Is it wrong for me to feel content right now? Because I am. Very much so, in fact. It's about 11:15am here on the East Coast. Meaning we're about nine hours away from the start of the 2010 Major League Baseball Season. And the two teams that will be playing to ring in the new season will be the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.

Now, in previous years I would be pacing around the house, biting my nails, and climbing walls until the first pitch. And why not? There was so much to worry about. The Yankees pitching staff, their bullpen, Arod, the Red Sox, and the fact that they hadn't won a World Series in more than five years.

But now, coming off a World Series win in 2009, I am completely content. Absolutely so. Since Mariano Rivera got Shane Victorino to ground-out to Robinson Cano until now, I've kept the Yankees at a healthy distance. My opinions of the departure of Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon were muffled. As well as my thoughts on the super-important Phil Hughes-Joba Chamberlain-Fifth Starter controversy. Don't get me wrong, I care. Just not as much as in years past.

No matter the outcome of this season, I have no reason to complain as a fan. I'm only 22 years old and have been lucky enough to experience five World Series Championships. So the key word for 2010 is "gravy". I'll still root as hard as I ever did, but with more reasonable expectations.

Anyway, here are my picks for the 2010 MLB award winners. (In bullet-point form, of course)

• AL CY Young Winner: Felix Hernandez. Can you believe this guy is only 23 (24 on April 8th)? It could easily have been argued that he should have won the award last season but a certain Zach Greinke stood in the way. I mean, the guy went 19-5 with a 2.49 ERA on a terrible offensive team. Now granted, their offense isn't exactly better, but given his talent, he'll dominate just the same.
• NL CY Young Winner: Roy Halladay. Let's see: he's owned the AL East since 2002, he's coming off one of his best statistical seasons and he's moving to the NL East on the best offensive team in the league. Sure, I'll take him. I wonder what Tim Lincecum is thinking. He had the award sewn up for the next 5-6 years, then Mr. Halladay decides he wants a ring. Touche Roy. Touche.
• AL MVP Winner: Evan Longoria. We're looking at 40 home runs, 120 RBIs, .900+ OPS, 15+ SB's, and a Gold Glove for the Rays third baseman.
• NL MVP Winner: Albert Pujols. He should be the default choice until he retires. The man leads the planet in OPS, OPS+ and has topped 500 at-bats every year of his career. The only way he doesn't win this award is if Hanley Ramirez maximizes on his talent and destroys NL pitching.
• AL Rookie of the Year: Austin Jackson. This is a bitter-sweet choice. Obviously, up until last fall, he was the would-be future center fielder of the New York Yankees. Then he was traded to the Tigers for Curtis Granderson, the current New York Yankees center fielder. It would be nice to see him succeed though. It would show that the Yankees still have some eye for talent, just not an eye to keep it.
• NL Rookie of the Year: Jason Heyward. Did ya hear? Heyward once hit a ball so far, it hit the umpire in the back of the head. Well, not really. But hyperbole has been utilized when describing Jason Heyward. "He's got Hank Aaron's hands, Mickey Mantle's power, and Ted Williams' eye." So sure, I'm going to buy into the hype and say he'll win the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm seriously slacking with these posts. A lot has been going on in my life. I have a job and a car and I have to pay bills. I mean, these are things that no one else has to deal with. So it's understandable that I haven't been updating this little old blog of mine as much.

That being said, this post will be enormous. I'll try to kill eight birds with one stone. I'll be live blogging my fantasy baseball draft which is set to begin in five minutes while at the same time discussing my night out, thoughts on food, love, and allergies. You know, the usual.

I won't time stamp each little tidbit because it's really annoying to constantly look down to the bottom right corner of the screen before every paragraph. My eyes just can't handle the strain. A dash (-) will suffice. Deal? Let's go.

-Let's see. I have the fifth pick. Eh. Obviously I would have loved to have the first pick. Mr. Pujols himself can carry a fantasy team just as well as he carries his own team.

