Opening Day stuff

to claim this team is a likely non-factor.

1) The division is weak. The AL West is certainly the weakest in the AL right now, with the aging and injured Angels being the probable favorites.

2) The pitchers are capable of good pitching. We saw a nice 2 month patch of it in the middle of last year.

3) The OF is massively improved, if it is healthy. Granted, thats a big if, but it isn't the mound of rotting sewage we were throwing out there at the beginning of last year.

Outside of the downgrade at 1B, and the douchebag behind the plate, this team can contend if it has some luck with health. Obviously, injuries could easily drag it down, but this team, with a good start, could stay in the middle of things.

exactly what I needed to completely cleanse myself of all basketball talk and focus exclusively on the rangers.

time for a low expectations losing as opposed to all these high expectations/horrible feeling losing

I hate working at a place with over 300 employees with only 3-4 giving a crap about baseball.

And I agree with DJCahill, with some luck on our side this team could contend. Look what happened to the Rockies, they got hot in August and carried the momentum all the way to the World Series, before running into the brick wall that is the Boston Red Sox.

I cant wait but Im gonna miss the first week of ball due to me not getting the baseball package on Time warner cable. Im thinking of getting it on the computer through MLB.tv. is it any good? Does anybody else have it.

If we're going to face Bedard, I think this is the best time for it. Usually pitchers take a couple of starts to hit their stride, so maybe we'll catch him a little rusty, or get a short appearance if we can work the count or get him in a little trouble. Plus, the team is healthy offensively and everyone is most focused and eager to play. I like our chances today.

That was a really nice piece about Young. He's gotten bashed here a lot for his statements about wanting to be on a winner, but the depth of that article shows a player who is probably a bit more thoughtful and philosophical than most.

It is especially heartening to read that some of the players he has influenced are the very people who helped him become excited about the team again. That is a very healthy cycle to have established as a team culture. This is perhaps more important to the fans than to the team's chances, but it's nice anyway.

Regarding Washington: I don't believe much in team chemistry, but perhaps there is a certain amount of chemistry necessary between team and manager that is far more important than any chemistry between players themselves.

Here we go.

I think this year's team might be a little better than last year's (I always think this). D will be a bit better, bullpen's worse, I'm not sure about the rotation but Millwood and Padilla can't be as a bad as they were last year, infield offense is a little worse (healthy Blalock but worse 1B), OF offense some better (Hammy great when healthy, Byrd and Murphy regress, Milt in OF = good), DH is a push.

I think the thing that may tip the scales towards a better team is D. Four guys in the opening day lineup can play CF in a pinch (even Murph). Kinsler's improving, a healthy Blalock is pretty decent, Laird's good, MY will lose 1/4 step, 1B is worse but it's towards the end of the fielding spectrum.

So that's my prediction. Seriously, how can the team not be a little better? They were .500 in the second half last season without Teix, Lofton (played out of his mind) and Gagne.

It just occurred to me I'm sitting here drinking a fruit punch flavored vitamin water.

Opening Day, finally! And since the Astros don't play till 9pm, we get the game down here w/o having to pray they remember to switch over the alternate chanel.

I actually think this Rangers team will surprise some people and I am looking forward to watching them play and get progressively better as a team.

GO RANGERS!!!!!!!

I am jazzed about this year. I think this is the first time in a long time that I have no expectations for the team, so all they can do is surprise me.

10 things I am very, very excited to see:
1) Hank. The way he was mashing at the end of last year, this could be a monster year for the Hammer.
2) Hammy. Hobbs. Hero. Hallelujah.
3) Kinsler. Dude's becoming one of the best 2B's in the league.
4) Botts. Nobody can say that he isn't getting his shot.
5) The team's health. It seemed like the injury bug took up residence in the Rangers' locker room last year. I'd like to see that change.
6) Attendance. With a team with no expectations and some really interesting talent, we could see a rise in attendance.
7) THE ELECTRICIAN! Just because.
8) Milton Bradley. All aboard the crazy train.
9) BGL. Everyone will forget about his LSB "snafu" if CJ tosses the nasty.
10) A beer and a hot dog. It's about damn time.

Cashman loves him some Brett Gardner

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/03/30/brian-cashman-answers-your-questions/

Sanjay asked: Can you name the minor league position player who you believe will make an impact with the Yankees this year? Anybody in particular who has caught your eye? Brian Cashman: "Brett Gardner."

but am I the only one that thinks that whole Wash discussion with his 6 core players last year in Orlando should have happened before the season started?

We had a new manager in Wash that had never managed before coming in here and he didn't sit down and discuss with his team what he expected of them and asked what they expected of him before the season started?

That's not how you run a business/department.

winter is fading when, "Play ball!", bellows across the land and tree pollen makes your eyes weep.

Elvis Andrus spends the year in Double-A. He's hitting .225 on June 1st, but finishes hot and ends the year with a .283/.335/.395 mark with 45 steals and outstanding reviews for his defense.

Finally, the day is here. My Gawd, I thought it would never happen.

Grant's article on MY was outstanding, and has me even more fired up for the day.

I hope all OD on a smorgasboard of BASEBALL today!!!

Ian Kinsler's got a cold. Will be out for opening day.

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/03/kinsler-out.html

Masset is shutting down the Indians 3.1 IP one hit ball