Best sports day of the year. It's a difficult topic to tackle because there are so many quality options.
America is gripped during the first two days of March Madness.
That first Sunday that the NFL kicks off (and let's hope it happens in 2011) is always memorable.
Or how about that first Saturday of the college football season, when the weather is just right and the long gridiron layoff that lasts seven months for most programs is finally over.
The three aforementioned sports days contain blended feelings of excitement and hope, to where every team is alive in the quest for a championship. They are three great days to be a sports fan. There's one sports day that tops them all for me. One day that provides a feeling of joy that no other sport offers.
My favorite sports day of the year is Major League Baseball's Opening Day. Thankfully, it's only three days away for the Texas Rangers.
Opening Day offers a unique satisfaction. Even though I won't be in Arlington when Texas takes on Boston, the first day of the baseball season makes me feel like I'm the same age every year (say around 10). No other sport can trigger that feeling of innocence. Not to say that I'm a troublemaker, but when I watch Opening Day games, the stresses and struggles of life seem to freeze, while being temporarily overtaken by relaxation and 'just being.'
Opening Day only rolls around once a year, so I have to make the most of it. I'm thrilled to have Friday off from work, so I'll be watching baseball all day leading up to 3 p.m., when the Rangers host the Red Sox on ESPN.
A heavyweight southpaw pitching battle figures to take place between C.J. Wilson and Jon Lester. I'm curious how our offense looks with Ian Kinsler leading off, Elvis Andrus moving to the 2 hole, Adrian Beltre hitting cleanup and Michael Young dropping to the 6 spot. I'm even more curious to see Beltre and his reputation as a defensive wizard put to the early test.
I also will naturally have an eye for the little things, such as Josh Hamilton, now a year removed from hitting .359, remaining patient at the plate and keeping his walk total up; things such as C.J. managing his inflated walk totals from a year ago; how C.J. pitches without his personal catcher Matt Treanor, who was traded to Kansas City on Monday; Julio Borbon's defense; general 3-0 counts, first-pitch strikes and base path behaviors. Everything that makes baseball my favorite sport to watch.
In the grand scheme, the end result of Opening Day doesn't mean much. After all, there are 162 games to be played. But that first one can create important early momentum.
I'll always remember 2010, when Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a game-winning single to beat Toronto. It seemed the offense couldn't buy a hit for six or seven innings that day. Baseball is an odd, yet intriguing game. The Rangers, of course, went on to finish 90-72, win their first playoff series in team history and win the American League championship before eventually falling in the World Series to San Francisco.
I'm ready to begin the season as defending AL champions. Rangers fans will enter this season with a certain sense of pride that they've never before been able to display. I'll proudly be sporting my Rangers gear all week in anticipation.
So, is it Friday yet?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
It's starting to feel a lot like baseball season again
My NCAA Tournament bracket is completely hopeless. None of my predicted Final Four teams are alive. Once March Madness nears its conclusion, the best part about this time of the year year is looking ahead to baseball season.
Today, with six days until the Texas Rangers open the season against Boston, was the first time it hit me this spring that Opening Day is steadily approaching.
I'm watching the Rangers take on the Cubs right now in Surprise, Ariz., on ESPN2. First time I've watched the team on TV this spring. Initially, it felt like I was living in the past a little bit. C.J. Wilson, our 2011 ace, took the hill, Nelson Cruz smashed a double to right-center field and Mitch Moreland blasted a home run over the right-field fence. The last time I watched the guys on TV was obviously the World Series.
It's time to move on to 2011. The Rangers have a promising roster that could set them up to repeat as AL West champions.
My brother Dave visited me in Lawrence for my birthday last weekend, and we were definitely in the Opening Day spirit:
Here's what's on my mind with Opening Day six days away:
• Neftali Feliz, after being considered to move to the rotation, will remain in the bullpen in 2011. It's understandable why management made this decision. If Feliz starts, then who closes? Is Alexi Ogando ready? Mark Lowe has looked dreadful this spring. Frank Francisco was traded over the offseason for Mike Napoli. It's probably too late to make a trade. The bullpen consists of plenty of seventh- and eighth-inning guys (Darren Oliver, Arthur Rhoades, Lowe, Ogando, Darren O'Day), but there's no bona fide closer in that mix. Feliz, who saved 40 games last year, is clearly that guy who brings a presence to the back end of the bullpen.
• The news of Tommy Hunter beginning the season on the disabled list because of a sore right groin is a tough development. I'm sure plenty of Rangers fans will clamor for Feliz to crack the rotation even more in light of Hunter's injury. But if this is a different Rangers era than a few years ago — and I think it is — then the depth should allow the rotation to stay afloat. Let's say Hunter and Brandon Webb miss the first month of the season. You're rolling with Wilson, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland and either Ogando (who's being stretched out), Michael Kirkman, Dave Bush or Eric Hurley. There are options; a welcome change from past Texas teams.
