The Skyliner

Issue date: 4/5/06 Section: Opinion

With the opening pitch thrown last Sunday, April 2, the 2006 Major League Baseball season is under way. With a busy winter of wheeling and dealings throughout the Majors, here are five plot lines to keep an eye on throughout the summer and into October.


1: The Yankees Continue to buy up Free Agency


The Evil Empire strikes again. The New York Yankees were very busy this winter signing and buying their team for 2006. Key additions to the Yankees roster include pitcher Octavio Dotel from the Oakland Athletics and former Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon. Combine that with the healthiest pitching staff the Yanks have seen in years, the hitting of Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and Hiedeki Matsui and the Yankees are looking to hoist their first World Series trophy in five and a half years. If the Yankees can't get it done this year, look for Manager Joe Torre to be living off his social security check next spring.


2. The Chicago White Sox, Defending Champs


After a great run last year the champs are back. The White Sox kept the heart of their team together over the off-season, signing World Series star Paul Konerko and keeping the majority of their young pitching staff. The Sox however are on everyone's hit list this year, which may cause them to buckle under the pressure when the days get long in late July and August. Look for the Sox to possibly be the Wild Card team come playoff time, but a repeat seems doubtful.


3. Will the Rocket launch?


Roger Clemens has been the topic of much discussion this off-season. Clemens debated on whether to return after last season's disappointing ending, with his Astros losing to the White Sox in the World Series.
After getting his feet wet in the free agent pool and pitching in the World Baseball Classic, Clemens' decision will be made on May 1 whether to sign with the Astros or pitch the 2006 season elsewhere (the Yankees and Rangers two potential prospects) that is if the 43 year old Clemens doesn't decide to retire. Look for the Rocket, who may be arguably the greatest pitcher of all time, to stay put in Houston and finish his career in an Astros uniform.


4. Barry Bonds


Need I say more? Bonds who is in a heated race with the Cowboy's Terrell Owens for most self-centered and controversial athlete, starts the 2006 season six home runs shy of Babe Ruth and 47 dingers behind Hank Aaron. Barry's 708 home runs, however, are shrouded in steroid suspicions, which have led to an investigation by Major League Baseball and the Commissioner's office. Bonds starts the 2006 season in left field for the Giants, and continues to generate more and more buzz with each at-bat. Is he the greatest player to ever step on the diamond or just a cheater that used any means necessary to elevate himself above the competition? If Bonds can stay healthy, look for a productive season. If the MLB investigation goes as planned look for an asterisk in the record books.


5. Teams to watch


In the American League, keep an eye on two teams, the Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers. Both teams have young talented pitching staffs and are chock full of talented players. Look for the Indians to beat out the defending champion White Sox for the American League Central title and for the Rangers to perhaps sneak into the post-season. In the National League, watch out for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers were by far one of the busiest off-season teams, boosting their pitching staff and shelling out the big bucks for prime time players like Rafael Furcal and Nomar Garciaparra.The Cubs are in a position to be the wild card team if their fragile pitching staff can stay healthy throughout an entire season, which has been a problem for the Cubbies in seasons past. These stories and many others look to make the 2006 season an interesting one.

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