My 2007 Baseball Preview

Life renews itself once more. Major League Baseball starts today. For those interested, here are some of my thoughts as we head into this campaign. I'm not going to go team-by-team, because, let's face it, I could give a flying George Brett about the Kansas City Royals.


The Metsies: that line-up of hitters is so powerful, they will still survive and probably win the division. The only thing that could upend them is the starting pitching. When El Duque misses six to eight weeks of the season due to gout, rubella, and a bad case of the bends after falling face down in a shower, they will be forced to bring Dennis Ribant and Ray Sadecki out of retirement. There will be tons of 9-8 games that last four hours or more and the only big winner will be SNY as they can multi-run those damn Foxwood casino commercials. The Mets will not run away this year as they did last, but they certainly can make it to the playoffs as will.....

The Dodgers: this is the best starting pitching in the league. But the lineup will be hard pressed to crack 23 homers as a team. So, a merger with the Met hitters might be in order. The good news about the Dodgers is that some of their best players will be in Triple A. They can withstand injuries well. I will hold my breath every fifth day when Brad One Cent takes the mound. But, Vin Scully is actually flying past Colorado today to the opener from Milwaukee. The last time he was in Wisconsin, Warren Spahn started and went eight innings. The biggest issue with the Dodgers this year is the new parking lot setup. Given the hysteria it will provoke, Dodger fans will finally be arriving in time for the first inning....one day later.


The Yankees: I hope they lose every game, but they won't. I am trying to decide if it's more fun watching them have a miserable season or to blow through the division and then drop dead in the first round of the playoffs. But, they will make the playoffs as long as they can keep their starting pitchers away from the Teterboro to 86th Street shuttle. I am afraid the biggest drama with them this summer will be who Steinbrenner's daughter hooks up with next.

The Red Sox: I guess everyone will be following to see how that Japanese pitcher fares. As for me, I will be awaiting baseball's first public stoning when the Fenway Faithful get their first look at JD Drew.

The Giants: as soon as that fathead gets his homerun record, we can go back to disliking them for more common reasons. They are quite old. I guess Juan Marichal didn't do well in his public tryout.

The Cubs: all that money for Soriano and they will go down about as well as a bratwurst at Murphy's. Actually, the bratwurst is much better. Well, at least, Lou Piniella can sample all the Italian restaurants on the north side.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has predicted that the Mets will beat the Dodgers in the NLCS. Frankly, I can't have them meet in October ever again. No person, other than George Bush, should experience that much indecisiveness in one lifetime.

I will be there on 4/9 for the Dodgers opener. First pitch, 110PM. First Dodger Dog, 1235PM.


Let's have fun....and remember---be careful out there.


Dinner last night: A post "Shooter" meal at the Arclight Cinema. Chicken tenders and a side salad. Afterward, I traded some confusing moments working the parking garage elevator buttons with Brendan Fraser.