DEUCES WILD
By Harold McIlvain II
The MLB season is already back in full force with Opening Day days in the rearview mirror.
But just like any sport, it’s the little things that make a regular season so great. Not the games, coaches or even players at times that make the sport so great – a sport of passion for so many. It’s all about the little unique nuances that make the 162-game season well worth watching months before a champion is crowned.
There are so many intriguing items that will make this season incredibly interesting, courtesy the most noteworthy people and things heading into the 2010 MLB regular season:
Opening week hope: There is a certain amount of level of optimism that surrounds organizations and its fans during the first week of the season that seems to be unique to the sport. I don’t know what it is – but it is always there. It’s inevitable the usual contenders will be atop the standings. But the optimism is refreshing to see – even if it does come from a Royals fan.
AL East showdown: The division boasts the three best teams in the American League by far – perhaps in all of baseball – in the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays. But only two at the most can make the playoffs at the end of the year, and it will be a battle throughout the year. All three teams play a brand a baseball that all fans can enjoy. And with the organizations being pretty close right now, every series will matter that much more.
But it will be very interesting to watch how the Rays start the season. Will they be in the standings race and not make moves, cut the season short and get something in return for the expiring contracts of Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and Rafael Soriano? If they catch fire early, there is no way the Rays get rid of them – even with rumblings of being way over budget right now. A good start needs to happen to compete.
Fantasy baseball: There is no better fantasy sport out there. The marathon grind brings out who the best managers are – and it’s beyond fun. Because at the end of the day when you know who Everth Cabrera is, you feel better about yourself.
Sunday Night Baseball: Because no one can get enough of Joe Morgan and his love for advising pitchers to always keep the ball down at all times and his admiration for any player to ever play second base.
Stephen Strasburg, Washington National pitcher: Even though this super prospect is starting the season in the minor leagues, you probably know about this guy because there is a fascination with finding the next big things with baseball – more so than any other sport at times. It’s a kind of obsession that can put a 16-year-old high school kid – Bryce Harper – on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Braves hitter Jason Heyward and Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman are other names drawing a lot of interest. Heyward homering in his first MLB at-bat won’t calm down too much hype.
Strange injuries: Avoiding the disabled list is tough at times for major leaguers. But sometimes things just happen – like this spring when Cubs first baseman Derek Lee was limited to just three innings after a chair collapsed on him while he was preparing for the game.
Joel Zumaya missed three games of the ALSC in 2006 because of playing too much Guitar Hero. Sammy Sosa once made a DL visit because what was called “violent sneezing.” Last year, Ryan Dempster broke a toe while he jumped out of the dugout to celebrate with teammates. You can’t make this stuff up.
Drama: Bottom of the ninth with two strikes and a team is down by one with runners on base. The inherent pauses mixed with perpetual tension bring big moments to life more so than any sport. There is nothing like it.
Marc Rzepczynski, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher: With 750 big leagues on rosters at all times right now, you are bound to get some pretty good nicknames. That’s the case for Marc, who is known simply as “Scrabble” to teammates because of his last name. Other winners include Xavier “The Un-tie-er” Nady (for his clutch hits), Pablo “Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval and Shane “Flyin’ Hawaiian” Victorino.
Crazy promotion days: The Giants might have most MLB teams beat this year with a bobble head day of Tim Lincecum that will feature synthetic hair to make it more lifelike. But minor league organizations now how to take these to another level, as there was a sunglasses at night world record attempt and even a raffle for a free three credit course at a community college in the past two years.
Pat Venditte, New York Yankee pitching prospect: This pitcher is listed as a right hander…and a left hander. That’s because he is ambidextrous and pitches with both arms while on the mound – but not at the same time. That would be too crazy. Venditte was even able to make a Major League exhibition appearance during the spring.
Target Field: How many games will the Minnesota Twins actually get to play on time at this new outdoor stadium? The marketing department has already made commercials about how it being cold outside will be a home-field advantage. That’s not baseball.
Harold McIlvain II is an assistant sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every other Wednesday.