• The batting order is also pretty much determined: Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Cruz, Michael Young, Mitch Moreland, Yorvit Torrealba, Julio Borbon. I'm curious to see how much time Borbon sees to begin the season. He's had a fair share of outfield errors this spring, but has hit very well.
• My curiosity for seeing Beltre play remains at its peak. I still haven't seen him play in a Rangers uniform because manager Ron Washington benched several of the starters after playing in a night game the day before. Fair enough. I still can't wait to see Beltre, particularly in the field at third base. The excitement and hype surrounding Beltre reminds me of Vladimir Guerrero last spring. I couldn't wait to see Vlad in the uniform.
Can't wait for the season to start. Six days and counting.
Today, with six days until the Texas Rangers open the season against Boston, was the first time it hit me this spring that Opening Day is steadily approaching.
I'm watching the Rangers take on the Cubs right now in Surprise, Ariz., on ESPN2. First time I've watched the team on TV this spring. Initially, it felt like I was living in the past a little bit. C.J. Wilson, our 2011 ace, took the hill, Nelson Cruz smashed a double to right-center field and Mitch Moreland blasted a home run over the right-field fence. The last time I watched the guys on TV was obviously the World Series.
It's time to move on to 2011. The Rangers have a promising roster that could set them up to repeat as AL West champions.
My brother Dave visited me in Lawrence for my birthday last weekend, and we were definitely in the Opening Day spirit:
Here's what's on my mind with Opening Day six days away:
• Neftali Feliz, after being considered to move to the rotation, will remain in the bullpen in 2011. It's understandable why management made this decision. If Feliz starts, then who closes? Is Alexi Ogando ready? Mark Lowe has looked dreadful this spring. Frank Francisco was traded over the offseason for Mike Napoli. It's probably too late to make a trade. The bullpen consists of plenty of seventh- and eighth-inning guys (Darren Oliver, Arthur Rhoades, Lowe, Ogando, Darren O'Day), but there's no bona fide closer in that mix. Feliz, who saved 40 games last year, is clearly that guy who brings a presence to the back end of the bullpen.
• The news of Tommy Hunter beginning the season on the disabled list because of a sore right groin is a tough development. I'm sure plenty of Rangers fans will clamor for Feliz to crack the rotation even more in light of Hunter's injury. But if this is a different Rangers era than a few years ago — and I think it is — then the depth should allow the rotation to stay afloat. Let's say Hunter and Brandon Webb miss the first month of the season. You're rolling with Wilson, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland and either Ogando (who's being stretched out), Michael Kirkman, Dave Bush or Eric Hurley. There are options; a welcome change from past Texas teams.
• The batting order is also pretty much determined: Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Cruz, Michael Young, Mitch Moreland, Yorvit Torrealba, Julio Borbon. I'm curious to see how much time Borbon sees to begin the season. He's had a fair share of outfield errors this spring, but has hit very well.
• My curiosity for seeing Beltre play remains at its peak. I still haven't seen him play in a Rangers uniform because manager Ron Washington benched several of the starters after playing in a night game the day before. Fair enough. I still can't wait to see Beltre, particularly in the field at third base. The excitement and hype surrounding Beltre reminds me of Vladimir Guerrero last spring. I couldn't wait to see Vlad in the uniform.
Can't wait for the season to start. Six days and counting.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Kinsler hitting leadoff over Elvis: good or bad idea? Plus, should Neftali Feliz start?
When the Rangers play their first game of the 2011 season — April 1 vs. Boston in Arlington — they will begin the year with a new batting order.
Manager Ron Washington recently announced that Ian Kinsler would move into the leadoff role, Elvis Andrus would hit second, and Michael Young would bat sixth.
It came as a little bit of a surprise, given the fact that the Rangers went all the way to the World Series with Andrus hitting leadoff the majority of the year. Andrus, still only 22, hit for a .265 average, sported a .342 on-base percentage, stole 32 bases and scored 88 runs in 2010. Hardly numbers that jump off the page, but for a 22-year-old leadoff guy, they were more than serviceable.
My first thought after hearing about the new order was, if Andrus continues to mature as a hitter, where does his future project in the lineup? I thought it was leadoff, as long as he still has that blazing speed. At 22, he won't be losing his step any time soon. Maybe his several basepath blunders last year were enough to prompt the switch at the top of the order. Perhaps management feels Kinsler is a smarter runner who can still get on base, steal some bags and provide extra power at the same time.
