MLB Opening Week Around the Corner - Call for Questions

'Duk of Big League Stew knows the deal

Baseball’s sort-of-opening day is six days away, though it seems like Major League Baseball is whispering its return rather than roaring itself into the American psyche these days. There are plenty of reasons for that, but that’s another post for another day. Yes, friends, basketball has the spotlight right now, but it’s probably a good time to start thinking about WARP, “I can’t stand ____________” and those delightful crab fries you get at Citizens’ Bank Park in Philly.


So, what are you fine people keeping an eye on this season? Many readers here cheer for the more popular teams like the Red Sox, Yankees and Cubs, so your fandom has partially answered the question. However, there have to GOT be other teams, individuals and story lines that you’re intrigued by.

Consider this a call for questions, comments, and suggestions about baseball. While you may be inclined to think of what’s happening on the field, feel free to ask anything in relation to the business and culture of the game as well. Keep in mind, baseball’s CBA is set to expire at season’s end, Bud Selig is supposed to retire in 2012 and Scribe is begging to visit a ballpark or two this summer.

Send them this way through Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or even good ol’ email [asportsscribe DOT gmail DOT com]. In response, throughout next week, you’ll see a few dedicated posts. To keep things interesting, some will feature conversations with well-respected media (bloggers, mainstream & alternative press) and if they’re no inebriated, some random people on the street.

In the meantime, here’s a gift from the online video gods & goddesses.

Optimism

And so it begins... for almost everyone else.

After Los Bravos opened the season with a win in Philadelphia, it's Opening Day for all but four teams today: Atlanta, the champion Phillies, Kansas City and the Chicago White Sox (the opener for the latter two was postponed).

Optimism will never run higher at any point in sports than at the dawn of a new baseball season. Every team has a shot to either shock the world and make a playoff run or assert season-long dominance.

No mediocre team has traded their best players to the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels or Cubs yet.

No player has gotten into a tussle with their manager yet.

Most of all, because he's on the shelf for a couple of weeks, Alex Rodriguez has yet to be booed and blamed for the economic recession.

If there is something that I cannot wait for this season, it's not the chase for a triple crown or the already-worn-out question of "who are this year's Tampa Bay Rays?" or even if Josh Hamilton can follow up two impressive seasons with a MVP campaign.

It's the day this man finally enjoys the sweet nectar they call victory.

Happy Opening Day to all and to all, don't forget about the other sports just yet.

Yes, even the men's basketball final tonight.