Two weeks ago, the sports world could have been described just like the weather outside. Without the NFL and in the midst of another mediocre and uneventful NBA season, the sports pages were filled with gloom and darkness.
But just as the clouds broke, the ice melted and the sun finally showed itself, the outlook of sports began to brighten up – thanks as always to baseball, which has always come to the rescue when the NBA just won’t seem to end.
The clouds vanished when the New York Yankees finalized the trade for reigning American League MVP Alex Rodriguez – the biggest transaction since the Bronx Bombers acquired Babe Ruth from the Red Sox. The ice melted when the Cubs brought four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux back to where it all began. And now, the sun is shining as teams reported to spring training last week.
But although the regular season doesn’t start for more than a month, it already has a special feeling to it. Coming off a year when perennial losers the Cubs and Red Sox came one win away from the World Series, and the Marlins upset the Yankees to win the championship, this year has even more storylines to follow than past seasons.
The first thing that will fall under the biggest spotlight will be A-Rod at third base in pinstripes. Could this be the year where the exorbinant payroll will finally breed a championship, or could the Yankees lack of pitching depth come back to haunt them in the playoffs? One thing is for sure: A-Rod will have no trouble adjusting to his new surroundings and will lead what could turn out to be the most prolific offense in baseball history. And while I dislike the Yankees – and will continue to no matter how much George Steinbrenner supports Ohio State – I’m even looking forward to tuning into some Yankee games to see the best shortstop in the game play the hot corner.
Another storyline comes from the same division and the Yankees’ biggest rivals. After an offseason which saw the Red Sox bolster their pitching staff by acquiring future Hall of Famer Curt Schilling and proven closer Keith Foulke, Boston was the frontrunner for the division before the Yankees acquired A-Rod. The Red Sox still may be the early favorites as their staff is still more talented than their Yankee counterparts.
In the National League, the biggest story -other than how the Marlins will fare in their quest to repeat as champions – is in the NL Central. The division which has always been competitive but often seen as the weakest division could be in for a dramatic turnaround. Adding Maddux to the talented quartet of Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano and Matt Clement, the Cubs may be able to boast baseball’s most talented pitching staff. Now “Wait ’til Next Year” finally meant something good to Cubs fans after last season’s run.
The Cubs, however, may not be the clear-cut favorite. Nipping on their heels closely are the Houston Astros. The Astros have the second-deepest pitching staff, thanks to the additions of former Yankees Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite. Adding those veterans to a young staff featuring Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller and Tim Redding, the race for the NL Central should be exciting. And we shouldn’t forget about the St. Louis Cardinals, who know they will have superstar Albert Pujols for years to come.
Like every year, these storylines will garner the most attention at the beginning of the season. But soon, something unexpected will happen, shifting focus to a new Cinderella team, player or manager.
Don’t worry sports fans, the gloom and doom will soon be replaced by the sun and warmth of another baseball season.
Matt Duval is a senior in journalism and The Lantern editor. He can be reached at [email protected].
