Opinion

Opening Night could easily be labeled a failure for the Chicago Cubs organization, a team with a new manager and sky-high expectations. The Cubs' $155 million investment, Jon Lester, struggled throughout his first National League start, and the team was 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

No, those are not good numbers.

You get the feeling this is what is going to have to happen fairly often.

A pure offensive onslaught.

You had to be a dummy not to realize the Boston Red Sox had built one hell of an attack over the offseason, tossing in Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval with an already-formidable group of David Ortiz, Mike Napoli and Dustin Pedroia. Them scoring was never in doubt.

The Miami Marlins spent a lot of money on their new stadium—$515 million, mostly funded by Miami-Dade County, to be specific.

It features some interesting things, like a quasi-strip club at field level, an exploding fantasy fountain and a monstrous retractable roof. 

Conventional wisdom decrees that any time you have an opportunity to lower the possibility for violence at a sporting event, you take it.

Conversely, it would appear that new security measures around the league have made entering stadiums a longer, more tedious process for fans. 

If the New York Yankees want to return to the postseason in 2015, they're going to need Masahiro Tanaka to be the ace he was in 2014.

The Oakland A's are always filled with entertaining storylines, and 2015 is no different.

The team is fun. From the white cleats to the famed right field bleacher crew, the A's are exciting and unique. 

They made a big splash this offseason with a ton of moves, and many worried the A's took a step backward. But then they moved on to spring training, where they finished with the best record of any team.

But is it all a facade?

Opening Day came early to Wrigley Field on Sunday night, with the Chicago Cubs losing to the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-0, at the only stadium in professional baseball that could’ve really used an extra 24 hours of preparation.

Madison Bumgarner cemented his legacy as one of the best big-game pitchers of all time with his dominant performances in the 2014 postseason, leading the San Francisco Giants to their third World Series championship in five years. 

Bleacher Report's Stephen Nelson was joined by Bumgarner as he builds his ultimate starting rotation, discusses his friendship with Clayton Kershaw and explains his endorsement deals. 

"Opening day. All you have to do is say the words and you feel the shutters thrown wide, the room air out, the light pour in. In baseball, no other day is so pure with possibility. No scores yet, no losses, no blame or disappointment. No hangover, at least until the game's over."

—Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune 

Spring training is just about in the books, so let's take a look back at winners and losers. Players are hitting their stride with the regular season right around the corner. 

The media circus around New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriquez reached a boiling point this past month. Were A-Rod and the Yankees winners or losers during the spring?