Happy feelings

Baseball began in Japan on Tuesday morning. Its season opens in earnest next week. Are you happy?

Adam Eaton is:

"The results weren't great, but I felt good," Eaton said after the Phillies' 14-5 loss at Joker Marchant Stadium. "I felt like my stuff was just as good at the end as it was at the beginning. The way I feel and the way my stuff is, I'm pretty happy."

I guess I'd be happy if I could pocket $140,000 a week with no discernible skill set. Adam Beaten, who had a 6.29 ERA last season, somehow found a way to get 2008 off on a worse foot. Let's get one of the monkeys to be the fifth starter until Kris Bensen is ready.

Spring training wrap-up: Christine and I will train for the season by attending the Blue Jays-Phillies final spring training game on Saturday - our first live action of the spring. We won't get to boo Scott Rolen, but maybe Rod Barajas will make an appearance.

Similarly, Nomar Garciaparra is out for the Dodgers and will miss the pinball game against the Red Sox in Los Angeles, a city where, the Globe notes, Terry Francona made his managerial debut for the Phillies, piloting Curt Schilling to victory.

Boycott over, on with the picks

I thought I'd have to boycott posting as a sort of sympathy strike for the Red Sox, but the coaches will be paid, the team is headed to Japan and everyone is as happy as the monkeys Kris and Anna Benson just bought.

So, on with the picks. Today it's Joe Wolf's Vertical Jump, the creator of Only Time Will Tell. {Joe Wolf's Vertical Jump is still in denial that his team is now called the Nationals}:

NL East: Expos
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: D'backs
NL Wild Card: Mets

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: M's
AL Wild Card: Yankees

World Series: Tigers over D'backs 4-2

AL MVP: Grady Sizemore, Indians
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Tigers
AL ROY: Joba Chamberlain, Yankees

NL MVP: Jose Reyes, Mets
NL Cy Young: Dan Haren, D'backs
NL ROY: Clayton Kershaw , Dodgers

First manager fired: Willie Randolph, Mets start the season 4-11 and Willie is looking for a job.
First team with a player suspended for drugs: "I'm not here to talk about the past."
Next team to be rumored to sign Bonds or Clemens: Newark Bears

My NL East prediction is correct because: Youppi endorses the hard hitting lineup of Milledge, Dukes and Young. They will do a lot of damage both on and off the field.

Tomorrow: We'll change back to the Phillies perspective with Brian.