The season is now a week old, and already we have seen tons of exciting, new things around major league baseball. From teams that may contend more than some may have thought prior to the season, to star players performing at star levels, to a bunch of young stars flooding the major league scene. One can tell that this truly will be a season to remember. So tune in to your MLB Extra Innings, MLB.tv, local newspaper box scores, or gamecasts on your iPhone, 'cause here are the Top Ten most exciting, interesting things that caught the nation's eye over this past opening week of Major League Baseball action. (In no particular order, by the way...)#1: The Cubbies!! It has been a whirlwind week for the Cubs. For a team that will have the entire world watching them this year, in their 100th WS anniversary, they came out of the homestand 3-3. We saw a lot from this team, and it no doubt will be an exciting year. After initially stumbling vs. the Brew Crew, the Cubs jumped back to life in the suddenly warm, sunny Chicago weather. The offense is beginning to jive, showing signs of improvement. At one point this past week, the Cubs threw up a 5-spot on the scoreboard with strings of clutch hits and power. The bullpen has also shown signs of promise. While Bob Howry has continued to struggle, (he usually starts off slow) Carlos Marmol has been lights-out and Kerry Wood is 3-3 in save chances. Big-Z has hopefully cured some opening day cramping caused by low potassium levels and too much caffeine, and has been electric in two starts. As far as the offense, Derrek Lee looks to have regained his prowess at the plate from three yeas ago before his wrist injury, and is hitting .400 with 3 longballs; a good sign is that not only is he using all fields, but some of his hits are going to left field, which had been a problem for him in the past. Of course, the other main part of the Cubs offense so far has been the star play of Japanese import, Kosuke Fukudome, which brings us to...
#2: Fuku-Fever! Ever since K-Fuk entered the majors last Monday, he has been sensational. He started his career on opening day going 3-3 with a game-tying, ninth-inning blast into the bleachers, and since has hit .421 with clutch hits, a suprise bunt, and quick defense. He has shown that he can play, and if he keeps it up (which there is no reason to doubt), he'll be on to great things in Chicago, and should help bring great things to the Cubs. His teammate, D. Lee, has already said what a learning experience it is to watch Fukudome bat, and how his intelligence and demeanor is helping the rest of the team.
#3: New South Side Hitmen. On the South Side of Chicago, nobody knows yet just how far the White Sox can go this season. With shaky pitching depth, a shallow farm system, and stacked talent in the AL Central, there is a reason to doubt. One thing is for sure, however, the Sox will H-I-T!! There lineup could have the chance to be one of the most potent in the game, after tonight's 13-2 drubbing of the Tigers proved. The outfield boasts on-base machine Nick Swisher, who also provides a few laughs for the clubhouse. Swish, along with current LF Carlos Quentin and RF Jermaine Dye, all look like they have potential to be 20-40 HR guys, and steal a few bases while they're at it. In the heart of the order, Paulie Konerko and Jim Thome are perennial mashers of 40+ HR, while 3B Joe Crede once could do the same. Behind the plate, A.J. Pierzynski has been leading the league in hitting over the past week, currently sitting at a .500 AVG. Up the middle, Juan Uribe has switched to second, but can still hit about 20 dingers while flashing the leather, as can Orlando Cabrera who came over from the OC to now be the Sox #2 hitter. Oh, and off the bench can come Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez who was stellar during the spring, and looks to be a 5-tool player. So if you're an opposing pitcher, try writing this scorecard without passing out...Swisher, Cabrera, Thome, Konerko, Dye, Pierzynski, Quentin, Crede, Uribe, and Ramirez off the bench. Cool!
#4: Youngsters. As you look around the league, you see tons of young players that are either up, or will be called up soon, labeled by the media as future superstars and phenoms. Currently, many key roles on contending teams are being held by extremely young players who are full of talent. In the NL East, the Mets are anchored by superstars David Wright and Jose Reyes, the Phillies have third-year masher Ryan Howard, the Fish are full of youngsters, along with the Nats, and the Braves are, as they always have been, a yearly farm for the games best young players (Yunel Escobar, Jeff Francouer, Brian McCann, Kelly Johnson, Jair Jurrjens...). In the West, you have the Dogdger's Kershaw, Eithier, Loney, Billingsley, Broxton, and C Russ Martin, while the D'Backs are loaded with more young talent you can name (but you can start with Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew, Chris Young...). Of course the NL Central is loaded, too, with the Cubs having their share of youngsters in key roles. C Geovany Soto is one of the early season favorites for ROY (along with teammate Kosuke Fukudome who is around 30, though), and has guys around him like Marmol, speedy Felix Pie, and bench guy Ronny Cedeño. The Brewers, meanwhile, have some young talent of their own to the tune of the Prince, Weeks, Hardy, Braun, Hart, Gwynn Jr., Gallardo, Parra...I'm sorry, am I naming the whole team?...Almost! Over in the AL East, you've got names like Melky Cabrera, Robbie Cano, Hughes, and Joba on the Yanks, with Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, Bucholz, and Papelbon on the Sawx, and don't even get me started on the Rays (more on them later). The West features names like Felix the Great on the M's, and the currently blocked Jarrod Saltalamacchia on the Rangers. And in the Central, you've got Grandy on the Tigers, Sizemore on the Indians, and the entire Twins and Royals organizations (including Alex Gordon, Joakim Soria, Billy Butler of the Royals, and Carlos Gomez, Francisco Liriano, and Delmon Young of the Twins). That is just of few of the young talent in the majors this year, and one of those not mentioned just had an electric major league debut last week for the Reds. His name...
