Opening Day

Unlike my partner Chem, today has been the best day in a while for me because of Opening Day for baseball. America's sport is back and there's already been some good games today. That being said, I feel like I learned everything I needed to know about the team I picked to win the NL Central. The Brewers are good just like I thought, but the iffy part of their team is definitely late inning pitching, and today was no different. Play a great game and Axford blows it with a 3 run homer in the 9th. I'm not going back on my prediction, but it's going to be a struggle for the Brew Crew if they can't close out games.

In the NL East, the Braves came out strong today. Reminded me exactly of the Braves from last year: get a few runs, and let your pitching do the job. Everyone is absolutely sweating the Phillies starters, but when I look at the Braves, they're pretty damn good also. Derek Lowe is an ageless wonder, and the forgotten monster piece of the 2004 World Series Champion Red Sox. Guy's just purely a winner. Did everyone forget about Tim Hudson? He is the opposite of Heidi Montag: came out way better after surgery. The list goes on. Besides Clayton Kershaw, Tommy Hanson is the best young starter in the NL. If the Braves get any production at all out of Jair Jurjjens, which I believe they will, they are an unstoppable force. But the difference between the fightin Phils and the Braves comes with the lineup.

The Braves are rock solid top to bottom. Subtract Omar Infante and add Dan Uggla. I say you come out on top of that one. Jason Heyward is everything you could wish for as an organization; I would build my team around that kid. Martin Prado is coming off a career year, and will have another big one. And the factor everyone forgets about.... Chipper Jones. Is it just me or is the most publicity Chipper has ever gotten been for the time he cheated on his wife with a Hooters waitress? Chip is a career .306 switch hitter in his 18th MLB season, and has hit 436 home runs. If he played for any other organization, people would be gargling him the same way they do Derek Jeter, who's only .08 career average points ahead of him. Chipper comes to work every day, puts on his hard hat, and gets the job done.

When going position for position, the Braves are better than the Phillies at almost every single spot. Yes Ryan Howard hits for a ton of power, but his batting average has been consistently dropping each year. You can't tell me he has as much incentive this year as he did last when he set the standard for the Pujols deal. Utley may never be healthy again, and I have absolutely no idea what to expect from Jimmy Rollins. I will legitimately take Chipper Jones over Placido Polanco 365 out of 365 days a year. The Braves play good ball and are gonna surprise the hell out of Halladay, Oswalt, and Lee. Oh yeah I forgot about Jim Carey, oh wait that's Cole Hamels. Maybe if he finds the mask he'll have a chance to pitch like he did two years ago in the World Series.

Here's a little reminder of what's coming from the future NL East champs. Might have to get back on that 14 year division title run again.

P.S.- Will Ted Turner please buy the Braves back so America can watch every game on TBS instead of by default having to watch the awful Cubs on WGN???