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What a difference a year makes

By Tom King - Sports Writer | Mar 27, 2021

Telegraph Sports Reporter Tom KIng.

Play ball!

Ah, so much different than a year ago, when everyone was told not to play ball. High schools will begin spring tryouts/ practices on Monday, and believe it or not, the Major League Baseball season begins Thursday.

Yes, games for real. Some fans, limited numbers, in a lot of stadiums.

Already, 2021 is far different and better, despite a very real and dangerous pandemic still ongoing, than 2020.

If the owners had their way, the MLB season would have started later in May, cutting the season by a month, but the players nixed that proposal. Go as scheduled.

At least this time, we don’t have baseball that counts in March.

So, on Thursday, every team will be in action, including your Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park vs. the Baltimore Orioles.

It comes up pretty quick, doesn’t it? Didn’t we just finish the high school winter season?

We’re here to tell you the Sawx won’t be as bad as they were in the summer of 2020, a forgettable short season for so many reasons. Had it been a full year, this Boston team might have lost 100 games; they were that bad on the mound.

This year? Boston’s starting pitching should be somewhat improved, although who knows what to expect from Eduardo Rodriguez after COVID’s effects kept him home all last season. Chris Sale won’t be the same right away once he returns from his Tommy John rehab; no pitcher ever is. Still, there’s more there. The everyday lineup isn’t nearly as strong as it once was, but it still has Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and we like the first baseman Bobby Dalbec. We’d say Boston should finish 78-84, causing teams problems into late July before the pitching issues, etc. add up and the team begins to slide down.

Manager Alex Cora will get more out of this group than Ron Roenicke (zzzzz) did. It’s slightly better, and Cora won’t put us all to sleep, including the players.

In any event, here we go by division. Two years ago we picked the Sox and Brewers to meet in the World Series.

Yeah, not even close.

AL EAST: Everyone, like last year, thinks the Yankees are a given. But you know what? They haven’t been, and Toronto is an up-and-coming, young, hungry team and added talent like George Springer to an already decent lineup may make the difference. If the Blue Jays can pitch – yes, that’s an if – they win the division, with the Yankees second. Really, for New York, is there anyone to count on after Gerrit Cole? They’ll homer their way to a Wild Card spot as the injuries mount up.

Give Tampa third (sorry, the Rays this time gave too much talent away), Boston fourth and hapless Baltimore last.

The O’s need old friend and former GM Dan Duquette back, but that won’t happen.

AL CENTRAL: The Chicago White Sox are back, spread the word. They have a stacked lineup, a fine player in Tim Anderson and up-and-comer pitcher Lucas Giolito. Minnesota is next after two straight titles, followed by the Indians (too many good players gone), and flip a coin between Kansas City and Detroit.

AL WEST: Some think the Los Angeles Angels are ready to give Mike Trout the good team and playoff season he deserves. Doubt it. The A’s and Astros are still good enough to finish ahead, despite Houston losing Springer and with Justin Verlander out for the year. Then, maybe the Angels, and the hapless Mariners and Rangers.

NL EAST: Every year we pick the Mets, and every year they let us down. But now, with a wealthy new owner, a shiny new toy named Francisco Lindor, this could be their time. Heck, they’ve had the best pitcher in the game the last two years in Jacob deGrom, right? They’ll be followed by Atlanta, Washington, Florida and … yeah, Philly. Bullpen stinks.

NL CENTRAL: St. Louis made a splash in getting one of the game’s best in Nolan Arenado, give them the crown. Finally, we say the Reds will climb the ladder to second, followed by the Brewers, the sliding Cubs (a lot of their good players – Jon Lester, etc.) are gone. Last, the Pittsburg Pirates.

NL WEST: Dodgers? Of course, as the rich get richer (Trevor Bauer). The Padres (Fernando Tatis Jr.) are trying to breathe down L.A.’s neck, but not yet. The rest of the division (SF, Colorado, Arizona) can finish in any order they want.

PLAYOFF TEAMS

AL: Jays, White Sox, A’s, Yankees Wild Card), Twins (Wild Card).

NL: Mets, Cards, Dodgers, Braves (Wild Card), Padres (Wild Card).

LCS: White Sox over Yankees, Dodgers over Padres.

WORLD SERIES

Dodgers over White Sox. Ugh, hate seeing the Dodgers win back-to-back.

There you go, fans. Clip and save and have a great laugh come the end of next October.

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter at @Telegraph _TomK.

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