Baseball Is Back, And It's Better Than Ever

The azaleas are blooming, the sun is shining, and the grass is getting green. These signs of spring can only mean one thing: Baseball is back. And in 2010, our beloved national pastime promises to be as exciting as it has ever been. Never has Major League Baseball had such a compelling influx of young talent. Alas, 2010 will be a season where youth springs eternal on the diamond.

In Atlanta, power-hitting rookie phenom Jason Heyward has given Braves Nation hope that they may in fact be able to challenge the mighty Phillies for the NL East crown. In Tampa, young studs B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, and David Price look to propel the Rays past the Yankees and Red Sox and back into the postseason. In Washington and Cincinnati, the lively arms of Stephen Strasburg and Aroldis Chapman have shown the light at the end of the tunnel for two heretofore suffering franchises. And in San Francisco, the youthful brilliance of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Pablo "Kung Fu" Sandoval has instilled in this diehard Giants fan very high expectations.

Still, this year's division races will likely be decided by the veterans. In the American League, familiar names Jeter, Teixeira, and Rodriguez will lead the defending World Series champs to yet another 90-plus win season. Out West, veteran ace Cliff Lee will bring a division title to the Mariners, while Vladimir Guerrero will keep the exciting Rangers in contention all season long. In the National League, you will once again see Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, Carlos Zambrano, and Chipper Jones be the leaders of their respective teams. So while youth may be the topic du jour, steady veteran leadership remains as important as ever.

As for my predictions, I like the Yankees, Twins, Mariners, and Red Sox to play October baseball in the American League. In the NL, my money is on the Phillies, Cardinals, Giants (Go Giants!!!), and Braves to make the playoffs. But at this point, predictions are meaningless. All 30 teams will enter Opening Day with hope and optimism, and over the course of 162 games, certain teams will surprise us, and certain teams will disappoint us. Nobody knows what will occur. So let's just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. This season is going to be great.