Opening Day In Major League Baseball Always Provides Hope For Everyone

Opening Day In Major League Baseball Always Provides Hope For Everyone.

Well, it's finally here.  There is always something special about this day.  I'm talking about of course opening day in MLB.  There is one word that all fans can use today as well as the 30 teams who will be playing: "Hope"

Yes, "hope" is what most baseball fans have at the beginning of the season.  For some fan bases, that "hope" feeling could be gone by tomorrow.

I'm hoping that for at least half of the teams and their fans will have that feeling of "hope" sustained until at least the All-Star break.

I am still a huge baseball fan.  That doesn't mean I watch every single inning of my beloved Red Sox every night, but I still enjoy the game.  I am a huge fan of all the new rule changes that have cut off about a half hour of dead time.

I am hoping that the recent success from the WBC will attract some younger viewers to MLB this season.  The league is in desperate need for the 8-16 year olds out there to become interested in the game.

The marketing problem for MLB is well documented.

I have said it for many years, Mike Trout, one of the top players in the game for the Anaheim Angels, could walk down the street in most cities and towns in this country and not be recognized.

That is a major problem for the sport.  But lets focus on the positive.  It's Opening Day!  There is a different kind of excitement in the air, lets embrace it.

I'm not going to bore you with every single division and wild card pick.  I am simply going to tell you my American League and National League champs and World Series prediction.

American League Champion: Anaheim Angels

National League Champion: Atlanta Braves

World Series Champion: Anaheim Angels

The Boston Red Sox will win more games this year that the Detroit Tigers.  Sorry Craig Shemon, worry not, the Lions season is right around the corner.

The 2023 NFL offseason will be remembered as the Lamar Jackson saga. You know all the details by now. Lamar and the Baltimore Ravens have been speaking for 18 months now with no deal in place. The Ravens slapped the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar. This guarantees Lamar just over $32 million should he sign the tag. But it also gives Lamar the ability to speak with other teams to get the deal he is looking for. Should any one of the other 31 teams agree to a long-term deal with Lamar, the Ravens have two courses of action. They could match the offer sheet by the other team and retain Lamar on the same deal. If Baltimore balks at a new deal then they would automatically receive two 1st round picks from the team that signs Lamar. So what are the teams Lamar should call?

It should be known that if a team signs Lamar to an offer sheet they have to have a 1st round draft pick this year. This takes the Dolphins, Rams, 49ers, Broncos, and Browns. Those teams could still make a deal for Lamar, but he would have to sign the tag from Baltimore. Those teams could then work out a deal with Baltimore and trade for Jackson. Lamar is looking for $260+ million in guaranteed money. Many teams who would theoretically be in for a MVP quarterback have stated publicly they are not in the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes. Lamar does not have an agent, so he's the guy that needs to broker a deal. Here are the teams Lamar should call to force his way out of Baltimore.

Washington has said publicly they are going into 2023 with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett as their quarterbacks. I just don't get this one. The change in ownership with Daniel Snyder having his asking price of $6 billion being met by two separate groups adds a wrench into the equation no other teams are dealing with. They should absolutely be in for Lamar.

The Colts will have their 5th different starting quarterback in 5 seasons when 2023 kicks off. Andrew Luck, Phillip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan over the last 4 years. The quarterbacks on the roster are Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles, and Gardner Minchew. The roster is good and the division is winnable if they can get a quarterback in place. The hurdle for this deal appears to be the some one other teams have- guaranteed money.

For some reason the Falcons are committed to seeing what they have in Desmond Ridder. They signed Taylor Heinecke as their backup this off season. Another team that if they get Lamar behind center, they become favorites in their division.

There were plenty of issues offensively in 2022. Was all that on Mac Jones? HELL NO. Did he cover up the shortcomings of the staff? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Bill is entering the sunset of his career. The Pats should move heaven and earth to bring in an elite talent at quarterback and see if Bill can match Brady's Super Bowl total.