Baseball season begins tomorrow! I can come here and begin to make bold predictions as to what may happen, but in reality I don't think my opinion will matter much especially when it comes to baseball. Baseball has really lost out for me in recent years, with the exception of the Blue Jays of course. Based on what I see of roster configuration, I'm going to say the New York Yankees are going to win it all, beating the Kevin Pillar Giants in the final. I like the youth on this team, they seem poised for a big run and I don't see anybody coming close to them in their division, including Boston and Tampa. I expect the Yankees to have a big season.
As for the Blue Jays, tonight they traded Kendrys Morales. I really don't care how much salary the Jays retain this season from players they get rid of. I look at it as an investment, they're cleaning house. Sometimes, you need to hit the refresh button and change your focus. This is going to be a much younger team, and I totally expect veterans like Stroman, Pillar and Smoak are gone by the end of this season. While nobody should expect the Jays to contend for a playoff spot, I totally expect to see this Jays team contend. They have a team to pull out some nice wins and it will certainly be a learning experience with new manager Charlie Montoyo. I see lots of positives to take from this team.
Moving on from baseball, basketball and hockey are almost ending their regular seasons. Right now, it should be about preparation for the big dances, and in the case of fringe teams it's about making the playoffs. Guaranteed the bottom teams have already checked out of the season, and the teams above them are getting ready for what is going to be a big year.
The Leafs do not look good. The Raptors do not look good. It's interesting to point out but I strongly believe this: both teams are going to turn on the switch and be ready for the playoffs. Not much else to say here, except this 3-way battle for 2 spots in the eastern conference is wonderful. I think the Habs will miss out eventually, and that's despite the fact I love watching this team. I don't see Columbus missing out, and the Canes took a big head-to-head game against the Habs last Sunday. In the West, I'm picking Dallas and Arizona to take the final 2 spots.
As for soccer, what is wrong with the Portuguese national team? Two disappointing draws at home against Ukraine and Serbia. The answer: not much is wrong with them. It's not like they didn't play well. It's not like there weren't controversial decisions that played against them. It's not like the best players played. Lots of things went wrong, beginning with Fernando Santos and his conservativeness. Fernando Santos is the greatest manager in Portuguese national team history. But, with this set of players, I think he needs to give the reigns to someone else. My belief is that a younger coach with a different set of skills should be in charge. Santos is too conservative-minded for the manner in which this team plays. Jorge Jesus has been suggested, but I feel Jesus (or even Mourinho) for national team tactics will not result well. Jesus is attack minded, but at times his ideals are clouded by his arrogant nature. And if I'm talking arrogant, you know Mourinho is not behind Jesus. These players need to have a coach like Rui Jorge, whom they worked with on the U21 team. Rui Jorge would lead this team in a great direction, and he knows the players well. The youth is coming up, and playing the ball to Ronaldo in the area needs to stop. They need to play as a more cohesive unit, I expect big changes ahead in the next year for this national team to fit in with the structure of other federations. No managers should be on the team longer than a four year stretch, regardless of success, unless it's an extreme circumstance.
Thanks for reading!
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