-Pujols, Mauer, Ramirez, Rodriguez. I could have easily taken Utley, Kemp or Braun. But I decided on Evan Longoria. No fooling, he's going to be a super-stud. A fantasy juggernaut.

-I did little to no research in preparation for this draft. I'm essentially doing this blind. I know who's good and who's not, but I'm clueless on sleepers or reliable pitchers. This is going to be interesting.

-2nd round: Ian Kinsler. Full disclosure. I just made my first two picks from the comfort of my toilet. Hey, when nature calls, you have to answer. Even if it means placing the laptop on your bare legs as you taken care of business.

-3rd round: Zach Greinke. This draft is going a lot quicker than expected. It's nice when everyone actually shows up on the proper time. Too many times I've sat through 2 hour drafts just because a few guys decided to ignore their draft and not have the decency to put it on auto-pick. (This is clearly nerd talk)

-Remember that time when I said  I was never going to bars again? Well, I lied. But the sentiment still remains. With music that loud, how am I supposed to speak to girls? I'm not going to yell at them. Which is exactly what I end up doing when I'm at a bar. "WHAT'S YOUR NAME?!" "WHAT?!" "DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL?!!!" "THAT'S CRAZY!" And I can't dumb myself down enough for the vapid conversations that take place at these establishments. Look, I would love to get to know you, but telling me about your roommate makes me want to put myself in a sleeper hold.

-4th round: Jayson Werth. Solid fourth rounder in my opinion. Super reliable. Hits for power and steals a decent amount of bases.

-5th round: Johan Santana.

-6th round: Nick Markakis. Jesus, spring is here. Currently, I'm sitting at my dining room table with a pile of used tissues that's nearly covering my monitor. My nose is a leaky faucet. My lips are dry, my eyes itch and I'm sneezing every thirty seconds. All because a flower sprouted in my backyard. I wish it were winter. Just kidding.

-7th round: Carlos Pena.

-8th round: Adam Jones. I'm liking my team so far. A lot of power, speed, and a solid 1-2 punch. I have no catcher or relief pitchers yet. Those are late round pickups anyway. Got to stock the shed with some ammunition, yaknowwhatIsayin?

-9th round: Joakim Soria. Screw that philosophy. Soria is a relief stud. Low ERA and WHIP and converts saves, bottom line.

-10th round: Elvis Andrus. Ever go a whole day without eating? I wanted to try that today. Just liquids. I've been slacking big time on my diet. Last night I had a few Italian combo sandwiches. That's right, a few. And God are those delicious. Throw roasted sweet peppers on anything and I'll talk dirty to it.

-11th round: Rick Porcello. He went to Seton Hall Prep. I went to Seton Hall University. So I felt a connection.

-12th round: Russell Martin. Doesn't Martin look a lot like Russell from Survivor? And holy crap! They have the same name. Creepy. By the way, if you haven't been watching Survivor this season. Shame on you. It's The Sopranos and The Wire rolled into a honey wheat wrap and stuffed with roasted sweet peppers. It's that good.

-13th round: A.J. Burnett.

-Can you believe I went to bed before watching the best game of the tournament? And of course it was called by Gus Johnson. I'm literally kicking myself. I guess the highlights will have to do.

Click here to view the embedded video.

-14th round: Brad Hawpe. I can't bring the laptop back in the bathroom, can I? Once is ridiculous. Twice is...what? Flat out unacceptable, right? Screw it.

-Live from the bathroom here. I really shouldn't do this. Not because it's disgusting. But because of where I'm putting the laptop. It's super close to my no-no area. That can't be good. I know that technology has improved over the years, but I'm not 100% certain that I'm not microwaving my balls right now.

-15th round: Leo Nunez.

-16th round: Rafael Furcal. These are more or less the garbage rounds. But some would argue that these late round players can separate the men from the boys fantasy-wise. I disagree. Call me crazy, but I just don't think Jeff Niemann will decide this fantasy season.

-17th round: Mark Buerhle. Are there really six more rounds of this? Man. I got things to do today...kind of.

-18th round: James Loney.

