And what a bang it came in on. Yesterday and Today, all over baseball, people are wishing each other a happy new year.  Its when their year really starts.  It reminds me of opening night of a show, with an extra little buzz in the air, as people go about their business anticipating the audience reaction to what they have put their efforts in for the past, oh, however long.  This “show” can be one game or 162 or maybe even 175+, for some teams. It’s hard to know.  And today is where the journey begins for 30 teams.

Last night sure got the show off right too.  The Nationals park look wonderful, a big improvement over RFK, I’ll be down there relatively soon, and can give you some feedback but, what a night for baseball and for ESPN.  While many tuned in to see the ballpark, and ESPN did a nice job of covering the ceremonies, what they got was an interesting game.  Tim Hudson lost and then found his way and after a rough first inning in which he threw 30 pitches he became unstoppable for the next 6.  Then in the top of the 8th, new catcher, and much criticized Paul LoDuca misses a pitch (granted a tough one) and the Braves tie the game up, taking Hudson off the hook for the loss. And what follows that? Bottom of the 9th, the franchise player, the guy who should be the David Wright of the Nationals hits a walk off home run to win the game.  Ryan Zimmerman is the guy the team should be built around, and now that the team has revenue streams, and some big ones,  there should be no reason why he should ever leave that team.  Stan Kastan has supposedly said that he can’t sign Zimmerman to a long term deal because of the David Wright deal, but its because of the David Wright deal that he should.  Remember the days of Jeter and Nomar facing each other?  Think about Zimmerman and Wright growing with their teams in the NL East for years to come.  Now the money is there from the new ballpark.  Give the fans who showed up in droves a sign that they can believe in that franchise.  Zimmerman secured his place in Nationals lore last night, now, the team needs to make sure he isn’t gone in 2 more years.  If they don’t, well, they might as well be the Florida Marlins.

So its time for my predictions for the season.  There have been some interesting ones over on the message board,  very well reasoned, but here are mine.

American League:

East-Red Sox - they have the pieces and to repeat would bring the front office enough joy that they might find some money if they need another piece at the deadline.

Central-This is all about health. I’m going with the Tigers, because they too will overpay at the deadline to get any missing piece since they are close now, but old and won’t have all the pieces for long.  The Indians and even the White Sox could easily step in the Tigers do fall victim to injuries for any length of time.

West-Seattle will make a good run, but assuming the injury bug doesn’t bite hard this is the Angels to lose.

Wild-Card-Yankees.  The Central division may now be the toughest division in baseball so the games will get divied up pretty evenly.  The East is still controlled by the Yanks and the Red Sox, though both the Rays and the Jays will put up decent showings.

National League:

East-The Mets.  Last year was too humiliating for those in the front office who spent all year being smug.  Money will be spent to make sure that a flag is raised when they open a new ballpark next year.

Central-Cubs.  Just no other option.  Sure the Brewers and even the Reds will have moments when they test, but its the easiest division now, and it belongs to Lou P. and his guys.

West-Now this could be the toughest division in baseball, but I am giving it to the Diamondbacks.  There pitching is good enough that even though they don’t have any idea how to hit, they should be able to pull it off.  The Dodgers, Padres and Rockies will all make it tough, though.

Wild-Card-This is going to come down to the last day of the season, and it will be between the Phillies and one of the teams in the West.  I want to believe the Rockies can do it again, but there pitching just isn’t good enough.  The Dodgers are still a little too young, and the Padres, well they have a little more fight, but too much SoCal atmosphere.  I am picking the Phillies to try their run again.  This is the pick I am the least sure about, but I have to choose one.

Well, that’s if for today. Now Play Ball!