Baseball

Cubbies are engaged in a spring training game in sunny Mesa today. One week and two days they will be opening the season on the road, but opening day will be here nevertheless. I don't have high hopes for either of my teams, the Cubs or the Tigers, but I long for the afternoons and evenings listening to the static on the AM radio with Pat and Ron calling the game. It never has to be just the Cubs. I enjoy listening to the Cardinals play-by-play here in central Illinois too. I don't have to enjoy it when the Cards win though.
As I look forward to the season a few things come to mind. First, have the Cubs assembled a winning team? I don't know. I just hope that they make the games competitive, fun to watch and they play until the 27th out. Same hope for the Tigers. I do look forward to watching the young talent on the White Sox. Alexi Ramirez, Gordon Beckam, and Carlos Quentin. With a healthy Jake Peavy and the pick-up of Juan Pierre, I don't think I should make my annual bet with my brother. But pride will make me make the bet, that the Cubs will still have more wins.

Another team I look forward to watching is the Cincinnati Reds. Again, a young team with seemingly great talent. I will give Jay Bruce a year or two to prove his immense power. I also really like Joey Votto (except when he plays the Cubs). Brandon Phillips is fun to watch at second base.

My fifth team to watch is the incredible Los Angeles Dodgers. They have an unbelievable outfield offensively and an very solid center and right fields defensively. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are terrific to watch in the field and at bat. Manny Ramierez is fun to watch at bat, but also comically enjoyable to watch in the outfield. The Dodgers also have a strong pitching staff that will keep them in the games even if the batters are able to hit it to left field.

Finally, check out the final tour of Ken Griffey Jr. in Seattle. Even though he hasn't been the amazing player he was in his youth, he still deserves the respect he will get playing back at home in Seattle. I remember when he came to the majors in the late 80's and how much fun it was to watch him play with his dad in the outfield in Seattle's old ballfield. I hope to get to a Seattle Sox game sometime this summer.

Summer is almost here.