Three days until Opening Day

Monday is the best day in sports all year - Opening Day. I've never actually been to an Opening Day, and haven't even been able to watch one in the last few years since I started teaching, but I really look forward to it. It's a time of heightened optimism and excitement. When I was an RA in college, one of my bulletin board was a daily tear-off of "Days Until Opening Day." I'm too busy to really count down anymore, but I definitely know that it's Monday.

The Tigers are possibly heading into their best season in over a decade. I don't mean to be overly optimistic, but I'm not the only one - Foxsports just listed them #9 on the Power Rankings to beging the year, and quite a few national predictors have predicted that they could be a dark horse candidate to do something. It will all be about staying healthy. If the Tigers stay healthy, they have the unique position of being above average at every single offensive position - Pudge at catcher, Shelton at first base, Polanco at second, Guillen at short, Inge at third, Monroe in left, Ordonez in right, and Granderson in center. They're all solid players when healthy, and there are at least a couple - Ordonez, Guillen, and Pudge - who have had star seasons in the past. If something can come together for them, maybe they can put together a solid season.

I'm less optimistic about the Orioles, though. They're above average at C, 3B, SS, LF, and 2B, and pretty average or below average everywhere else (unless Patterson can put together a great season, something I doubt). Their rotation is solid, but injury prone and without a stopper. Maybe Mazzone can work some magic. Maybe some young players can surprise. Maybe, maybe.