March 30, 2008

OPENING DAY AT THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT

        Horsefeathers will be at his house of worship, Yankee Stadium, for its final opening day services. Hope may spring eternal, but not for this Yankee fan. The team will be lucky to win half its games. With aging stars locked into long term contracts, and young pitchers with fragile arms, their vaunted offense won't be enough. Without performance enhancers, Posada, Jeter, Damon, Matsui and Abreu are all on the downslope, some steeply, and A-Rod will be pitched around. Then there's the defense---pathetic. Casey Stengel said "I hate them guys who knock in 2 runs and let in 3." Well the Yankees have that kind of defense. Can Joe Girardi refrain from overusing his young stud pitchers? Not with the newest generation of Steinbrenner oafs breathing down his neck. Which pitcher will be first to blow out his arm? My guess: Joba Chamberlain.

      Our prediction: The Detroit Tigers, led by the surpisingly effective Dontrelle Willis, will win in the American League and easily prevail over the New York Mets in the World Series. We hope we're wrong and that all the Yankees young pitchers remain healthy while their older players hold off Father Time for one more year, but we don't think it will happen.