-19th round: Michael Wuertz. I don't even know who this guy is. But he had a .95 WHIP and 102 K's last year. Good enough for me.

-Skip to the end.

-20th round: Todd Helton
-21st round: Justin Duchscherer
-22nd round: Jermaine Dye
-23rd round: Randy Winn.

Oh Thank God. It's over. That was far too long. An hour and a half. Now what usually happens is that I barely update it and I end up in dead last by the third week. Fantasy baseball is like homework.

-The Phillies scare me.

I have stated on many an occasion that I believe Jose Veras is the worst pitcher in baseball. I think Joe Girardi should be fired every time he calls for him out of the bullpen. Watching Veras pitch should be considered a form of torture, cruel and unusual punishment, and be banned by the Geneva Convention. And his numbers validate my frustration. A 6.41 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP should be evidence enough to not ever put him in. Last night he came into the game with a 8-0 lead and I was still biting my fingernails. He is so bad you wouldn't put it past him to some how become the first pitcher to give up an 8-run homerun. I realize that the Yankees bullpen is thin, but I would rather Girardi pull a fan out of the stands to pitch than have Veras walk the bases loaded and find his location just in time to give up a grand slam. Just look at that picture (left)! Does he look like he knows what he is doing?! His arm is cocked in some weird direction, he isn't looking at the catcher, and he's resting on his ankle. I'll bet 2 to 1 that that pitch ended up in the dugout. It's time to send him down. For good.

I just realized that keeping track of the attendance numbers for every game in the MLB will be time-consuming, frustrating, and rather pointless. But since I started it yesterday, I will finish it. Because I always finish what I start, even if it's terrible. That's why after accidentally watching the first episode of this season's Celebrity Apprentice, I have watched every episode since. And boy is it awful. Every Sunday there is a two hour episode. Two hours! But because of my sticktoitiveness (That is actually a word), I will watch every agonizing minute until, God-willing, it ends. How about those attendance numbers?

*Please be advised. I am using the attendance numbers from ESPN.com.

New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals (Busch Stadium)
Attendance: 35,506

Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros (Minute Maid Park)
Attendance: 26,360

Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs (Wrigley Field)
Attendance: 38,403

Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays (Rogers Centre)
Attendance: 20,996

Florida Marlins at Pittsburgh Pirates (PNC Park)
Attendance: 9,917

Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium)
Attendance: 42,065

Milwaukee Brewers at Philadelphia Phillies (Citizens Bank Park)
Attendance: 40,605

Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians (Progressive Field)
Attendance: 11,408

Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals (Nationals Park)
Attendance: 15,439

Chicago White Sox at Baltimore Orioles (Oriole Park at Camden Yards)
Attendance: 14,801

Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners (Safeco Field)
Attendance: 19,582

Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Angel Stadium)
Attendance: 41,627

San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants (AT&T Park)
Attendance: 39,314

Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks (Chase Field)
Attendance: 25,411

Average: 27,245.29

Ever since the economy took a turn for the worse back in September and October, I have been wondering what sort of effect it would have on attendance in the four major sports (Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Bull Riding). And only two weeks into the 2009 MLB Season, we've seen significant drops in attendance, especially in the two new stadiums, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. There's no denying it. Watch a home Met or Yankee game this season, you'll see empty seats by and around home plate. You know, the sections that would normally seat people who rely on updates of the game on their BlackBerries even though they are so close, they could smell A-rod's perfume. Unless the prices of those seats drop, they will collect dust until September. The situation will only get worse during the proverbial "dog-days" of summer, when teams begin to drop out of playoff contention and people decide to use their limited disposable income on more important things. Like a Vin Diesal movie.

Far be it for me to actually conduct a legitimate statistical analysis of attendance in Major League Baseball. If that were the case, I wouldn't begin two weeks into the season and do it based solely on boredom. That being said, I will track the attendance of every game in the MLB this season and by using the math I learned in the seventh grade, average them (or find the "mean". Thanks Mrs. Quinn!).

