Major League Baseball Storylines

We’re happy to see warmer weather, green grass, put on our ball and sick of hearing about congressional hearings. That means its baseball season. Let’s take a look at the big storylines for the 2008 season of Major League Baseball.
-The Red Sox are looking to defend their title for the second time in four years. It’s been a bit of dream for Sox fans since the 2004 ALCS Game 4. An impossible comeback against the Evil Empire in the playoffs and two World Series Championships with sweeping power. It’s been three generations since Boston was last having this kind of fun and everything seems to be in place to keep the party going. All the big bats are back in Ortiz, Ramirez and Youklis and the young talent like Pedroia and Ellsbury is getting better.
-This is this last year for one of the most iconic places in sports and the country itself, Yankee Stadium. It has been home to the greatest franchise in history and is a temple to some of the game’s greatest players. Thankfully it will be replaced by a sequel with the same name. It would be crime to sell the naming rights to some bank or cell phone company. There are some things in baseball that should never the same and keeping the Bronx Bombers at a Yankee Stadium in one of them.
-Joe Torre goes cross country to manage the Dodgers after his, ahem, resignation at New York. He never had much success in the national league but that was before he found his groove with the Yankees. People say he his presence has already changed the club and he has the talent to push for the World Series.
-The Mets are looking not to blow it again. After their collapse last year, the pressure is on in Queens for New York to deliver. They got the biggest free-agent signing of the off-season in pitcher Johan Santana and they still have the best left side of the infield in Jose Reyes and David Wright. It’s an all or nothing season for these guys.
-The Orioles are…oh wait…no one cares…still.
-Detroit arguably has an All-Star at every position after picking up Dontrelle Willis and Orlando Cabrera. Combine that with Justin Verlander, Magglio Ordonez, Curtis Granderson and skipper Jim Leyland and the Tigers look like they could be the best team in baseball; on paper.
-Barry Bonds says he still wants to play this year. Well, some American League team will need a slugger and the home run king will still be able to whack a baseball better than most other jokers. Watch out for Barry come June and July.
-It’s been a 100 years since the Cubs last won the World Series and making them kind of a magical favorite to win it all this year. They certainly have the players do to it but will the pain continue for Chicago fans? Probably.
-It looks like things are going from bad to worse for Roger Clemens and more doubts begins to…eh, forget it. Get out the hot dogs and cracker jacks, let’s play some baseball.