Season opens today, kicking off with Atlanta vs Philadelphia.

Those who have paid attention to my baseball posts over the years will recognize that I'm a hardcore Phillies fan, which means last year was a dream come true. Sadly I do not expect similar things this year... but would not complain at a repeat.

The Mets are better, the Marlins look pretty tough, and Atlanta always hangs in there... especially when they have good pitching as they should this year. So yeah, bleak things a foot for the Phillies.

Feel free to post ruminations on your own favorite team or division or league... predict, mock, lament, or whatever.

OPENING DAY! Woot...

I barely follow the game as a whole anymore, but still love the Bravos. Go Braves!

i expect the mets to disappoint me in september yet again. i will still fly all over the country to see them, though.

i also despise gary sheffield and will have a very hard time rooting for him in a mets uniform.

i think the phillies bullpen will be worse (how could they not be) but the Phillies best bats struggled last year and I expect those will improve, hopefully balancing out the bullpens struggles.

The Mets "get better" every year. I have faith in their continued ability to blow it.

I'm a big Cardinal fan and am really looking forward to this season. I don't expect them to win their division, but do think they'll give the Cubs some trouble. The big questions are: Can Chris Carpenter remain healthy? Will the young bullpen learn on the fly? How will Skip Schumaker, a converted OF, do at 2B? Should be fun to watch...

As a Tigers fan, I am incredibly happy to see Sheffield go away.

I think my Tigers can do well this year, but the bullpen is a worry.

It was pretty cool watching the exhibition games at Yankee Stadium with the Cubs.

Royals fan, or STFU.

Between your man-love for Bobby Cox, Wade Phillips, & Bill Self, though, you're a terrible person.

It might snow here in Cincy tomorrow.

cubs will probably go 162-0 and get swept in three in the first round

I think the Phillies will win the division, Braves win the wildcard.

The Mets will suck a dick like they always do.

One game does not a season make, but so far tonight your prediction is looking mighty... iffy.

As I'm reading this thread Myers gives up HR #4...Awesome.

one game? two innings.

True, but its looked like an Atlanta home run derby so far.

that's just how Brett Myers rolls

doesn't the NL wildcard usually come out of the central division? i'm expecting more of the same this year.

Hopefully in the AL the A's will win their division, as i expect the WC to come out of the East.

2008: Central
2007: West
2006: West
2005: Central
2004: Central
2003: East
2002: West

So three of the last five have come from the Central, with two of those advancing to the Series (Cardinals '04, Astros '05). Rockies also made the WS.

I think you & bort are both right.

The Braves lost 30 1-run games last year. Setting a record I believe. If they win around 10 of those, they're in the playoffs. The most improved part of the team this year is the Bullpen. Not to mention Smoltz and Hudson BOTH went down to injury last year. Lowe is an innings eater and Jair Jurrjens in one of the best young arms in the NL.

The big question is injuries. No doubt Chipper will go down at some point but for how long? I'd like to have a big bopper in the middle of the line up but I like our line up. We're going to play a lot of get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in. I really like the mix of veterans and our young, farm talent. Remember the name Tommy Hanson. A young, 4 pitch phenom who I predict will be on the big club by the All Star break. He was the deal breaker in the Peavey deal. The Braves wouldn't give him up.

If we avoid the major injury bug I like our chances in the NL East. Philly was no great shakes until they go hot at the end of year and SI is slobbering all over the Mets to win it all which, to me, means they'll shit the bed again. The Mets certainly have the talent to do it but they've yet to put it all together.

I think the Cubs have a great team on paper and I think they should win their division. They could suffer from what happened last year where they were the best team probably in the playoffs but they had the division locked up for a month and then ran into a team that had been playing essentially playoff ball for that whole time.

I don't really follow the AL for the most part. I'm sure the Yanks and Sox will be there in the hunt again as well as the Angels. *yawn*

I just don't see their offense having enough to carry them plus their 4-5 starters are huge question marks. If Schafer plays well and Franceour rebounds they should be in the mix...i just don't think they'll have enough throughout the year to be there in the end.

...i hate baseball. ugh ugh ugh.

Padres fan. Will be lamenting after about a week.

Orioles fan, so its basically just expect the worst. However, I'm looking forward to at least hopefully seeing Wieters get called up and being crowned AL ROY.