I'm Back and So is Baseball

You may be saying to yourself...ahem, baseball has officially started and yet still no comments from this page....WTF?!?! Truth is I have been on my annual left coast vacation. Fear not, in between making money at the poker tables in Vegas, snowboarding for the first time (I'm a skier), and enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather I was able to take in a few games. Most notably the Nationals home opener. Now no disrespect to the Yankees, but for a limited time only this post has to give top billing to the Nats. Washington wins this honor since they are currently perfect in three games (ESPN analysts be damed), and after watching a pitiful Mike Mussina last night during my extended layover in Charlotte NC. So here we go.....

The first game, the new stadium, and thoughts on the Nats Season

I was lucky enough to catch the Nationals home opener, the first game at the new stadium. For the sake of superstition you have to hope and pray that a team wins its first game at a new park, and boy did they ever. A close game all the way that almost ended in disaster thanks to a passed ball by recent addition (and my fantasy baseball catcher) Paul Lo Duca. Tie game going in to the bottom of the ninth inning. And then, almost as though it were the last scene in a baseball movie enters Washington hero Ryan Zimmerman. I was actually saying while watching him step into the box, "wow, Ryan Zimmerman (also on my fantasy team) coming up in a game winning situation in the bottom of the ninth in the first game of the new park....a home run here could elevate his status as local hero to legendary career player." Then....BOOM...home run, game set match...Nationals win. You really couldn't have scripted a better ending.

While Zimmerman didn't get the first home run in the park, that honor went to Chipper Jones with the shot called by George Bush(file that one away in your trivia vault kids, even though I hate the guy to my knowledge it is the only home run ever called by a sitting president) it really doesn't matter. Speaking of Bush, you have to love the rousing chorus of boos as Dubya threw out the first pitch (which was almost in orbit it was so high out of the strike zone.)

As far as the new stadium is concerned I have to say that I am impressed. Even as someone who has been religiously checking the clark construction cam to check on the progress I was still blown away at just how good the stadium looked on TV.

So with the new stadium and some opening week momentum...how about those Nats? Some analysts have been saying that they expect the Nationals to be the worst team in baseball this year. Apparently ESPN hates the Nats as much as it hates the Yankees. Anyone who thinks that the Nationals are not going to finish above .500 is just dead wrong. Quite simply the Nats are no longer the Tampa Bay Dev... oops, I mean the Tampa Bay Rays OR the Montreal Expos anymore. This is a team filled with some proven veterans, Lo Duca, Nick J, as well as some up and comers, Jesus Flores, Zimmerman. Hell even Austin Kearns is looking good. So remember this page at the end of the season because the Nationals are going to Finish second in the NL east to the Mets and there is an outside shot....pretty far outside...that they could take the NL wild card. You just can't ignore the hunger. As Zimmerman put it, this team is tired of losing. Hell, if the Rockies can make it all the way to the classic why not Washington? But here is hoping that they don't match up against the Yankees because even with my new found excitement for my transplant team nothing will ever replace my love for the Bronx Bombers.

Speaking of the Yankees

For the first time in a long time pitching wasn't suppose to be a problem this year. The big questions on the mound were what Mussina would show up and how would Joba do as a starter. We will have to wait on the next set of Joba Rules, but I'm almost willing to call it in favor of sending Mussina to a closer position. He just did not have the command of the plate that he did in the first half of last year. I think that his disastrous late Summer has gotten the better of him and he is too distracted and so worried about falling back into that slump he can't get it going. It has only been one game so far, but Girardi needs to keep Mike on a very short leash.

The good news is that the Yankees did win their season opener, the last at The Stadium. Is it just me or did any other Yankees fans cringe at Big George's countdown timer. Blasphemy blasphemy blasphemy. But if the Yankees are going to win the east they are going to need to play the kind of ball that they are used to, tight with minimal errors. A-Rod should be good for another 40 homers this year and Cano seems to be off to a great start. Even Giambi made some uncharacteristically athletic plays at first last night. On the flip side Posada needs to earn his contract extension. After reporting a sore shoulder this weekend my heart skipped a beat. Last thing the Yankees need is another situation reminiscent of Carl Pava....no, I still can not bear to mention his name. Of course there is a lot of hype to live up to for the young pitchers, but I have confidence given that at the very least they already have some innings under their belts. The bright lights and high stress of playing for the Yankees should have settled a bit by now.

So there you have it baseball fans, my first post of the new season. I'm looking forward to a great 2008 season. Go Yankees!!!!!