I decided to do this right after I watched the Marlins play the Pirates in Pittsburgh this evening. I understand that the game was being threatened by rain, games in April are practically meaningless, and the Pirates are perennial losers, but that doesn't excuse the fact that there was only 8,790 fans who went through the turnstiles. Maybe the hard-working, redblooded Americans in Pittsburgh were taking an overtly literal boycott of pirates after the events in Somalia, but I highly doubt it. This situation is going to get worse before it gets better. Lets track it, shall we?

Florida Marlins at Pittsburgh Pirates (PNC Park)
Attendance: 8,790

Cincinnati Reds at Houston Astros (Minute Maid Park)
Attendance: 23,308

Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park)
Attendance: 37,865

Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals (Nationals Park)
Attendance: 12,473

Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks (Chase Field)
Attendance: 25,788

Average: 21,664

San Diego Padres
If you're a Padres fan and would like to lose sleep for the next few nights, take a look at their Opening Day lineup. It truly is the stuff of nightmares. Although Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff will provide some respectability to San Diego's offense, the other seven positions barely have a pulse. Names like Jody Gerut, Chase Headley, Nick Hundley, and Luis Rodriguez are ones that exactly strike the fear of God into opposing pitchers. Attention David Eckstein Fans: He will now be manning second base for the Padres in 2009. Finally, his position will match his arm. In terms of the rotation, there is a chance of success only if health isn't an issue. San Diego had a tough time dealing Jake Peavy to a proper suitor in the offseason, but since a deal even now is not out of the question, he will play well in an attempt to catch the eye of some teams. And with bullpen staple Trevor Hoffman now on the Brewers, Heath Bell and his 1.21 WHIP will be closing games (if it ever gets to that point) for the Padres. Wins: 65

Colorado Rockies
If every team has a weakness, the Colorado Rockies' weakness is starting pitching. Their "ace" Aaron Cook posted a 16-9 record with a 3.96 ERA and an average 1.34 WHIP in 2009. A player who could essentially decide the fate of this team based solely on his performance is Ubaldo Jimenez. Usually when talking heads use the word "stuff" when describing a pitcher's repetoire, I tune off immediately. However, when discussing Ubaldo Jimenez, the only word is "stuff". In 2008, he posted the highest average fastball among major league starters at 94.9 MPH. He throws a two-seam fastball, slider, change-up, and curveball all with terrific movement. The problem is, as with most young talent is control. So pay attention to Wednesday, April 8th when he makes his first start of the season. If he is to perform well this season, I really like the Rockies to be competitive again in the NL West. With an offense that is bringing back Todd Helton, Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins, and rising stud catcher Chris Iannetta, they'll be able to stay in every game (especially at home). Let's not forget the addition of Huston Street to their bullpen who wil fill the gap left by Brian Fuentes. Wins: 80

San Francisco Giants
Two reasons I like the Giants to be competitive in 2009: Their starting pitching and the fact that Bengie Molina drove in 95 runs last year. I can not believe it! You learn something new every day. This season, every single one of Molina's runs batted in will be paramount to San Francisco's offense. Today, I tried arguing for a salary cap in baseball. I made statements like, "It would increase the parity of the game and provide a more level playing field for the fans to enjoy". Then I look at the Giants projected Opening Day lineup and think, "No it wouldn't". Some teams still will make AWFUL decisions and give terrible contracts to bad or unworthy players. Aaron Rowand, Edgar Renteria, and Barry Zito all make perfect examples. And what do you know? They all play for the Giants! But putting that aside, San Francisco still has the reigning NL Cy Young Award Winner (Tim Lincecum), a Hall of Fame veteran (Randy Johnson), a potential stud pitcher (Matt Cain, and cough Barry Zito. Don't count them out. Wins: 81

