This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Charles Curtis.
WOO BASEBALL BACK BABY YAYYYYY!
As you can see, I’m pretty excited for MLB Opening Day. As you should be! There’s a lot to be thrilled about, so I’m just going to jump right in to the 10 things I’m most pumped about and that you should be too:
1. The new rules … rule. The shift ban will mean more base hits. The pitch clock will mean faster games and action. The bigger bases mean more stolen bases. Love it all. I broke them down earlier this year.
2. Every team is playing on Opening Day. Strong call, MLB. Here’s a ranking of every game to watch.
3. Shohei Ohtani is back for another amazing year and will be a free agent. He should be paid a billion dollars next winter. Seriously.
4. Some big-name rookies will play right away. Service time manipulation is mostly a thing of the past. Anthony Volpe, Jordan Walker and Corbin Carroll are going to be so good.
5. The Mets could either be good or could Mets things up. Edwin Diaz is out for the season, but they’ve got an amazing rotation. With their massive payroll, it’s no wonder they’re the most watchable team this season
6. Can Aaron Judge do THAT again? I doubt he’s hitting 62 dingers again, but you just never know. The chase will be fun if he starts hitting them in bunches.
7. Minor Leaguers will be paid more. This is HUGE news.
8. The Orioles might be a Wild Card contender. One thing I love is when a tanking team finally puts it all together and starts to compete. Assuming their kids all perform, this should be a blast to watch.
9. The championship race feels wide open. The Astros are among the favorites to win it all again, but it feels like there’s a lot of parity.
10. Opening Day is the best. It means spring is finally here, even if it doesn’t feel like it outside in many places.
That’s it. Enjoy! Check out our season predictions!
Quick Hits: Tom Brady and Gronk do Top Gun … Giannis got calmed down by Thanasis … and more.
— Here’s shirtless Tom Brady and Rob Gronokowski doing the Top Gun: Maverick beach football game.
— The Antetokounmpo brothers are wonderful.
— Here’s a new Succession meme based off the “ludicrously capacious bag” line.
