PLAY BALL!!!!

 OPENING DAY has always had a nice ring to it but probably even more so this year after a year of doing battle with the pandemic and watching an abbreviated season in 2020 but now it's time to PLAY BALL!!

Starting on the north side, do the Cubs have any chance at all this year?? ABSOLUTELY!    The CUBS have a shot at that division because they have decent pitching and should only have to worry about the CARDINALS, who have good hitting and a nice bullpen but the redbirds need their starters to get the game to the 7th inning BUT.........................

how long will this cubs team be together this season? When the mets signed FRANCISCO LINDOR to $34 million a year for ten years, it signaled the end of JAVY BAEZ in Chicago because there's no way the cubs match that kind of money so you either have to trade baez by July 31 or let him walk away and get nothing for him.

Adios parties should also be scheduled for both KRIS BRYANT and ANTHONY RIZZO because rizzo just announced that he's done talking to the cubs about his contract because they're 'just too far apart' and it's time to start the season. Rizzo wants 90 million over 5 years but the cubs are offering just 60. NEVER A GOOD SIGN when one of the most popular guys in Chicago stops talking to you.

P.S.  Of the 26 players on the cubs roster, FOURTEEN are in their walk year. ouch. 

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Now head 8 miles south and the mood is TOTALLY DIFFERENT as the WHITE SOX are gearing up for a run at the world series following a very successful 2020 and a taste of the post season BUT I don't think they can beat the MINNESOTA TWINS, who are even better than last year when they won the division. The season ending injury to ELOI JIMENEZ didn't help either because that removed 45 home runs and 120 rbi's from your daily lineup. The sox have great pitching and a good bullpen but can TIM ANDERSON & JOSE ABREU keep up the good work on offense? I like the sox for a wild card.

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Here's a late night light bulb prediction for you. New cub's left fielder JOC PEDERSON ends up on the south side by the trade deadline. Jimenez is gone, ADAM ENGEL has a bad hammy and ANDREW VAUGHAN is brand new in left fielder. I think the cubs will definitely be sellers and pederson makes zip money on a one year deal.  At midnight after a handful of amarettos, it made perfect sense.

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How the mighty have fallen (and a chance to make some money). BRYCE HARPER is 33-1 to win the MVP.

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When you look west, the world champion LOS ANGELES DODGERS & SAN DIEGO PADRES are set up for a WRESTLEMANIA CAGE MATCH in a division where you could win 100 games and end up being the wild card. Both teams are super loaded and ready to rock & roll.

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Let's wrap it up before the first pitch!  A healthy YANKEES team will be a load and i think the ASTROS will rise again along with the TWINS, DODGERS, CARDINALS and BRAVES. Give wild cards to the WHITE SOX, BLUE JAYS, PADRES & METS.

LET'S GET IT ON!!!