Opening day is here!!

My thoughts:

-C.C. Sabathia looked bad yesterday in his Yankee debut. He didn't get out of the 5th inning, as the Orioles lit him up for six runs. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come for Sabathia, as he had no control of his fastball whatsoever.

-Cliff Lee followed his AL Cy Young year with a dreadful opening performance yesterday against Texas, as he gave up 10 hits and 7 runs in 5 innings pitched. Unfortunately for Lee, coming off of last season there is nowhere to go but down. How far he declines is anyone's guess, but if Cleveland expects to win anything this year they need Lee to be a good performer at the very least, especially when you consider that Carl Pavano is their third starter, and they have unproven question marks at the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation.

- If Texas' pitching ever becomes respectable, that team is going to be a major threat in the American League. I am well aware you could pretty much say that for the last decade but offensively those guys can rake.

- Watching the Mets in Cincinnati yesterday, I was cold just watching them. That being said Johan Santana was an abbreviated version of himself yesterday, giving up 1 run over 5.2 innings. The two major Mets acquisitions in the bullpen, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez, shut the door on the Reds as the Mets secured a 2-1 victory. If the Mets are going to be a postseason team, both of those guys are essential to that.

- I think I just saw the Hanley Ramirez home run ball fly past my window. Was that a bomb or what? I wonder how long before they put him in the outfield? As good as he is offensively, he is terrible at short defensively. His offensive value as a shortstop is ridiculous, but I'm fairly certain his defense will cost you quite a few runs over the course of the season.

- I believe Matt Kemp is due for a breakout campaign, and he started that yesterday with a home run off Jake Peavy. The guy has all the tools to be a very good center fielder. Yesterday the power was on display, as was the defense as he made a great diving play on a line drive to right center field. I think hi and Clayton Kershaw are poised to make marked improvements in their respective games this season.

-Griffey homered in his return to the Mariners. That is good for him, good guy, Hall of fame baseball player. It really is too bad that injuries derailed his career, otherwise we'd probably be talking about him as the career home ru