Things that I think that I think

A week is in the books.

A few big names have already headed for the DL. A few no-names are looking like Aaron, Spahn, and DiMaggio. A few playoff teams have stumbled out of the gate. A couple of trade deadline firesalers are playing like contenders.

After the very small sample size of a half dozen games for each team, there are alot of rash judgements that one might make (The Orioles and Blue Jays are going to rule the AL East, CC Sabathia sucks, and Cristian Guzman is going to win the NL batting title, etc.) but there are also a few intelligent observations that I think are screaming to be made after 2 series are in the books...

... Evan Longoria's rookie season was not a fluke. The Tampa 3rd baseman had a scorching hot opening week. He single handedly kept the Rays in a couple of games in Baltimore over the weekend. He his hitting for power and hitting for average. Every week this season certainly won't be this statistically lucrative for Longoria, but, Longoria is showing with a hot start at the plate that his suffering through a sophomore slump is not inevitable.

... Braves rookie outfielder Jordan Schafer is batting a cool .348 with 2 homeruns through his first week of big league action. He arrived in a big way with a homerun on opening night on national television. He's the early frontrunner for NL Rookie of the Year

... Long simmering frustration on the part of the LA Angels with their inability to beat the Red Sox in the post-season may have manifest itself in today's bench clearing between the two clubs. It was a rough week for the Angels off the field but their performance on the field has thus far been what one would expect from the best team in the AL West.

... If the Arizona Diamondbacks are to contend this year they will need strong seasons from their pitchers. Dan Haren's 0-2 start and Brandon Webb's early season trip to the DL with shoulder issues do not bode well for Arizona's fortunes this season. Webb, normally a 220-inning guy, has shoulder stiffness. Glass half full: Webb will be fine. Glass half empty: 2009 will be a wash for Webb.

... The Kansas City Royals have assembled a core group of young-ish starting pitchers that may be ready to allow the team to contend in 2009. Zach Greinke, predicted by the NY Times to win the AL Cy Young, looked good in his first mound stint, 6IP 7K 0R!

... That the Washington Nationals are headed for another losing, last place season is not an earth-shattering revelation. After 1 week of action however, the Nationals are pitching, fielding, and generally playing like they are itching to give the 2003 Tigers (43-119) a run for their money as the worst team in recent memory. The Nationals have already been bitten by the injury bug (Ronnie Belliard) and their maddening motley crew of moundsmen has been simply awful through 6 games. The unbalanced schedule will not be their friend this season, the NL East is loaded. Not promising for the Nationals.


156 more game for the Orioles. 160-2 is still very much an option.