Opinion

Tonight, Chris Heisey continued the trend of making the most of every opportunity.  Something he has done since getting called up last year.

Heisey pinched hit in the ninth inning, hit a ball that bounced just past second base into center field to get an RBI and expanded the Reds lead over the Diamondbacks.  Not to mention, that was only his 11th at bat and fifth RBI this season.

The Los Angeles Angels entered the 2011 season with a lot of unanswered questions.

When will Kendrys Morales return to the lineup? Will Scott Kazmir keep his spot in the starting rotation? Can Vernon Wells live up to his enormous contract?

A week into the season, these questions have yet to be answered.

Orioles rookie Zach Britton made his second start this afternoon and earned rave reviews for his performance, shutting down the high-octane Texas Rangers offense that exploded for 13 runs in the night-cap of the double-header.

Eight games into the 2011 season, former Los Angeles Dodgers' catcher Russell Martin may be the best signing in the American League.

The New York Yankees picked up Martin despite rumors circulating that they were about to call up one of their prized prospects, catcher Jesus Montero from the minors.

Dear Clevelanders,

I hope I don't jinx anything, but the Indians are playing some good ball right now.  They have won five games in a row, and have done it in different fashions, showing their versatility.  I don't harbor any World Series illusions, but a little support for these guys couldn't hurt.  Hear me out before saying you hate Dolan and Shapiro and write off the idea of attending a game.

Manny Ramirez is officially hanging up his cleats, leaving behind a career filled with highs and lows.

After Ramirez tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance during Spring Training, the 38-year-old slugger decided it was better to step away from baseball rather than face the scrutiny and embarrassment of a 100-game suspension.

Everyone knew coming into this season that the A's would have the same setup as the team across the Bay, the San Francisco Giants. The A's pitching has been hyped up from the get go, and rightfully so. The starters are young and very good, and the relievers are a major improvement over last years.

The A's lineup looks a bit different from last years as David Dejesus, Josh Willingham, and Hideki Matsui now sit in the 3-4-5 spots. 

The Minnesota Twins are doing a poor job of protecting the investment they made in catcher Joe Mauer. 

The eight-year, $184 million extension Mauer signed with the Twins last season places him fourth among the highest-paid position players in Major League Baseball.  

Baseball is not for everyone. When non-baseball fans question the appeal of baseball, a response is hard to come by. It has a long season, games are slow and players change teams frequently. With the lack of parity, teams can go decades without making the playoffs and giving fans a glimmer of hope.

This is why it takes a lifetime to be a fan of a team.

As Terence Mann said from Field of Dreams, “The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America…has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.”

It has proved to be an interesting beginning for the AL East, with the Baltimore Orioles currently sitting at the top of the standings.  The Orioles have come out hitting with their newly improved batting lineup, and pitching surprisingly well with a rotation that was projected as the worst in the AL East.

It is, of course, only the first week of the season, but winning and losing streaks are important no matter when they happen.