Opening Week

Thoughts on Opening Week

 

 

 

 

            Opening Week is in the books and what a week it was. Surprises, disappointments, drama, and walk offs, this week had it all. The Reds, a team I predicted to not make the playoffs came out of the gate swinging. Facing the Angels and Nationals, the Reds took two of three from each and played great ball. There are teams with a better record than the Reds 4-2 mark but they didn’t play the same caliber of competition. Shin Soo Choo has been great for the Reds in the leadoff spot, something I predicted would not happen, and yes it is an early sample size but if he can keep up this type of play the Reds will run away with the Central Division. Todd Frazier has also been a huge help in the team’s winning ways, amassing three home runs and nine runs batted in over the week. The bullpen is a strength and if they can get consistency from their starters like they did last year this team will be at the top of the standings all season long.

            Bryce Harper carried his hot spring over into the season, batting .360 with three home runs and five runs batted in. He leads the team in all three categories and will be a permanent fixture in the three hole for Davey Johnson and the Nationals. The Nationals will have some stiff competition for the division in the Atlanta Braves who beat up on some inferior opponents this week. Thanks to Justin Upton and his resurgence in Atlanta, the Braves ended the week with a 5-1 record. Upton has five home runs and is batting at a .375 clip to start the year and also made some history with his brother B.J. They became the first pair of brothers to homer in the ninth inning to tie a game and also homer to win the game that same inning with B.J. hitting the tying homer and Justin providing the walk off.

            Another team I would like to mention in the National League is the Colorado Rockies. This is a team that come the end of the year will probably not be near the top of the standings but playing against lesser opponents to open the year allowed them to finish the week tied with best record in baseball at 5-1. They are a fun team to watch and have a slew of home grown talent developing at the major league level. The present looks good for now but the future looks very bright.

            While typing that paragraph I believe the Houston Astros struck out another ten times. With 74 strikeouts thus far on the year they are well on their way to breaking a record.

            Over in the American League there is far more parody than the National League, and if things stay this way it will be a great summer in the league of the DH. No team really jumped out to a scorching or overpowering start but two players in particular had torrid weeks. Mike Morse of the Mariners enjoyed his first week on the road with the new team belting five home runs and driving in eight. Now that he will be home and in Safeco Field let’s see how he sustains the power. The fences being moved in may help some but I still see that ballpark being the Sahara Desert of the Major Leagues. Another player absolutely destroying the ball is Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles. He has hit four home runs this week while driving in a staggering seventeen runs. His four homers came in the first four games of the season and he failed to become the first player ever to homer in his team’s first five games.

            Looking ahead to week two there are some intriguing matchups on deck. The most intriguing of which is Atlanta at Washington this weekend. Both teams are playing well and the Nats are a tough team at home but if Atlanta can take the series it will go a long way in showing the Nats there’s a real serious threat for the division crown. That’s all for today folks. Enjoy your week of the greatest game on Earth and follow me on Twitter @changingspeeds for more coverage of the baseball season.