Baseball

The American League Central has consistently been one of the most competitive divisions in baseball in recent years. In fact, 162 games have not been enough to decide the division pennant the last two seasons, requiring a play-in game to award the Central crown. The AL Central figures to be tight at the top once again in 2010. The following is a completely unscientific prognostication of whom will be the key figures will be in this season's race.

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Whoa, look what happened to the American League West when nobody was paying attention.

As usual, eyes were focused on the ongoing turf battle in the beastly AL East and for good reason—the two best squads and possibly the three finest call it home.

With the first game of the MLB season tonight and the full slate kicking off tomorrow, it's time for everyone to make their picks for the season.

NL East: Phillies

The Phillies are the consensus choice to win the National League East for the fourth year in a row. Roy Halladay could win 25 games with that offense backing him up. Their lineup is still one of the best in baseball, and their rotation is good enough to get them back on top of the division.

Both New York teams have a new starting outfielder on their squads this year.

Both are upgrades over their 2009 counterparts.

The Mets signed free agent Jason Bay while the Yankees pulled off an old-fashioned trade as they acquired Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers in a three-team, seven-player swap.

That trade also involved the Arizona Diamondbacks, and appears to be good for all three teams involved.

In less than 24 hours, the 2010 baseball season starts with the defending champions, the New York Yankees, taking on their long-time rivals, the Boston Red Sox.

This is the first time that the Yankess have opened up the season as the defending champs since 2001, but it definitely feels sweeter this time around.

The Red Sox will turn to Josh Beckett for their opening day start.

First off, I would just like to wish everybody a very happy, secular, non-denominational day of spring and painted egg collecting.

But for most of us, the most special part of this day is the first night of baseball in America.

Tonight at 8pm (or probably 9pm because of ESPN’s commercials), the New York Yankees will take on the Boston Red Sox in what will be the first day of baseball for the 2010 season. As die-hard a hockey fan as I am, nothing feels like Opening Day baseball, especially when the fate of your team is unknown.

With the start of the 2010 baseball season now upon us, those around the Baltimore Orioles are cautiously optimistic that after more than a decade of decay, the team is ready to turn things around. The big question, given their current streak of 12 consecutive losing seasons, is what would be considered a successful season for the O’s in 2010.

MLB Opening day is almost here and fantasy baseball fever is running wild for fantasy owners all over the world.

There are plenty of players people love to talk about such as: Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, etc.

People tend to forgot about players coming back from injury-plagued years or poor production years. There are also players that people go crazy for, who have only had one great year.

April 4, 2010: A day marked on my calendar since November.

And while some will be celebrating Easter and others observing the final days of Passover, an unofficial holiday takes place that you won't find on your calendar. I speak, of course, of Opening Day—the most wonderful day of the year.