Arizona Diamondbacks
I am saying (or typing) it right now: the 2009 Arizona Diamondbacks will win the NL West. Whether it be the lineup, the rotation, or the bullpen, they are stacked with potential and bonafide talent. Remember how last year when Arizona traded for Dan Haren and everyone thought they would have the best pitching staff in the national league?Well this year they will be even better. You can pencil in Webb and Haren in for at least 15 wins a piece. And with the acquisition of Jon Garland and Max Scherzer having a full year under his belt, there are only two words: Look. Out. In my opinion, their pitching success is a foregone conclusion. It's their offense that has me a little worried. At every position they have a young, potential all star. It's about time that it all came together. Although the entire lineup is prone to the strikeout (1,287 times in 2008, 2nd most in the majors), when they do make contact, the result is runs on the board. And in case you were wondering, the answer is yes, there is a Tribute to Augie Ojeda on YouTube. Wins: 92

Los Angeles Dodgers
Did you hear? Manny Ramirez is on the Dodgers. I know, I know. Crazy. But interestingly enough, there are 24 other players on Los Angeles. They are rarely spoken about, but they do exist. Players like Russell Martin, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Rafael Furcal are all rather talented and could possibly lead the Dodgers to a National League Pennent. Something they couldn't do in 2008. But, such is the recipe in the majors, pitching wins championships. And the Dodgers are not exactly stacked with pitching. My belief is, in order for Los Angeles to get over the hump this season, Clayton Kershaw needs to reach ceiling that scouts claim he has. Of course, all Dodger-success could be rendered moot when Manny decides that he wants to play for another team mid-season. But you know, that's just Manny being Manny. Wins: 89

Pittsburgh Pirates
I could easily put "Insert last 15 Pirates season projections"  right here, but I won't. Because this year, they might actually have a chance to improve on last season's 67 wins. Amidst the signings of two Indian pitchers who won a game show and baby stealing wives of prospects, the Pirates may have just put together a halfway decent 25-man roster. Ever since they hired a new manager (John Russell) and general manager (Neal Huntington), the focus has been towards the future of the franchise. Although that has been said before (see: 1994-2008), this season could begin to show the Pirates patience with their young talent. 22-year old Andrew McCutchen has been dubbed "the next great 5-tool talent" and will see significant playing time in the majors by mid-season. Pittsburgh is too great of a sports town (See: Steelers, Penguins) to have a professional franchise constantly set up camp at the bottom of the National League Central Division. Hopefully, fingers crossed, the Pirates begin making strides towards regaining the glory that a 120-year old franchise deserves. Wins: 72

Houston Astros
The Astros of 2009 are too much of an enigma to sum up in one paragraph. Do they have talent? Yes (See: Roy Oswalt, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman). Are they young? Yes (See: Michael Bourn, Hunter Pence). Do they have veterans? Yes (See: Pudge Rodriguez, Darin Erstad, Miguel Tejada). The 2009 Astros at times this season will look like the best team in the division. Those times will be when Oswalt is on the mound and Michael Bourn is stealing 2nd, 3rd, and home. Other times, Houston will show their gaping holes and depleted farm system. That side will rear it's ugly head more times that not this season and thusly, Houston will end up towards the bottom of the Central. Look for Oswalt to be dealt around trade deadline time. For your troubles, here's a video of Hunter Pence signing bats. Wins: 79

Cincinnati Reds
In case you were wondering who Chris Dickerson is, here is a video of the rookie outfielder for the Reds going through his spring training apartment. Two interesting facts about Dickerson: He is an advocate for "Green" living and he is cousins with Hall of Fame NFL running back, Eric Dickerson. Anyway, about the Reds. It all comes down to how Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez pitch down the stretch. They have both shown to have All-Star talent, but both pitchers faded during the second half of the season. Although this doesn't seem to be the Reds season to break out, expect significant strides from their young position players (i.e. Chris Dickerson, Jay Bruce). Right now, Cincinnati looks very much like the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays. A team loaded with potential that only needs the right chemistry to make a playoff run. Though, in my opinion, that will be next season. Wins: 77

