I'm Feeling Like I Shouldn't Have Left You

In the words of MC Chris, "I'm feeling like I shouldn't have left you."

Sorry for the delay in posts. I guess trying to make this a weekly thing was a little unrealistic. Don't hate me, I'm doing my best. A lot has happened since my last post, so let's get going.

Josh Hancock:
Josh Hancock, a bullpen pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, was killed in a car accident early Sunday morning (April 29th). He was 29 years old. It is sad when anyone goes before his or her time. This is the second St. Louis pitcher to die in 5 years. I hope Cardinal's fans are holding up okay.

The NFL Draft:
I hate NFL Draft day more than any other sports related day. I understand all of the discussion and debate leading up to the draft because people want to see their team get the best talent they can. Everybody wants the next hot young player. I even understand the excitement about the first round of the draft. After all, the first round is when all the big names are picked and it usually has the most drama. What I don't understand is why all of the other rounds are televised. Oh my, who are the Seahawks going to choose with the 197th pick of the 2007 draft? Who cares? I feel like broadcasting that much of the draft if a waste of TV. space. I'm sure there are a handful of football fanatics who watch the NFL draft start to finish, but most people don't. There has to be a baseball game they could broadcast or something.

Brady Quinn:
The Cleveland Browns selected Quinn, which was not a surprise. What was a surprise was that they used the 22nd pick to get him. That has to bruise the ol' ego.

Tony La Russa:
I never thought I would say this, but Tony La Russa is a good guy. The St. Louis Dispatch did a parody of poem, which essentially said the Cubs had no chance at winning the World Series. During the next press conference (and after the Cardinals loss to the Cubs 3-5) La Russa denounced the Dispatch and said it was "a cheap shot". Not only that, but he also got in one reporter's face when the reporter said that La Russa was wrong. I think that shows some class. It shows he respects the rivalry and that he understands the difference between a joke and an uncalled for cheap shot. Good man.

Chicago Bulls:
A defending NBA champion has not been swept in the first round of the playoffs since 1957. Of course that stat now changes to "...since April 29th, 2007". The Chicago Bulls pulled off a sweep of the Miami Heat and I could not be happier. I love the Bulls, but it's great that they did this to the Heat. I have never really been a fan of Shaq and I do like Dwayne Wade, but I don't like the rest of the team. The Heat seem to attract a lot of drama and I'm glad to see them go.

Random Notes:
Ted Lilly: 2-2 with an ERA of 2.18. He doesn't always get a lot of fun support, hence the low number of wins, but I'm still on the "Ted Lilly for NL Cy Young" bandwagon.

Torrii Hunter: Hunter was hit in the mouth by a fastball against the Kansas City Royals. The interesting thing is it came the day after it was announced that Hunter broke an MLB rule by giving the Royals four bottles of champaign. I guess they weren't too happy that they had to give it back.

Jimmy Rollins: Lead the NL with 9 homeruns. Huh?

A whole lot of season left.

The first week of baseball is in the books. For most teams, somewhere between 7 and 9 games have been played and everyone still believes they have a shot. After all, who could really tell anything about a team this early in the season? Players get hot (and cold) and it just might take a little while for a team to gel (or fall apart). Here are some thoughts I have had during the first week of the season.

-The Cubs: They go on a 3-3 road trip which is not shabby and recieve excellent pitching from Lilly, Marquis, Hill, and Zambrano (his second time around). Wade Miller almost had me wishing for Mark Prior and the bullpen has been anywhere from lights out to crap. So far, they are 0-2 at Wrigley Field and that stat needs to change now. Given, that 0-2 is against the Astros, a team that has forever and all time given the Cubs a hard time. I don't know if they can make a run or not ( I hope so) but I am jumping on the Ted Lilly for NL Cy Young winner band wagon (even if it is a small wagon).

-The Mets: Will anyone be able to stop these guys? Although they are not currently sitting a top the NL East, they seem to have the most powerful offense by far. Between Jose Reyes constantly getting on base and being a speed threat (he was on base seven times in their last game against the Braves) and the big bats of David Wright, Carlos Delgado, Moises Alou, and Carlos Beltran, is there a better line up in the NL? They beat the Cardinals 20-2 over three games. So not only did the bats come out but the pitching seems like it should be able to hold up enough to win.

-Young Pitchers: Although they are probably not going to win the Cy Young Award this year, I find almost no greater pleasure in baseball than watching a young pitcher dominate. It might be only for one game or it could be for a stretch. Hell, they could go on to win 15+ games. Whichever it is, I really like to watch them. A few guys have really caught my eye. Here are their stats after a few games.

Felix Hernandez (Seattle Mariners) RHP- ERA: 0.00, SO:12, W-L:1-0, 2006 SO:176. Not to shabby for a 21 year old.
Rich Hill (Chicago Cubs) LHP- ERA:1.29, SO:6, W-L:1-0. He went 7 innings in his season debut and gave up only one hit.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (Boston Red Sox) RHP- ERA: 1.29, SO:10, W-L:1-0. I know there is a lot of hype around this guy, but if his stuff is half as good as people have said it is, he will be a damn fine pitcher. I can't tell you how much I want to see a gyroball.

-Interesting Fact: Did you know that Jason Schmidt has as many home runs as Ryan Howard? Did you know that Barry Bonds has as many stolen bases as Carl Crawford? The start of the season is so crazy.

Wrap Up:
-Off to a 4-4 start in the less than amazing NL Central, the Pirates will probably not stay at the top of race.
-Cincinattie might be able to.
-Barry Bonds will break the all time HR record. I will die a little inside.
-A.J. Pierzynski wins a game by getting hit by a pitch. He is one of the biggest jerks in baseball...that does everything to help his club win. Can't really argue with that.
-I know that snow has wrecked havoc on some baseball games. After all, it should not be snowing in April. But, this does not mean that global warming is not happening!

Hope springs...

"Hope springs eternal..." is a phrase that is constantly used to describe the opening games of the Major League Baseball Season. It has been used for as long as I can remember and you know what? It's perfect.

The most beautiful time in sports is the first day of games in the MLB. The hope that exudes from the stands is truly amazing. Everyone believes that this could be the year that his or her team makes it to the top. Especially in recent years, with seven different teams winning the World Series and a good number of them being wildcard teams. Go to any city and you will get a different World Series prediction. There are people out there right now who think that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have a chance to make it to October! Hope and faith like that is so rare in this world. It is a beautiful thing.

I guess I am going to keep this post short because the message is a simple one. Before the other 161 games make us forget what makes baseball so great, just remember the hope and excitement you felt on April 2nd. Before Barry Bonds tarnishes one of the games most hallowed records, before another player is found to be taking steroids, or before we get wrapped up in the stats and drama that come with every season, just reflect on the amazing feeling of innocence and purity that comes with opening day.

To put it the best way I can,

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest:
The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

-Alexander Pope,
An Essay on Man, Epistle I, 1733