MLB power division
So MLB starts in earnest Thursday. Yes, the Dodgers are on pace to go 162-0 after taking both Tokyo games over the Cubs.
We know about the Dodgers and their greatness. True or false on this Tuesday — enjoy the coffee, Ernie — Dodgers win at least 105 games this season.
We want to believe the Braves will get and then stay healthy. True or false, Ronald Acuña Jr. will remind us of his all-time greatness.
We should be giddy about a bona fide dogfight in the NL East, and that’s where we’ll start today.
Look around. Sure every “best” or “most exciting”list starts with Shohei Ohtani in LA-LA Land. Especially when the ultimate unicorn across all of sports returns to the mound later this summer.
But after Shohei, if we are listing the guys who are must-watch at-bats these days, do the next three call the NL East home?
We’ll do predictions on Thursday — and have prop bets in Wednesday’s Plays — but let’s cut through the three heavyweights in the East — and the stars that drive them.
Atlanta — The lineup is extremely balanced when healthy, and if the Braves get the better version (think 2023 rather than the whiff-infested ’24) of Matt Olson, the order is as good as any. Dodgers included. But Acuña is the straw that stirs the elixir. Except for Barry Bonds in the bomb-after-bomb run in 2001, Acuña was the most must-see MLB player I can recall ever in 2023. Here’s hoping he’s back soon and in full force.
New York — Man, adding Juan Soto was pricey. Not sure any team sports player not named Shohei or LeBron is worth three-quarters of a billion, but worth is always determined by the market and what someone is willing to pay. And the Mets have ponied up for what looks to be a terrifying top third of the order. Since the payroll comps between Mets and Dodgers — both well about $300 million in salary this season — would you rather have the Mets’ Francisco Lindor-Soto-Pete Alonso 1-2-3 or the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts-Shohei-Freddie Freeman?
Philadelphia — Man, are we to a place that we are sleeping on Bryce Harper? And for all the whispers of all the returns and free agent acquisitions, the Phillies running this back makes all the sense in the world. Not sure how we got to a MLB place where Harper could be viewed as underrated is a telling place on the money being spent.
MLB moola
Speaking of money, all the consternation in the offseason has been about the open wallets of the top tier franchises.
With that comes conversation about salary caps. In truth, that’s much ado about nothing because, as we have discussed before, the MLBPA would sooner agree to road games on Mars than a true salary cap.
(Side note with length: I wonder if/when the NFLPA will start to leverage against the salary cap. I also wonder if the future could be soft or limited cap allocations per position. Like each MLB team can spend $100 million on pitchers, $75 million on outfielders, etc. Could that be a solution moving forward in the NFL, because think how much more competitive the free agency bidding would be if teams were capped on QB-room spending before going elsewhere for key contributors? Where were we?)
Oh yeah, MLB paydays.
Here are the top 10 teams in salary expectations from Sportrac and the accompanying over/under win totals from DraftKings via VegasInsider:
1. Dodgers paying $322.5 million; over/under 103.5
2. Mets paying $312.1 million; over/under 90.5
3. Phillies paying $278.6 million; over/under 91.5
4. Yankees paying $275.3 million; over/under 89.5
5. Blue Jays paying $234.8 million; over/under 78.5
6. Rangers paying $206.7 million; over/under 85.5
7. Braves paying $206.4 million; over/under 93.5
8. Astros paying $205.6 million; over/under 87.5
9. Padres paying $199.2 million; over/under 85.5
10. Angels paying $191.9 million; over/under 71.5
Answer at 1?
So the Titans pick first in next month’s draft. I love the draft. You know this.
The Titans need a QB. Hey, the Will Levis experiment was the perfect high-ceiling-dice-roll in Round 2 a couple of years ago, but it’s not working. At least not in Nashville right now. (Could Levis find a Sam Darnold-like career turnaround elsewhere? I believe he has the skills to get there, but it will have to be the perfect setting. These Titans need a Jayden Daniels-type centerpiece to build around.)
Which leads us to Cam Ward’s pro day Monday.
Dude looks the part, and his highlights from Miami were hard to doubt his high-end skill set.
Moreover, Louis Riddick — one of my favorite ESPN analysts across all sports — was ga-ga over his leadership skills and drew comps to the former LSU star and Washington rookie star Daniels.
Then at his pro day, Ward told the Titans scouting contingent — including hot-seat coach Brian Callahan — “I’m solidifying it today” of his status as the top overall pick.
Thoughts?
This and that
— Above we referenced MLB players’ salary, well, know this: Shohei’s contract pays him $2 million annually with a lion’s share of his 10-year, $700 million contract deferred. On the other end of that is the fact that Sportico reported that Shohei is projected to be just the fourth player ever to earn nine-figures (that’s $100 million-plus, Spy) in endorsements in a single year. The others, according to this article, are Tiger (duh), Roger Federer and Steph Curry. Hard to believe that MJ, LeBron or any number of several global soccer icons are not in that company.
› How ubiquitous is Shohei? Dude is now in Fortnite. (Ask your kids.)
› Terrible news that USC women’s hoops star JuJu Watkins tore her ACL last night in the tournament. How great has the sophomore been? She’s No. 2 all-time in points scored for a player in their first two years. A true superstar.
› A day after Maryland won on a buzzer-beater in the men’s draw, the Maryland women rallied from a 17-point hole in the third quarter to beat Alabama in double overtime 111-108. Fear the turtle, indeed.
› Yuck. The Athletic has a report on former Michigan athletes — listed just as former members of the gymnastics and soccer teams — filing massive lawsuits against the school in the wake of allegations against former football OC Matt Weiss, who is facing two dozen charges of dirty deeds, including hacking students’ social media accounts and accessing personal and intimate photos. Pay site.
› Mocs back in action tonight in the NIT. Here’s Gene Henley’s look ahead, centering on Mocs PG Honor Huff’s Iron Man tendencies. War Mocs. Go full blow tank mode on Bradley. (Spy?)
Today’s questions
True or false — you know — and yes, morning, Ern.
› True or false, you will watch at least some of the TGL virtual golf finals tonight on ESPN.
› True or false, the Dodgers paying that for 100-plus wins is less staggering than the across-town Angels having a top-10 payroll and a bottom-five win total.
› True or false, you care even a little about Jimmy Butler returning to Miami with the Warriors.
› True or false, Cam Ward will be a franchise QB1.
› True or false, you have played Fortnite.
› True or false, you are less interested in the power-conference-filled Sweet 16.
› True or false, both Dan Earl and Honor Huff will be with the Mocs next season.
Answer some T or F, ask some T or F.
As for today, March 25, let’s review:
The first Easter was celebrated on this day in year 31.
The first color TV is crafted by RCA. It’s 12.5 inches and costs $1,000.
The first Masters concluded on this day with Horton Smith winning by a shot in 1934.
Tom Glavine is 59 today.
Elton John is 78 today.
I think we have done the best songs from animated Disney movies — which EJ has dominated through the years — so let’s just do the Rushmore of Elton songs in general. Go.