Opening Day is upon us. Well, one of them anyway. We had one in Japan last week. And then the Cardinals-Marlins game and then more staggered Opening Days across Thursday and Friday. It’s all a conspiracy, you know. The red, white and blue decorative bunting industry and its high-powered lobbyists are what made that happen. More “Opening Days” means more of those banners and that means more money for Big Bunting. Alas.
But baseball is back, and that’s good. And to hold you over until the Cardinals and Marlins face off, here are links to all 30 of HardballTalk’s Springtime Storyline posts. Read all of these and you’ll be able to talk intelligently about every team in the game.
Unless the predictions are all wrong, of course. In which case this will still be useful as a quick-reference for our collective ignorance and folly. We believe, however, that we did a pretty darn good job with these.
AL EAST
Are the Yankees the best team in baseball?
Does anyone remember that the Boston Red Sox were really good last year?
Do the Tampa Bay Rays have the best rotation in baseball?
Have Toronto Blue Jays brought in enough help for Jose Bautista?
Can Dan Duquette lead the Orioles out of the wildnerness?
AL CENTRAL
Can anyone in the AL Central beat the Detroit Tigers?
Will the Cleveland Indians build on last season or take a step backward?
Are the Kansas City Royals finally ready to contend?
Are the Chicago White Sox rebuilding or contending?
Can the Minnesota Twins get back on track after 99 losses?
AL WEST
Can the Rangers win the AL once again?
Did the Angels buy themselves the A.L. West?
Who are the Oakland Athletics?
Can the Seattle Mariners score any runs?
NL EAST
Are the Phillies still a juggernaut?
Will standing pat get the Braves back to the playoffs?
Are the Marlins the most interesting team in baseball?
Are the Nationals ready to contend?
How long will the Mets spend in baseball purgatory?
NL CENTRAL
Will the St. Louis Cardinals survive the loss of three legends?
Is there life after Prince Fielder in baseball’s smallest market?
Have the Reds built themselves a World Series contender?
Are the Pittsburgh Pirates getting any closer to breaking .500?
How will year one of the Cubs’ rebuilding plan fly in The Friendly Confines?
What will the Astros’ final year in the National League look like?
NL WEST