In limited duty last year, Kinsler posted a career high .382 on-base percentage in 103 games. Better than Andrus' .342. OBP. Maybe that's what management looked at. I'm starting to come around to the new lineup, which should look like this on Opening Day 2011:
1. Ian Kinsler
2. Elvis Andrus
3. Josh Hamilton
4. Adrian Beltre
5. Nelson Cruz
6. Michael Young
7. Mitch Moreland
8. Yorvit Torrealba
9. Julio Borbon
• Speaking of Opening Day, I received a package in the mail on Monday that helped me get in spring training mode. The weather is getting better and it's officially March. Time to start thinking baseball again:
MLB.com had a President's Day sale going on last weekend: Buy one item, get an additional item of equal or lesser value at 40 percent off. So I went with a polyester/spandex workout shirt to the right, and a Nolan Ryan throwback powder blue jersey. I shy at the idea of spending big bucks on jerseys because of the contemporary age of free agency and trades. Can't go wrong with a jersey of the Rangers president, though. And it was $60. Jerseys these days seem to go for $80-100. That's my first actual Rangers jersey, surprisingly enough. I have Kinsler and Hamilton shirt-jerseys, but most of my Rangers gear consists of team shirts.
• The more and more I think about the Rangers' rotation heading into 2011, the more I think Neftali Feliz should start. If he's ready. And if Alexi Ogando is ready to close. Think about how much more dangerous the team was last year with a dominating starter in Cliff Lee. Feliz could be that guy. That's not to say he should immediately jump into the No. 1 slot. I'm just thinking off the top of my head, but what's wrong with a C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Feliz, Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland opening day rotation? It appears Brandon Webb may not be ready for the start of the season. Starting pitching is always top priority. That's why I'm thinking it may be more beneficial to get 6-7 innings from Feliz every fifth day, as opposed to one inning to close out games. Closers seem to be more replaceable than starters. Worth a thought.
• The Rangers have started Cactus League 1-1 with a split against the Royals in Surprise, Ariz. Wish I could be out there at this time of the year. I've taken one trip to spring training — March 2006, when I was in college on spring break. Best trip I ever took. Hopefully, one of these days, I'll get back out there for some spring training action.
• Exactly one month until Opening Day. Let the countdown begin.
Manager Ron Washington recently announced that Ian Kinsler would move into the leadoff role, Elvis Andrus would hit second, and Michael Young would bat sixth.
It came as a little bit of a surprise, given the fact that the Rangers went all the way to the World Series with Andrus hitting leadoff the majority of the year. Andrus, still only 22, hit for a .265 average, sported a .342 on-base percentage, stole 32 bases and scored 88 runs in 2010. Hardly numbers that jump off the page, but for a 22-year-old leadoff guy, they were more than serviceable.
My first thought after hearing about the new order was, if Andrus continues to mature as a hitter, where does his future project in the lineup? I thought it was leadoff, as long as he still has that blazing speed. At 22, he won't be losing his step any time soon. Maybe his several basepath blunders last year were enough to prompt the switch at the top of the order. Perhaps management feels Kinsler is a smarter runner who can still get on base, steal some bags and provide extra power at the same time.
In limited duty last year, Kinsler posted a career high .382 on-base percentage in 103 games. Better than Andrus' .342. OBP. Maybe that's what management looked at. I'm starting to come around to the new lineup, which should look like this on Opening Day 2011:
1. Ian Kinsler
2. Elvis Andrus
3. Josh Hamilton
4. Adrian Beltre
5. Nelson Cruz
6. Michael Young
7. Mitch Moreland
8. Yorvit Torrealba
9. Julio Borbon
• Speaking of Opening Day, I received a package in the mail on Monday that helped me get in spring training mode. The weather is getting better and it's officially March. Time to start thinking baseball again:
MLB.com had a President's Day sale going on last weekend: Buy one item, get an additional item of equal or lesser value at 40 percent off. So I went with a polyester/spandex workout shirt to the right, and a Nolan Ryan throwback powder blue jersey. I shy at the idea of spending big bucks on jerseys because of the contemporary age of free agency and trades. Can't go wrong with a jersey of the Rangers president, though. And it was $60. Jerseys these days seem to go for $80-100. That's my first actual Rangers jersey, surprisingly enough. I have Kinsler and Hamilton shirt-jerseys, but most of my Rangers gear consists of team shirts.
• The more and more I think about the Rangers' rotation heading into 2011, the more I think Neftali Feliz should start. If he's ready. And if Alexi Ogando is ready to close. Think about how much more dangerous the team was last year with a dominating starter in Cliff Lee. Feliz could be that guy. That's not to say he should immediately jump into the No. 1 slot. I'm just thinking off the top of my head, but what's wrong with a C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Feliz, Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland opening day rotation? It appears Brandon Webb may not be ready for the start of the season. Starting pitching is always top priority. That's why I'm thinking it may be more beneficial to get 6-7 innings from Feliz every fifth day, as opposed to one inning to close out games. Closers seem to be more replaceable than starters. Worth a thought.
• The Rangers have started Cactus League 1-1 with a split against the Royals in Surprise, Ariz. Wish I could be out there at this time of the year. I've taken one trip to spring training — March 2006, when I was in college on spring break. Best trip I ever took. Hopefully, one of these days, I'll get back out there for some spring training action.
• Exactly one month until Opening Day. Let the countdown begin.
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