St. Louis Cardinals
Remember when this used to be Rick Ankiel? The young, impressionable pitcher who flat out forgot how to pitch. Look at him now. For the 2009 season, he will called upon to hit at least 25 homeruns and drive in 80 runs while at the same time, throwing strikes from the outfield to third base. This may sound very "Rick Reilly" but, it's funny how life works out. I feel like I am underrating the offense of St. Louis for this upcoming season. Other than Pujols, the names don't necessarily jump out at you, but the numbers are there. Last season, Ryan Ludwick had 37 homeruns and 113 RBIs (Nearly the same amount as Mr. Albert). I believe one of the most overlooked moves of the offseason is St. Louis' acquisition of Khalil Greene. Once upon a time (2004), Greene won the NL Rookie of the Year Award for the Padres. In a more potent lineup such as the Cardinals', Greene could rekindle some of that offensive productivity. Whatever the offense provides this season, the catalyst for St. Louis will be Chris Carpenter coming off an elbow injury. Wins: 87

Milwaukee Brewers
My suggestion to anyone who bets on baseball games (They do exist): Always take the over when dealing with the Brewers. Why? They. Hit. Home. Runs. In the 2008 season, five Brewers hit 20 or more homeruns. And that's not including Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall who have the capability. But, like the rest of the National League, pitching is not their strong point. After CC Sabathia followed the money to New York, the Brewers were left with a rotation of Jeff Suppan, Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra, Braden Looper, and Dave Bush. World beaters, they are not. Consider the 2009 Milwaukee Brewers as any Texas Rangers team in the late 90s. Offensively talented with limited pitching depth that will inevitably burn out in the division series come October. Wins: 85

Chicago Cubs
Not much to say here. Almost nothing has changed since they were humiliated by the Dodgers in the NLDS. The only difference is that Kerry Wood is now with the Indians and Kevin Gregg will take over as closer. Maybe the addition of Milton Bradley will take them further in the playoffs. But let's be honest, never have those words been said in succession. We all know that the Cubs have terrific talent in all facets of the game. They hit for power, run the bases well, have stellar pitching and can close games. It just boils down to October. It's as if the entire Cubs organization comes down with the Arod disorder when the calendar hits October 1st. I don't feel bad for their fans though, they always seem to be having a great time at the games. Wins: 96

Washington Nationals
Last season, there was a little buzz surrounding the Nationals because of the opening of their new stadium. But that is where the buzz ended. Since their first season in the MLB, Washington has yet to compete for a division crown let alone a wildcard spot. And it seems that this season will bring more of the same. Even with the signing of Adam Dunn, Washington's offense will struggle to score runs. I tried searching for video on their "ace" John Lannan and this is all I got. Much like the Reds or the Pirates, the Nationals are designed to win at the earliest, 2011. Wins: 68

Florida Marlins
After reading Sports Illustrated's assessment of the 2009 Florida Marlins, they have deducted that their main weakness is defense. I'm not saying that they're wrong, but all I am saying is that defense won't be the reason the Marlins don't make the playoffs. It will be their bullpen. Compounded with Matt Lindstrom's injury from the World Baseball Classic will be his 1.45 WHIP. He may have had a solid second half (1.07 WHIP), but who's to say he won't regress back to walking a high number of batters and rendering a high batting average in balls put in play. Other than that, I really like their offense. Look for a breakout year from Cameron Maybin. Wins: 80

Atlanta Braves
If Atlanta believes that Tom Glavine will give them ANYTHING this season, they have totally lost everything that made them successful from 1991-2005. I understand that Glavine provided a lot of good times for the franchise, but naming him the 5th starter will be a huge mistake. He will be overmatched in every game he starts this season. Other than Tommy Boy, the rest of the Braves rotation is fairly sound. Derek Lowe may have been overpaid, but he will give them everything he has. He's durable, effective, and eats innings. He's the perfect pitcher to lead that staff. Javier Vasquez, who is constantly underwhelming, will definitely improve on a terrible 2008 season. The key to the Braves offense is the Jeff Francoeur, who also had an abysmal 2008 season. Another overlooked free agent signing: Garret Anderson. Wins: 86

