This year‘s opening day for Major League Baseball is early, and unfortunately for the Phillies, they are already dealing with two significant injuries that were not expected. Their first baseman, Rhys Hoskins, is out for the year with an ACL injury to his left knee, and Ranger Suárez, who was going to be a key starting pitcher, is out for the first month or so of the season with arm issues. It’s going to put extra pressure on their newly acquired pitcher Taijuan Walker to be a consistent third starter behind Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler.
The National League East is going to be a tough division. Three of the five teams are predicted to be playoff contenders. The Phillies, the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves are all strong and the Miami Marlins are also improving. In the second series of the season, the Phillies play the New York Yankees. This will be a good measuring stick to see how good the Phillies are to start the season.
The men’s college basketball tournament has definitely lived up to its name of March Madness. Three of the Final Four teams could be considered Cinderella teams – Florida Atlantic, San Diego State and Miami. Connecticut is the only well-known basketball school. San Diego State's two most famous athletes were Tony Gwinn in baseball and basketball and Marshall Faulk in football. Miami was a football powerhouse in the 1980s and 1990s and the beginning of 2000s. Connecticut is a slight favorite to win the championship, but it will be interesting to see who ultimately cuts down the nets Monday night after the championship game.
On the women’s side, Iowa, South Carolina, LSU and Virginia Tech are in the Final Four in Dallas. Their championship game will be Sunday. Go Hawkeyes!
-
A 2002 Cape grad and 2007 UD grad, Lewes resident Sumner Spence is one of the Cape area's biggest sports fans. Although he’s used a wheelchair his entire life, he has lived vicariously through his sports-playing father, brother, and friends, who gave him his love of sports. He hopes to provide new and interesting perspectives on the sports stories and issues of the day. Email Sumner at sumspence@gmail.com.