#5: Johnny Cueto=electric. A guy who not many people knew prior to this spring training, burst onto the Reds' roster as their number three starter. With worlds of talent, and electric stuff, he pitched 7.0 inning in his major league debut, with 10 K's, zero BB's, and only 1 ER. Let's keep on eye on him, and his teammate Edison Volquez, who currently sit #'s 3 and 5 in the Reds' rotation.
#6: Jake Peavy is nasty, and the reigning Cy Young. Enough said.
#7: The Red Sox are weary travelers. Guess where the Red Sox have been the past week and a half. Well, if you don't know, let me tell you a little story. There once was a great team called the Boston Red Sox who won two World Series Championships in four years, and who's group of rockstar players developed quite a following. So Major League Baseball capitalized on it and drew up quite a schedule for thier opening week. They are all relaxed and tanning in beautiful Florida, when a big plane arrives and takes them to Japan, where they travel the country playing local teams and the Oakland A's. Then, they must quickly fly back across the world's largest ocean (the Pacific) to Los Angeles, CA, to play a three-game exhibition series vs. the Dodgers, including a game at the historic LA Coliseum. Then, they travel up the state to Oakland, where they once again play regular season games vs. the Athletics. Can they go home yet? No. Now, they will help the Blue Jays open at home in Toronto, Canada. Can they go home now? Yes, after 3 countries, 2 continents, 5 cities, 4 Opening Days, and many timezones, they can return to Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusets. Quick, funny story: much of the team has been so tired because of all the traveling that they were shown constantly yawning during Sunday's game in Toronto. TBS analyst Craig Sager even told of how Josh Beckett, who wanted to watch Saturday night's NCAA action, fell asleep in his hotel room at 8:00 pm with the television on.
#8: Old-time Dodgers. In the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Vin Scully, Joe Torre, and Boys in Blue look poised to make some noise both in and outside of Chavez Ravine. It is a year that has thus far been praised in tradition, and the team looks committed to winning, as well. Torre brings his iconic managing career to the West Coast, where he looks to bring the Dodgers a NL East Championship and maybe more (*Writer's note: Not if the Cubs have anything to do with it!!)
#9: Young teams looking to resurge with new ballparks, unis, and players...oh my! Three teams who recently went young, are looking toward change in many ways. The Twins recently traded away many stars, and locked up a couple more young ones. Now, with guys like Gomez, Young, Morneau, Mauer, Nathan, and Liriano, they look to develp and be ready to contend along with their new ballpark in 2010. Another team, the Tampa Bay "Rays," has a new look. They changed their name and thier unis to show a brighter future. They feature some of the best young players in the game in LF Carl Crawford, sweet-swinging CF B.J. Upton, and überprospect (and soon-to-be call-up) 3B Evan Longoria. Other stars like leadoff/import Aki Iwamura, impact slugger Carlos Peña, and young starters Scott Kazmir, James Shields, and Matt Garza look to help the Rays finally contend. And to go along with this new look, the owner is pursuing an amazing, waterfront park and entertainment district to be built in downtown St. Petersburg, that will boast all of the latest in design and technology. Of course, and team who has already got new unis, young players, and now a sweet to ballpark are the new residents of Nationals Park: the Washington Nationals. Led by 3B Ryan Zimmerman, and new acquisitions Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes, Wily Mo Peña, and Austin Kearns, the Nats look to also contend, quick, in the NL East. And now they have beautiful new ballpark to set out on that quest in.
#10: A great season, is what we are all looking forward to, and "Let's Get Some Runs" by DG is your place to find all the greatest coverage on the biggest stories in Major League Baseball all year!
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