MLB

All spring, the talk has been about how the Atlanta Braves want Bobby Cox's last season in the dugout to be a big one, hopefully leading to a World Series.

Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs showed they mean business.

The Braves smashed a few offensive Opening Day records en route to a 16-5 pummeling of the Cubbies, who some expect to contend for the NL Central, or at least the Wild Card.

Inside the numbers:

Jimmy Rollins came into the season with a lot of questions, mostly about his power.  A season after his home run total was slashed by more than half, Rollins got off to a great start on Opening Day with two hits (including a triple) and his first stolen base of the season.  I would say that the days of him hitting 30 home runs are in the rear view mirror, but Rollins is still a quality starting shortstop in fantasy, and not every fantasy team can boast having that in today’s climate at the position.

Although the 2010 Jays offense has already been discussed there is much more to an offense than just those who start the game. In fact, who is on the bench or in the system can be just as important as who makes opening day.

This year the Toronto bench has taken a new approach cleansing and avoiding the talent past its prime, such as Frank Thomas or Kevin Millar, and opted for youthful zeal. The Jays bench is certainly not the best in baseball, by a long shot, but it does contain most of the pieces that a bench in the American League needs.

The Bench:

He was phenomenal throughout the minor leagues and continued to put his array of talents on display in Spring Training. At 20-years old, he has the plate discipline and eye of a veteran. He can spray the ball to every part of the outfield, steal bases, and play a superb right-field.

He has it all.

South Side fans had a reason to be happy on this beautiful day in April.

The sun was shining, the weather was wonderful, and Mark Buehrle pitched seven strong innings in his record setting eighth opening day start for the Chicago White Sox, en route to a 6-0 victory.

In his first opening day victory since 2005, Buehrle had a solid pitching line, walking only one batter while striking out three, and giving up just three hits in his seven innings.

It's Opening Day for 26 teams around Major League Baseball. Among those teams with players lacing up their cleats for the first time this season is the New York Mets.

More than 40,000 fans showed up at Citi Field to usher in the 2010 campaign against the NL East rival Florida Marlins.

New York came into the season with muted expectations but with a point to prove.

In what was an unseasonably warm 70 degree afternoon at Citi Field in New York, the Mets bats were just as hot, putting together a good offensive performance to back up ace pitcher Johan Santana's solid outing.

The Mets strung together nine hits, and were helped out by three Marlins errors, en route to an opening day win. It was a relieving result to many anxious Mets fans, who don't really know what this season may hold.

Well those fans can rest easy tonight with their team jumping out to a 1-0 record. But what does the future hold for this team?

Jason Heyward stood patiently in the batter's box like a watchful hawk, his long 6-foot, 5-inch frame towering over those around him.

In the stands, eager fans sat on the edges of their seats as if balancing on the point of a needle, awaiting the first at-bat of this heralded rookie. Each sat with fists clinched wondering if they could believe the hype.

Not Heyward.

Heyward's joints were loose, his arms were relaxed and his face failed to reflect the enormity of the situation upon which he was embarking.

Even from the writer who told you that the Cubs' pitching is the teams' Achilles heel, I will not say "I told you so."

That's right, for even with the White Sox, who I picked to win the AL Central this year, they may have won easily but you won't hear any gloating.

Why? Repeat after me, IT'S ONLY ONE GAME.

I know, Carlos Zambrano was horrible and the defense was bad. Alfonso Soriano played as if he couldn't care less.