Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
Friday, April 1, 2005, Washington Post

Here's the Pitch....

Baseball is back!

Everyone is excited that Major League Baseball has returned to Washington with the Nationals. But there are lots of other teams and players getting ready for the new season and dreaming about the World Series. Let's take a look at some of the big stories for the 2005 season.

Will the Red Sox repeat?

Last year Boston won its first World Series in 86 years. The Sox still have a power-packed lineup with sluggers Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. I'm not sure that their new pitchers, Matt Clement and David Wells, are as good as the pair they let get away, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. But who knows? After Boston's unbelievable finish last year, maybe another miracle can happen.

Can the Yankees come back?

After losing four straight games to the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series, New York traded for all-star pitcher Randy Johnson. The Big Unit is old (41) but still can strike out batters with his blazing fastball and dazzling slider. If Johnson and the Yankees' other old pitchers -- Kevin Brown (40), Mike Mussina (36) and Mariano Rivera (35) -- stay healthy, the Yankees will be tough to beat.

Any longtime losers to root for?

The Chicago Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908. That's 97 years! The Chicago White Sox have not won since 1917. Now that my Red Sox have won, I'm rooting for Chicago's teams.

Then there are the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Neither team has had a winning season since 1992. The Brewers could end that streak this year because they have a real pitching ace in Ben Sheets. Go Brew Crew!

Will Barry Bonds break Hank Aaron's record?

Bonds has 703 career home runs, but he won't reach Aaron's record of 755 this year. Bonds has an injured knee and says he is tired of reports that he used illegal drugs called steroids to help him hit home runs. He might not play until halfway through this season. Even Barry Bonds can't hit 53 home runs in half a season.

Will Ichiro hit .400?

The last player to hit .400 for the season was legendary Red Sox slugger Ted Williams, in 1941. Ichiro Suzuki, the spectacular Seattle Mariners right fielder, last season hit .372 with a record 262 hits. So now folks think he can hit .400. But Ichiro would have needed 20 more hits last season to reach the magic mark. It's almost impossible for Ichiro or anyone else to hit .400.

Can anybody beat the Braves?

The Atlanta Braves have won the National League East division 13 straight seasons. This season the Florida Marlins, with fireballing pitchers Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett and young superstar Miguel Cabrera, look ready to dethrone the division champs.

Who will make the playoffs?

American League: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, California Angels and New York Yankees (wild card).

National League: Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies (wild card).

Play ball!