Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
March 28, 2003, Washington Post

No Question: It's Time to Play Ball

Next week the two sweetest words in sports will be called out in Major League Baseball parks all around the country: "Play Ball."

Every baseball season starts with those familiar words and lots of questions. Let's address some of the big questions for the upcoming 2003 baseball season.

Can the Anaheim Angels win it all again?

The Angels have a solid lineup with sluggers Troy Glaus and Garret Anderson. But everything went right for last year's champs, and I am not sure that they have the pitching to repeat. The Angels also play in baseball's best division -- the American League West -- with the pitching-rich Oakland Athletics and the talented Seattle Mariners. The Halos may have trouble even making the playoffs.

Will there be another surprise champion?

I think two teams have a good chance to be this year's Anaheim Angels.

The Houston Astros (84-78 last year) added Giants all-star second baseman Jeff Kent to their veteran lineup of the "Three B's": Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman. But the Astros' real strength is their young pitchers. Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller are ready to become stars.

The Chicago White Sox (81-81) picked up pitcher Bartolo Colon over the winter. If Colon can win 20 games like he did last season with the Indians and the Expos, and if Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas can come back at the bat, the White Sox will be hard to beat.

Can the New York Yankees come back and win the World Series?

They can if their pitchers stay healthy. But I don't see that happening. Roger Clemens (40 years old) and David Wells (39) are great but they are getting old. And Mike Mussina (34), Andy Pettitte (30) and ace reliever Mariano Rivera (33) have thrown a lot of pitches over the years. A couple of these guys could end up on the disabled list, and then the Yanks will be in trouble. And that would make this Red Sox fan very happy.

Who is this "Godzilla" guy?

That's Hideki Matsui, the Japanese slugger who signed with the Yankees. Fans in Japan called him Godzilla because he's big and hits so many home runs. Matsui hit 50 home runs last year for the Yomiuri Giants. It may be tougher for Godzilla to hit so many homers in the United States. American pitchers are better and the ballparks are bigger.

Are there any other new stars?

Keep an eye on young Florida Marlins pitchers Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett. They have blazing fastballs and knee-buckling breaking stuff. Mark Prior of the Cubs is another pitcher who looks like he is going to be a winner. At the plate, watch out for the Oakland A's Erubiel Durazo. He's got a cool name and a hot bat.

How good will the Orioles be?

You mean how bad are the O's going to be. The Orioles finished last season with a 4-32 skid and then didn't do much to make the team better. The Orioles really struggle to score runs. If one or two starting pitchers get hurt, the season may turn into a disaster.

What teams are going to make the playoffs?

It's a long season and anything can happen in baseball. Still, my guesses are the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins (wild card) in the American League, and the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros (wild card) in the National League.

Win or lose, it is always fun to follow your favorite team through the ups and downs of the baseball season.

No question about it.