Brewers are fun to watch...

I bet Paulie is still smiling...


The Brew Crew is getting Milwaukee excited. Agree with Paul, I like the way Yost manages this team, they have executed well and played fundamentally sound ball for the past two years, and with the quick start this season, all signs are pointing up. Milwaukee has been one of my favorite teams to watch since (to my wife's horror) I purchased that MLB "Extra Innings" cable TV package. As long as the staff holds together (and Sheets still hasn't rejoined the rotation), and the young charges continue their ascent (Hardy-Weeks-Fielder is one of the most exciting young infield troikas to come down the pipe in a while), the Brew Crew can hang around for a bit. I also like Bill Hall, one of the most-versatile roto players of them all.

Other early thoughts. The Cubs actually look kind of interesting, as they have upgraded their offense with Pierre and Jacque Jones. Zambrano is one of my favorite pitchers. Now that nobody is paying much attention, watch the Cubs contend. Early snake-bit award goes to Buccos, who have been in every game thus far, yet continue to find ways to lose. I cringe at what this might do to that team at the ticket office, however, as it's hard to imagine the turnstiles whirring once Jim Tracy and the Bucs limp home.

Tribe means business in AL Central. Like with every team, health is an issue, and I see where Belliard is already hurting a bit, but Tribe could go well north of 90 wins this season, and Hafner is my early nominee for possible MVP. Leyland has the Tigers off to a nice start, and if the staff coagulates, the team can roar. Watch Justin Verlander, who could win a Cy Young in the next couple of years. The Royals aren't as bad as last year. They're a real team now, still not great, but not another 100-loss mess. They could easily improve 12-16 games from last year's 56-106 (which was better than the 54-108 of 2004!).

I thought the Mariners had a different look in the first week, especially with the new import catcher, Kenji Johjima, providing an exciting new dimension. But the M's have fallen back into their old habits when getting handcuffed by Joe Blanton and Zito the past two nights. The A's are going to go north of 90 wins this season. Halos might keep pace and no suprise if the wild card comes from the AL West in '06. I am really enjoying seeing Tim Salmon back on the roster. He might be my all-time favorite Angel, and it is worth noting that he had been on the big team for four different uniform looks! His is the bat the Angels might have been seeking to help complement Vladdie, and he looks ready to produce at DH. Salmon is first class all the way, and in an era of so many prima donnas in sport, Salmon is a refreshing throwback.

Devil Rays are going to be exciting. Probably asking too much for ex-Washington State hoopster Mark Hendrickson to maintain the pace after his great opening win over the O's, but if he and another pitcher (still a longshot) step up aside Kazmir, the Rays can threaten .500, because they can score. In the NL West, it is all up for grabs, as the Pads look as if they will struggle to get above .500. But who knows, that might be good enough to win the division again! The potential distraction of Clint Hurdle and Dan O'Dowd getting the boot has Colorado on edge, but the Rockies are not horrible, and have been getting better than advertised pitching this week. If I had to predict and NL Worst, er, West, winner, I would reluctantly say the Giants (and I mean reluctantly). The division is still the pits, and even Arizona and the Rocks could find themselves in the thick of things.

Never thought I would ever feel sorry for Barry Bonds, but watching that ESPN show is kind of sad. In a sense, Bonds has to keep playing, because his only refuge is with the Giants, and home games at AT&T Park. Otherwise, he is almost like the Shah of Iran back in 1979. What will Bonds do once he retires? He will have to leave the country, or change his name, or do something along those lines. He has lived in the limelight, which has been shining on him since high school in San Mateo, so retirement was going to be tough enough on Bonds even before the steroids mess. Now, he has created an unbearable situation for himself. His best bet might be to buy some mountaintop retreat and become a hermit, exiling himself from public view, communicating to the outside world only via his website, so he can believe in his mind that he is still the center of all things in his own parallel universe. He is going to be a man with nowhere to go once his playing days end.

Don't know what to say about the Phils, other than I hope they turn things around soon. The pressure will build on Charlie Manuel, quickly. Nats look pretty scrappy, let's hope they get big crowds at RFK this week to shout down the Mets and their fans in front of Paul, Dom, and Dan.

By the way, I suspect Paul is still smiling after having is picture taken with perhaps the hottest woman on the planet at that Predators game. Attending any sporting event after that experience is going to be a bit of a letdown...