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A few of you studying this have referred to as out of labor to go to the ballpark for the primary time in months, and whereas baseball’s reputation has, for probably the most half, been at a standstill for some time, nothing tops opening day.
Everybody (besides the Dodgers and Padres, who performed two regular-season video games in Seoul) is beginning throughout. Opening day signifies togetherness, hope and a few good beer and scorching canines.
In the present day begins the marathon that’s the 162-game baseball season. The place else are you able to play Monday morning quarterback about your supervisor’s choices each single day?
The 2024 season figures to be an attention-grabbing one. Listed here are 9 of the highest storylines to observe on this Main League Baseball season.
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The MLB brand on batting observe balls earlier than a sport between the Peoria Javelinas and the Mesa Photo voltaic Sox at Sloan Park Sept. 21, 2019, in Mesa, Ariz. (Jill Weisleder/MLB Images by way of Getty Photos)
Will the Dodgers dwell as much as the hype?
The Los Angeles Dodgers dedicated to over $1 billion in contracts this offseason, with the large splash being the $700 million deal for Shohei Ohtani. In addition they gave Japanese import Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had not thrown a pitch within the majors, $325 million. In addition they traded for, and prolonged, Tyler Glasnow.
Whereas Ohtani will not pitch this season, he bolsters a lineup that features Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. That is 4 MVP Awards within the prime three spots of the lineup.
The Dodgers are everybody’s World Sequence favourite, however there is a cause they play the video games. Talking of Ohtani …
Playing watch
Ohtani is on document saying he has by no means wager on baseball, or sports activities, and that he’s the sufferer of fraud by his former translator, Ippei Mizuhara.
Main League Baseball is investigating, and let’s simply say Ohtani higher be telling the reality.
If he is not, we’re simply on the tip of the iceberg.
Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara of the Los Angeles Dodgers throughout a press convention at Dodger Stadium Dec. 14, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Rob Leiter/MLB Images by way of Getty Photos)
Will Trevor Bauer return?
Bauer is within the technique of attempting to clear his title from sexual assault allegations.
He was hammered with a 324-game suspension for violating MLB’s Joint Home Violence, Sexual Assault and Youngster Abuse Coverage. And that punishment was finally diminished to 194 video games, however he was nonetheless launched by the Dodgers earlier than the 2023 season started. He performed professionally in Japan final yr.
He’s taking part in in Mexico however is on the document saying he’ll play for the league minimal on an incentive-based deal.
There are groups on the market who may use some arms, however nobody has acquired Bauer.
How will upcoming free brokers pan out?
Simply to call just a few (in no explicit order): Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Corbin Burnes, Paul Goldschmidt, Alex Bregman, Max Fried, Gleyber Torres and Shane Bieber.
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Mike Trout is 32 house runs away from 400 in his profession, whereas Clayton Kershaw can develop into the 18th participant with 3,000 strikeouts by fanning 66 extra batters.
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Trout’s quantity will possible come all the way down to the wire this season, however so will Kershaw’s. He is recovering from an damage and never anticipated to return till a minimum of the summer time.
Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, left, and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers throughout a photograph shoot earlier than a sport Aug. 7, 2014, at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif. (Matt Brown/Angels Baseball LP/Getty Photos)
Can Mike Trout have a resurgence?
Trout is extensively thought-about one of the best participant of this era, and there is no doubt he’ll get a plaque in Cooperstown.
Nevertheless, after a number of injury-riddled seasons over the previous couple of years, he lastly regarded human on the diamond final yr.
Trout put up profession lows in nearly each class, as he slashed .263/.367/.490 in simply 82 video games. He has not performed in additional than 140 video games since 2016, though he did win the MVP when taking part in in 134 in 2019.
It is not a superb mixture to be injured and put up worse stats. Trout did hit 40 house runs in 119 video games in 2022, so 32 is not completely out of attain even with one damage. However are we wanting on the fall of an all-time nice?
50/50?
Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. launched his personal fraternity final yr when he turned the primary participant in MLB historical past to hit 40-plus house runs and steal 70-plus bases in a season.
Now, he desires to create one other group.
“One thing I’ve by no means placed on myself is limits,” Acuña advised GQ just lately. “I can’t promise you it’ll be this yr or subsequent yr, however I imagine I can attain a 50-50 season.”
He was vocal about his purpose to be within the 40-40 membership as soon as MLB elevated the bottom sizes (he joined Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano), so it ought to shock no person if he does that.
Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after hitting a house run within the first inning towards the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park Sept. 22, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Greg Fiume/Getty Photos)
The Las Vegas A’s
The Oakland Athletics are doing their finest to maneuver to Las Vegas and be part of the Raiders as groups to defect from the Bay Space to Sin Metropolis. Nevertheless it has not been clean crusing.
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The mayor of Las Vegas just lately poured chilly water on the thought, saying the crew’s plans “don’t make sense” and the crew ought to “determine a solution to keep in Oakland.”
The A’s signed a binding settlement to buy 49 acres for a brand new ballpark however needed to change their proposed land for the stadium after they discovered a brand new spot that required about $105 million much less in public funding.
The brand new proposed web site is the place the Tropicana stands. Bally’s will reportedly tear down the Tropicana and change it with a $1.5 billion stadium. Nevertheless, Bally’s would construct a brand new lodge/on line casino throughout from the stadium as soon as it was accomplished.
The A’s needed to be in Las Vegas by 2027, however the lease for his or her ballpark in Oakland ends this yr. So, they don’t have a house for 2025 and 2026.
Are the Rangers and Diamondbacks for actual?
We’ll vote sure for the defending World Sequence champions right here, as their offense was top-of-the-line final yr. They’ve two MVP candidates in Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, whereas boasting younger expertise in Evan Carter, who was a beast within the postseason with out even qualifying as a rookie, and prime prospect Wyatt Langford.
They usually additionally ought to get a wholesome Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer through the season.
Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers speaks on stage through the World Sequence celebration at Globe Life Discipline Nov. 3, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (Sam Hodde/Getty Photos)
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Arizona, then again, sneaked into the postseason at 84-78 and received scorching on the proper time. The Diamondbacks had been carried by Rookie of the 12 months Corbin Carroll final yr, however they had been nearly league common in quite a few classes. They added some potential pop in Joc Pederson and pitcher Jordan Montgomery.
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