That's all for me, folks. Thanks for hanging out with me for Opening Day 2007. It's going to be one heck of a season. 

Curt Schilling's rough outing today speaks to a larger point: the Sox may have rotation concerns. Schilling may still be effective, but he's 40 years old. Josh Beckett is roundly overrated and ill-suited to pitch in a park like Fenway. Dice K has ace stuff, but he remains a bit of an unknown quantity. Tim Wakefield is a notch better than league average these days, and the fifth spot is going to be a serious concern now that Jonathan Papelbon is in the bullpen. In other words, much depends on Schilling's ability to pitch something like he did in 2004. 

One of the challenges for Ned Yost will be handling the left field situation. He's got the makings of an excellent platoon arrangement, what with Geoff Jenkins and Kevin Mench on the roster. The problem is that neither player wants to be platooned, and they've been vocal about it. They'll only get grumpier as the season wears on. Last season, Yost ranked near the bottom in terms of seizing the platoon advantage for the Brewers. That needs to change this season, but it'll be a challenge to see Jenkins and Mench on it. 

He was dominant today: complete game, two hits allowed, zero walks. The Brewers very much have a shot in the NL Central, but they need Sheets to be healthy and effective. They have to like what they saw today. 

He's having a rough day at the plate so far, but he's going to be something special. Last season, he went straight from the University of Nebraska to Double-A. There he hit .325 AVG/.427 OBP/.588 SLG with 29 homers, 29 doubles, 72 walks and 22 stolen bases in 25 attempts. At the plate, he does it all. He's got a quick bat through the zone, advanced pitch-recognition skills and excellent natural loft. He'll contend for the MVP in a couple of years. 

I'm calling the D-Rays and asking about Jorge Cantu's availability. The glaring weak spot in the Rockies' lineup is Kaz Matsui at second base. Put Cantu's fly-ball power stroke in Coors, and he'll rebound nicely from last season's struggles. 

Last season, Rockies shortstops combined to hit .225 AVG/.274 OBP/.326 SLG, which is, of course, awful production. Rockies catchers, meanwhile, weren't much better: they combined to hit .223 AVG/.294 OBP/.356 SLG. That's why Tulowitzki, the shortstop, and Ianetta, the catcher, will help the team get better. They'll both comfortably improve upon what Colorado got from their respective positions last season.

What to watch now ... Arizona vs. Colorado in a showcase of exceptional young talent (Stephen Drew, Chris Young and Conor Jackson for the Snakes, and Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Ianetta for the Rox). As well, Curt Schilling and the Sox are taking on Alex Gordon and the Royals. 

As mentioned below, the D-backs are my pick to represent the NL in the World Series.  

B.J. Ryan doesn't blow two-run leads very often, and he didn't today. If trends hold, the Tigers will go 0-162 this year. 

I've long advocated automating the calling of balls and strikes. There's just too much inconsistency. The latest example can be found in the Tigers-Jays contest. Detroit pitchers haven't been enjoying the liberal strike zone that Roy Halladay benefited from earlier in the game. Keep the home plate umpire around to make safe-out calls and add his own flair to the ball-strike calls, but let imaging technology make the calls themselves.

If the A's had loosened the purse strings this winter and resisted making a couple of ill-advised trades over the years, then they'd have this rotation in 2007:

1 - Barry Zito

2 - Jeremy Bonderman

3 - Aaron Harang

4 - Rich Harden

5 - Dan Haren 

They'd also be the best team in baseball. It's hindsight and giving the A's credit for money they won't spend, but it's interesting to ponder what might have been.  

So what's Marcus Thames doing on the roster if you're not going to hit him for Sean Casey in the ninth innings of a tie game? One of the biggest mistakes managers make is not taking the platoon advantage when it's presented to them.

Have put 11 on the board after three innings. That puts them on pace to score 5,346 runs in 2007. They'll be paced by Victor Martinez and his 1,458 RBI. 

Belongs to Jose Contreras of the White Sox: 1.0 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 72.00 ERA

Just worked a scoreless top of the 7th for the Tigers. Last season, Zumaya threw 233 pitches that reached triple digits on the radar gun (far and away the most in baseball). However, in the sixth today, he never reached 100 mph. That's not a bad thing. Zumaya indicated that he's going to try to work at something a little less than max effort all the time so as to stay healthy and not wear down late in the year. So the merely mortal radar gun readings aren't anything to worry about.