The echoes of Sean Singletary’s rim-rattling three-point effort have faded. The NFL draft is still a month away and how much can you really get juiced up for spring football?
The Boys of Summer are back. Grab a hot dog and some Cracker Jacks, crank up the ball game on the radio, and ditch the steroid talk for at least a day.
Monday is the purest sports day of the year….It’s Opening Day!!!!
 If Gary Sheffield keeps his ego in check while staying healthy, this could be the bat that gets the Tigers back to the Series. |
Ten questions on my mind heading into the 2007 season
10. Can the Washington Nationals actually be worse than last year?
9. How will Barry Zito (San Francisco), Greg Maddux (San Diego), and Jason Schmidt (Los Angeles) change the NL West?
8. Could Carlos Zambrano be right? Does the 99-year championship drought of the Chicago Cubs end this year?
7. Will the Detroit Tigers have a dream-season hangover? Despite falling short of winning the World Series, Detroit was the story of the baseball season in 2006. How do they come out in 2007?
6. Will the New York Yankees be able to get it done? I’ll give you 11 reasons they should: Posado, Giambi, Cano, A-Rod, Jeter, Abreau, Matsui, Mussina, Rivera, Andy P, and Chen Ming!!!!!
5. Is the Boston Red Sox rotation as good as it looks on paper? Schilling to Beckett to Dice K to Papelbon to Wakefield……that’s just sick!!!!!
4. When and where will Barry Bonds hit 755 and 756 and how will the crowd react?
3. Will this ridiculous George Mitchell steroid investigation produce any piece of useful information?
2. Is Dauisuke Matsuzaka going to be the real-deal rookie in Boston?
1. Will this finally be the year my Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series?
Predictions
National League
East-Philadelphia Phillies
Central-Chicago Cubs
West-San Diego Padres
Wild Card-Los Angeles Dodgers
American League
East-Boston Red Sox
Central-Detroit Tigers
West-Oakland Athletics
Wild Card-Cleveland Indians
NLCS-Dodgers vs. Phillies
ALCS-Red Sox vs. Indians
World Series-Red Sox over Dodgers
Player I’m looking forward to seeing the most: Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard.
He won the Rookie of the Year in his first go round and then the MVP last year. What’s he got planned for Act Three?
Rookie my eyes are on: Matt Garza, Minnesota pitcher.
Brad Radke has retired and Francisco Liriano is out for the year. The Twins need a No.2 to support Johan Santana.
New acquisition that intrigues me: Gary Sheffield in Detroit.
If the Tigers keep the focus they had last year and Sheffield keeps his ego in check while staying healthy, this could be the bat that gets the Tigers back to the Series.
Coaching challenge of the year: Manny Acta, Washington.
This year is just a stepping stone to the future. After auditioning 36 different starting pitchers in spring training, his rotation is basically the pick of the litter.
Acta still must find a way to sooth the nerves of veterans like Ryan Zimmerman, Austin Kearns, Chad Cordero, and Felipe Lopez when this team nears 100 losses.
Wes McElroy hosts “The Final Round” on ESPN 840am. Monday-Friday 4pm-6pm.