Opening Day is Here!!!

It's Opening Day, one of the greatest days in the year for baseball fans!

22 of MLB's 30 teams will kick off the new season today. Two of the eight that aren't started last night, the Braves and the Phillies battled it out in the primetime opener on ESPN2. The Phillies had pregame festivities to celebrate their World Series championship season last year, but the Braves came in and stole their thunder. Two years in a row have the Braves opened the seasonon the road in the big opener game, last year at Washington in their new stadium. Mark Teixiera hit the first homer in the history of the ballpark, called by former President George W. Bush (he was in the booth at the time). With Teixiera no longer in Atlanta, Brian McCann provided ample power with a towering two-run shot into the upper deck in right field. A quieted and frustrated crowd then witnessed Brett Myers allow Jeff Franceour and Jordan Schafer solo homers in the next inning. Schafer, in his first MLB game, hit a homer in his first MLB at-bat. The last Atlanta Braves player to do that was Jermaine Dye in 1996. Derek Lowe shut out the Phillies through eight and sat watching as Mike Gonzalez struck out Raul Ibanez to end the game, despite giving up one run.

Can't get enought Opening Day coverage? Head to ESPN and ESPN2, where you can catch five games today, although I'm not sure what they will do about the PPD Rays at Red Sox game. You can see Johan Santana (right) and the Mets at the Reds, Cubs-Astros, Athletics-Angels, and Yankees-Orioles. To get the best game day studio coverage, tune to the brand new MLB Network, in its first season of coverage.

Fantasy Baseball Advice

Fantasy baseball leagues are filling up everywhere, and it is time to study if you haven't joined yet. Let me bring a few guys to your attention. One steal is 3B Melvin Mora, who hit 104 RBI's last season. At age 37, it would be unfair to expect such numbers again, but keep him in mind for the bench later on or as a utility player. Of the Jimmy Rollins-Jose Reyes-Hanley Ramirez shortstop craze, you need to compare the stats here. Ramirez strikes out a ton, his 122 strikeouts in 2008 were exactly 40 more than Reyes and 67 more than Rollins. Ramirez, however, had a .400 OBP, 42 points better than Reyes and 51 points better than Rollins. Rollins should have a better year this year because of injuries last season, but how much farther can he go? Ramirez, also known for his power bat, had an easy lead over the other two in home runs with 33. Reyes had 16 and Rollins 11, but Rollins hit 30 during his MVP 2007 season. The biggest stat with these table-setters: Stolen bases. Reyes had the most steals with 56, then Rollins at 47, and finally Ramirez at 35. If you take the averages from the last three years, though, here they are:
Ramirez averaged 46 SB's, Reyes averaged 66 SB's, and Rollins averaged 41 SB's, making Jose Reyes clearly the stolen base king.
However, considering all that Hanley Ramirez brings to the table, I would go with him over the other two. 46 stolen bases is all I need, plus his 30 HR and 80 RBI bat and .400 OBP. The only downside is the strikeouts, but it is more than worth it.
As for the New York third basemen, take David Wright over A-Rod because of A-Rod's inconsistencies and new steroid admittance. Wright has a higher batting average, and so is more productive. Alex Rodriguez saw a drop of 30 walks in a down year for him, and David Wright had 94 to Rodriguez' 65. Wright collects more hits, too. Wright is young and beginning a career, and with Rodriguez at 33, he could be leaving the prime of his career soon. Wright is only 26 and is still entering his prime.
Take my advice. It's the Wright thing to do.