Philadelphia Phillies
Like the Cubs, the Phillies are not much different from last season. Only a few changes. Pat Burrell: Out. Raul Ibanez: In. So it's easy to say that the Phillies will win the division. But there are a few things to consider. If you remember, Brad Lidge turned into Mariano Rivera for the entire 2008 season and did not blow a save all season. By the end of the season and into the playoffs, Philadelphia had an unhittable bullpen. It's unrealistic to think the same will happen in 2009. Also, let's not forget Matt Stairs. The man who enjoys celebrations a little too much. I guess it's a Canadian thing. Wins: 93

New York Mets
If this isn't the Mets year, then they will never have a year. Every aspect of their game has been examined, analyzed, and remedied in the off season. Offense: Taken care of. Bullpen: Taken care of. Starting Pitching: Almost there. If the Mets are to win the World Series (as Sports Illustrated predicts they will), John Maine and Mike Pelfrey both need to avoid injury and keep hitters off the base paths. Unlike 2007 and 2008, I see no collapse come September for the Mets. With the signings of Francisco Rodriguez and J.J, Putz, a late lead in the season won't be choked away. And if it is, the Mets organization better keep hold of the insurance policy on Citi Field. Wins: 95

Look for my preview for the American League tomorrow...or whenever.

Alex Rodriguez will miss some time this season
I wanted to write a lot about this, but I feel I just would have wasted my time trying to convince everyone that I think this is the best thing that could happen for the Yankees. I can not really explain why I feel this way. Every single tangible statistic and number points to the contrary. They'll have less power, they'll hit for a lower average, lower on base percentage, and a lower slugging percentage. But the man has been a constant distraction for the past three years. He says the wrong things, he does the wrong things, and the Yankee players are the ones who have to answer for him. I believe without him, they will perform even better. Let us not forget who the Yankees still have in their lineup:

Johnny Damon: Two words: Contract. Year. He stated earlier in the offseason that he wants to stay in New York. That's also not to mention that he did bat .303 with a .375 on base percentage in 2008. I would pencil him in for at least the same, if not better numbers.

Derek Jeter: Sure, he can't field. But what he lacks at shortstop, he'll make up for in hitting, and ladies. He had a bad year in 2008, and still batted .300.

Robinson Cano: Okay, we ALL know what he is capable of, right? Rod Carew comparisons. Perennial batting champion. It's about time the man lives up to his billing. There's not much to hang your hat on with him coming off last season, but he did bat .307 after the All Star Break and ended up with a .271 batting average for the year. My guess is that he finally brings it all together.

Jorge Posada: There should be a constant "?" next to his name for at least until June. If his shoulder holds up, they will have the fourth best hitting catcher in the league (McCann, Mauer, Martin). I say that because he will only catch about 90-100 games this year. With that kind of rest, a healthy Posada could tear the cover off the ball for a better part of the season. But the question remains, IF that shoulder holds up.

Mark Teixiera: There are a few numbers we can already give Teixiera for the 2009 season: .290+ average, .370+ OBP, .570+ SLG, 30+ HRs, 110+ RBIs. Those numbers should be set in stone. What matter is WHEN he will start compiling those numbers on a regular basis. He is known as an awful first half player. My hope is that he will step it up while Arod is out for the first couple months and carry the load until he returns. They are paying him $20+ million a year for the next eight years, it's the least he could do.

Hideki Matsui: Is anyone expecting anything from him? I'm not. So basically, if he hits one single this season, he will have surpassed my expectations. I can't be upset with his performance since he has joined the Yankees though. For four of the six years he has had 100+ RBIs, which he actually rather good for a player coming over from Japan.

Xavier Nady: Did you know that Nady went straight to the majors after being drafted? Not even a token trip to the minors. Something to hang your hat on for the 2009 season.

Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner: Six of one, half dozen of the other. Flip a coin. At least that is what I think. However, if you were to look at Gardner's Wikipedia page, you would think he is the greatest prospect in the history of the Yankee farm system:

"Gardner's legs are his strength. He's the fastest baserunner in the organization, has 80 speed on a 20-80 scale, and has solid baserunning instincts. He's adept at picking spots, knowing when it's more valuable to the team for him to use the threat of a stolen base to get the pitcher to throw fastballs to the heart of the order. He has outstanding plate discipline, draws a good number of walks, and uses the whole field while making consistent, hard contact. Baseball America rated him as having the best strike zone discipline in the Yankees minor league system after the close of the 2006 season."

Sounds like a real find! He should start based solely on that assessment. Meanwhile, Cabrera's Wikipedia page states the following:

"On July 7, 2007, Cabrera tied a Yankees record by striking out 5 times in a single 13-inning game, a feat known as the platinum sombrero."

Now remember, Cabrera is still two years younger with MORE experience. I say, it doesn't matter. These are inconsequential pieces to the proverbial puzzle. Cabrera may hit for a better average while Gardner may steal more bases. There is enough talent around them to cancel out their inability. Regardless of how they perform this year, they will just be a stop-gap until Austin Jackson realizes his talent and is patrolling centerfield at Yankee Stadium.

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       It was only a few days ago that Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees admitted to using performance enhancing substances from 2001 to 2003. The admission was met with great coverage and attention by the local and national media. ESPN had a twenty minute interview conducted by senior baseball analyst Peter Gammons that led SportsCenter. The New York Yankees held a press conference at their spring training home in Florida for Rodriguez to answer any further questions. The conference was attended by hundreds of media members wielding tape recorders and notepads. Reporters from North America, South America, Europe and Asia all stood by and watched Rodriguez admit to his faults. The media storm was vast, quick, and only a few weeks later it has seemed to dissipate. Sure there are a few stories still swirling around Rodriguez regarding his relatives, his meetings with Major League Baseball, and his performance this spring training. However, the fact of the matter is, the baseball-going public has become indifferent it seems. It is not a “story” anymore.

            For the better part of a decade, the game of baseball has been slapped around regarding the steroid issue. Records have been broken, congressional meetings have been held, and legacies have been tarnished. Yet baseball shows no signs of slipping. Attendance sky-rocketed over the past few years and new stadiums seem to be built every season. For a problem that was destined to end baseball as we know it, the game has quietly stepped aside as the problem passes. Barring the struggling economy, baseball will be as strong as ever. Fans will whine and moan about how their favorite athletes are “cheating the game” and “tainting the integrity of baseball”, yet they will continue to purchase their favorite teams apparel, buy three-hundred dollar tickets to the ballgame, and pay nine dollars for a hot dog.

            It is always nice to believe that we as human beings have a high moral ground, or that we are entitled to certain things. Yes, it is true, those athletes who test positive for performance enhancing substances have cheated. But does that type of action warrant the amount of criticism and denigration we inflict upon those players and the sport itself? The one attribute we hold most dear in our favorite athletes are their ability to be a “real” person, yet we ostracize them when they make “real” mistakes. We voice our outrage against these players, but the turnstiles are still used from April to October.   

            Professional baseball has been played in America for over one-hundred and twenty years. In that time there have been dozens of instances where integrity had been compromised and the playing field was not level. Until 1947, African-Americans were not even in the league. Bats have been corked, balls have been scuffed. The 1919 Chicago Black Sox are still referenced today for throwing the World Series. And the all-time hits leader in major league baseball, Pete Rose, has been kept out of the Hall of Fame for placing bets on games he played. There have been individuals littered across the landscape of the game who stopped at nothing to gain an unfair advantage. However, baseball continues to be our national pastime, fathers still use it as a way to connect with their sons and daughters, and no sport is more symbolic of new beginnings than baseball.

            For over one-hundred and twenty years, America has stood by our pastime through the ups and downs. Steroids are just another chapter in the book of baseball. The naysayers who believe that the game is doomed have a very short memory. What the past has shown is that we, as a society, treat baseball as well as sports in general, as a microcosm of life. There are triumphs and there are defeats. There are heroes and there are villains. But such is life; we enjoy the game as a whole. Baseball is not about the destination, it is about the journey.