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The early part of the 2008 MLB season has provided plenty of discussion topics. At the top of the list are the early struggles of the Detroit Tigers (4-10) and a foiled curse attempt in New York.

While the Tiger were expected to knock the pants off opposing pitchers, the team has already been shut out at the plate (4) more times than all of 2007 (3). After Sunday's 11-0 loss to the White Sox, manager Jim Leyland finally blew a gasket.

Leyland's rant is justified considering that several of his everyday players are walking the Mendoza line at the plate (Palcido Polanco (.159), Jacque Jones (.194), Miguel Cabrera (.205), Gary Sheffield (.212), Pudge Rodriguez (.222).

Plus, lefty Kenny Rogers is 0-3, ace Justin Verlander is sporting 6.52 ERA and Dontrelle Willis is planted on the 15-day DL with a hyper extended right knee.

The good news for Mo-Town is the Cleveland Indians are crawling along as well (5-9). Ace C.C. Sabathia hasn't found his mojo in 2008 and could be feeling the effects of his 241 IP last year.

Adding to the problem is Fausto Carmona's control issues (17-BB in 16.1-IP), which, may be linked to his newly signed four-year 15 million dollar deal. And, finishing things off in the pen is 2007 A.L. blown saves leader (8) Joe Borowski.

Leyland has made it clear that he wants to see more urgency from his team. Although, the skipper's message may have come a day late and a dollar short considering no team has ever started the season 0-7 and made the playoffs and, only twice has a team started 0-6 and made the post season.

Meanwhile, the New York press is having a ball covering the uncovering of a David Ortiz replica jersey in the bowls of new Yankee Stadium.

On the other hand, I'm not a believer of curses of any kind, Billy Goat included. Still, I get the feeling this story gets its own chapter in the Curse of the Bambino. On the flip side, I find this Yankee story more memorable.

Another baseball topic that hit a nerve with me was Opening Day 2008. I'm just not in favor of opening the season outside the United States. That may sound like an elitist American comment but, I feel America's Pastime should open in the U.S..

Why?

It's simple really, baseball is America's pastime. Although the NFL has become the most popular sport in the states, baseball is the game nearly every U.S. citizen can relate too.

In fact, it's reason like these that Opening Day has developed into a holiday of sorts, a day millions of American cherish. So, why not embrace this love of baseball by truly celebrating Opening Day where it' appreciated like nowhere else on earth, right here in the good 'ol US of A?

Instead, this year baseball opened in Japan. Whoee. Better yet, who knew? So, while Boston and Oakland kicked-off the season at 6am EST most American baseball fans were either just waking up or already working. Now, that doesn't sound like much of a holiday to me.

Even worse, after Boston and Oakland play two regular season games in Japan, they're then asked to return to the states for weekend exhibition series. What?

Seriously, that's like NASCAR telling its drivers to race five laps around the track then, pit for a few practice laps, and then everyone will resume competitive racing.

Boston and L.A. play an exhibition game at the L.A. Coliseum

So, not only does Boston and Oakland leave spring training early but, they're also forced to begin the season nearly a week before Opening Day in the states and, by the way, on you're return trip turn off your regular season switch as an exhibition series awaits. Talk about being T-totally stupid and, not to mention, unfair to both clubs.

Now, that being said, I'm all for the globalization of baseball. However, this isn't the way to get it done.

Look no further than the NBA to see how David Sterns' efforts to globalize basketball have improved the association. NBA basketball is king overseas, the European Leagues do well, young kids take up basketball over other sports and talented foreign players are entering the league like ants at a picnic.

Baseball is far behind spreading the game around the globe. Of course, the opportunity is there for baseball to commit to such a task and, I hope it does. Again, the NBA proves the effort to do so is worth while.

Furthermore, I'm not letting baseball of the hook just yet. Not only did MLB make a major buzz kill out of opening the season in Japan but, the league also successful made the U.S. schedule opening the season in the Canadian-like settings such as Chicago, Detroit and New York.

How'd that turn out? Well, the final opening day at Yankee Stadium was rained out while fans in Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia froze their tushes off.

Lesson learned? Cleveland's 2007 opener was snowed out

Is it me or could MLB use a new thinking cap when it comes to scheduling. Honestly, this is really just too simple a subject to go into detail. Perhaps, there's something to this 2008 opening week schedule that I just don't understand or I'm overlooking but, it seems pretty black and white to me.

"The guys who made up this schedule must have been in a room with a bottle of Wild Turkey and 40 straws." - Dave Bergman

How about opening the baseball season in warm weather markets such as Atlanta, Houston, Arlington, Miami, Tampa Bay, San Diego, Los Angeles or Arizona just to name a few.

Plus, there's also the possibility of playing the opening series where teams can play under a roof such as Arizona, Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Toronto.

Unfortunately, this type of scheduling isn't an exception to the rule in 2008. Recently, Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks expressed his displeasure of the Rangers having opened the season on the road in seven of the past eight years.

I'm not asking MLB to control the weather come next April. However, I am suggesting MLB takes advantage of the many warm weather markets it has for Opening Day. It just makes more sense for all parties.

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