Preview/Prediction

Those of you who regularly visit the Phillies’ BR page know that featured columnist Gary has appropriately analyzed the Phillies’ five “keys” to the 2010 season during the last few weeks.

Just as a refresher, here are Gary’s five keys:

1. How will the fifth starting pitcher fare?
2. Can Cole Hamels go back to the future?
3. Which Raul Ibanez will show up this season?
4. Will the bullpen sink or swim?
5. Which Brad Lidge shows up?

Tough to argue with any of them.

It's a new season. A new beginning. A fresh start.

It's also the final opening day for one of the greatest managers to ever grace the dugout, Bobby Cox.

Cox has what is possibly his most talented team since the early 2000s.

The Braves have plenty of starting pitching. They have a lineup that has the potential to become quite dangerous. They have a bullpen with one of the all-time greatest closers.

There are still question marks within those units.

Will Troy Glaus continue his torrid pace from spring training (he hit over .400)?

2009 ended with a loss. And this season? (Cubbie Nation/file)

I really wasn’t going to do this.

Opening Day optimism, there is nothing like it in sports.  Cubs fans have thrived on it for over 100 years.

This is, by far, my favorite time of the year on the sports calendar.  The snow has melted, the grass is turning green, and I can start to hear the crack of the bat and roar of the crowd.

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.

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.