater I had the opportunity to take a few pictures of the sporting venues in town while my son napped in the back seat.

Raymond James Stadium, home of NFL's Tampa Bay Buccanneers and the Outback Bowl.

The spring training home of the New York Yankees as well as the facility used by Class - A Tampa Yankees.

Retired numbers of the Yankees. Mantle, Babe and DiMaggio.

Goodbye Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium is one of the iconic figures of all sports venues. It has hosted many different types of events as well as memorable baseball games with heroic baseball players. The "House that Ruth Built" also saw outstanding Yankee figures such as Berra, Larson, Mantle, DiMaggio, Stengel and current all-stars Jeter, Boggs, Alex Rodriguez, Clemens to name a few.


My wife and I had the opportunity to catch a game in the Bronx when the Chicago Cubs visited in June of 2005. Taking the #4 train, our seats were in the last row down the right field line. As you can see from the pictures we had a great view of the stadium as well as the Bronx and I could turn around and see the New York City skyline. I do remember looking past the outfield fence and comparing the Bronx to that of a foreign country. I'm not sure why, we didn't do any sightseeing in this neighborhood, but it had a different look and feel to it.


Yankee Stadium has gone through a complete renovation in the mid-70s and the day we were there was the same day they announced the plans for the new ballpark. There is much tradition and it is sad to see it torn down for a more comfortable new ballpark. Concourses are narrow and the amenities are old, but it is "The Stadium." Although we were disappointed to see the Cubs lose, it was appropriate to hear Frank Sinatra's rendition of New York, New York following the game.

Matt Leinart...your 10 minutes of fame may be over. You'll be remembered more for a picture depicting you doing a beer bong with coed college students than playing for the Arizona Cardinals....But then again, who'd want to be remembered for playing for the Arizona Cardinals. Point goes to Leinart.

CBS Sports...nice way to finish your golf season. An audio glitch had us missing the last 8-10 minutes of audio on their last golf tournament of the 2008 season. No Jim Nantz to explain why Sergio Garcia got relief from his poor lie. I found out a day later that this problem was limited to our broadcast area. Thanks, KGAN

The Yankees and Red Sox play this week. It is hard to believe this is the last series between the two until the final weekend. What will ESPN do for a month? And can ESPN handle a series more important than the Yankees and Red Sox playing on the final weekend? Say the Brewers and Cubs?

Best baseball is being played in the midwest. Although the Cubs have a 4 1/2 game lead on Milwaukee, it is far from over. The battle for the NL wild card may come down to the Cardinals and Brewers. In the American League, it is important to check the standings daily. One day the Twins may lead the AL Central, and the next it could be the White Sox. The next two weeks are very important to the race. The Twins are on the road for fourteen days due to the Republican Convention in the Twin Cities. If Chicago is to have a sizable lead, now is the time.