Opening Day less than a week away

On a more positive note, opening day for is just four days from today. It's going to be exciting to finally see some games, and not have to deal with all this steroid talk. The reason brings a plethora of intriguing questions:

How will the A's fare with the new pitching rotation?

After trading two of the Big Three, it would seem that the A's are in for a rough year. However, the guys they got in return, combined with Rich Harden's emergence as a legitimate ace, should keep the A's in contention down the stretch.

How will the Giants fare now that Barroids is hurt?

Taking away an almost sure baserunner figures to hurt the Giants. But they as well have picked up a good amount of talent. In Moises Alou, they now have a second power threat that they haven't had for a while. If their pitching can hold up, they have a good shot at taking the division, with or without Bonds.

Who will be the rookie of the year in both leagues?

I won't even speculate about the National League, but in the AL it figures to be a nice race between Nick Swisher of the A's and a couple of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

How can a team named "The The Angels Angels of Anaheim" exist?

Will the Sox be able to repeat?*

How will Randy Johnson pitch for the Yanks?

Will the Tigers continue upward?

Stay tuned, 'cause an exciting season of baseball is on the way.

*no.

Steroids

So, with less than a week before the start of the Major League Baseball season, I think I'll weigh in on what's been going on. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether or not Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire are worthy of the Hall of Fame. Look, players in all eras have done whatever they could to get a "leg up on the pile." While steroids are dangerous and are obviously performance enhancing, I wouldn't say that they're the only thing contributing to McGwire and Bonds' success. Sure, if they did indeed take them, it's wrong and should be made public. However, it's not like McGwire wasn't a monster from the start of his career. In his rookie season, he hit 49 homers, and there's no accusations that he was taking them at that point in his career.

Bonds also has one of the best eyes in the history of the game. While their alleged steroid abuse does diminish their accomplishments, I don't see how it can reasonably said that they wouldn't have been great players anyway. Perhaps I'm a little biased, as both players are linked to my two favorite teams. But strength, while important for home run hitters, is not nearly as important as being able to see the ball well out of the pitcher's hand or being able to time your swing correctly. Both of those guys were already pretty strong before their alleged steroid used started.

So, considering all that, as well as the fact that people such as Ty Cobb, Gaylord Perry, and Babe Ruth are all in the Hall, I'd say include the people from the 'roid era. Besides, how can you know who has taken steroids? Is it fair that guys like McGwire are singled out while supposedly hundreds of other players have used the same substances? If everybody's using them, how does that make you unworthy? To clarify, I do not condone steroid use. Maybe the records don't mean as much as they would have. But to still be heads and shoulders above other athletes that might be using the same drugs is a sign of superior talent. Time will tell if they are accepted, but I hope they are.