Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Happy Opening Day!

There's just something magical about the start of baseball season. 162 games will be contested over the next six months with teams hoping to jump their way into the playoffs for a chance at a World Series title. Even for the fans of teams that are suppose to be in the cellar of the league, Opening Day gives the same feeling of a new start.

Like starting a new career, you find out pretty quickly what you're getting into. The excitement is still there for being (0-0) at the start.

For teams like the Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Miami Marlins, expectations are not overly high but some fans are feeling optimistic about the upcoming season. We have been discussing leading up to the season of how many wins these teams would have. What is found is that expectations are all over the place for the bottom teams.

For example, on Overtime we discussed who would have a better record between the Twins and Astros. A few Houston fans in the area are confident enough in their Astros will have a better record than the Twins. Minnesota fans are all over the map in terms of win totals. Some people are expecting the Twins to win 80+ games, while others are saying 60-65 max.

But that in itself is the most beautiful part of Opening Day. Nobody really knows.

Story-lines for middle teams are even more interesting from last year. Can the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals continue to push towards the next levell? Will the Royals notch their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1993-1994? Even with spending extra money, will the New York Yankees MISS the playoffs for the second year in a row? The middle teams of baseball are sometimes the most fun to watch, as there will be surprises and there will be disappointments.

Then there are teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Washington Nationals at the "top." Will these teams be able to hold on to the high expectations that are set for them this season? A lot of people around the country are very high on the Nationals, and for good reason when you look at their lineup and rotation. That story was the same as last year, and the Nationals ended ten games behind the Braves for the NL East.

All of those questions will be answered starting today. The grass is mowed, the sun will be shining, and the fans will be packing the stadiums.

My last question? Where are my peanuts and Cracker Jacks? Let's play baseball!

Major League Baseball on the Radio

- EVERY game for the Minnesota Twins is on 1140 KSOO!

- Saturday's Game of the Week, and Sunday Night Baseball every week on ESPN 99.1