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Opening Day -- well, Opening Night, really, and we technically already had one of those in Japan, but who's counting? -- is finally here, as the Cardinals will take on the Marlins tonight in the first stateside regular-season MLB game. It's bound to be an exciting season with so many players having changed teams, but has the power structure been altered significantly?

Vote: Pick each division and pennant, and the winner of the World Series

Rank: Baseball's best teams? | Top players in the game?

Which team is more likely to make it back to the World Series?

•  
  21%
  Cardinals
•  
  79%
  Rangers

(Total votes: 63,581)

Which of these players would you most want on your team?

•  
  6%
  Miguel Cabrera
•  
  17%
  Roy Halladay
•  
  6%
  Felix Hernandez
•  
  39%
  Albert Pujols
•  
  31%
  Justin Verlander

(Total votes: 64,564)

Which of these AL East teams is most likely to miss the playoffs?

•  
  30%
  Rays
•  
  54%
  Red Sox
•  
  15%
  Yankees

(Total votes: 38,308)

Which is the best team in the American League?

•  
  21%
  Angels
•  
  21%
  Rangers
•  
  21%
  Tigers
•  
  23%
  Yankees
•  
  14%
  Another team

(Total votes: 66,943)

Which is the best team in the National League?

•  
  10%
  Marlins
•  
  10%
  Giants
•  
  46%
  Phillies
•  
  8%
  Reds
•  
  26%
  Another team

(Total votes: 63,887)

Fernando Valenzuela and Dave Stewart once pitched no-hitters on the same day. Cal Ripken Jr.'s lap around Camden Yards was special. But has any regular-season day in your lifetime topped the drama that unfolded last night in baseball? Evan Longoria channeled Bobby Thomson with a walk-off home run, Jonathan Papelbon wrote a fitting ending for a September collapse, the Braves and Phillies battled deep into extra innings and the Cardinals took care of business. Like Jose Reyes, hopefully you rested up in the afternoon.

• "What a night of baseball! Watched Strasburg pitch a gem. Watched the Braves collapse. Watched the O's rally to beat the Sox. Watchd the Rays rally to beat the Yanks. Don't you love technology?" -- SN commenter luvdc88
• "My Orioles weren't in the race -- and haven't been since I had more hair -- but even though I've watched sports of all sorts since the late 60s and have been in sports media since 1979, this was a night I won't soon forget." -- SN commenter joeypsinger

Was Wednesday the best day of regular-season baseball you can remember in your lifetime?

•  
  76%
  Yes
•  
  24%
  No

(Total votes: 18,192)

Which was a bigger stunner in the American League?

•  
  74%
  Rays rally from 7-0 deficit after seven innings
•  
  26%
  Orioles rally with two outs, nobody on in ninth inning vs. Jonathan Papelbon

(Total votes: 52,952)

Should Joe Girardi have used Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning against the Rays?

•  
  38%
  Yes
•  
  62%
  No

(Total votes: 9,558)

What's true of Carl Crawford on the game's final play?

•  
  46%
  Should have made the catch
•  
  46%
  Could have made the catch
•  
  8%
  Could not make the catch

(Total votes: 15,989)

What would be more surprising?

•  
  43%
  Cardinals making up 8.5 games on Braves in September
•  
  57%
  Cardinals beating Phillies in NLDS

(Total votes: 7,612)

Are you in favor of adding an additional wild-card team in each league in MLB?

•  
  52%
  Yes
•  
  48%
  No

(Total votes: 18,881)

Does Jose Reyes pulling himself out of the final game after one at-bat diminish his batting title?

•  
  29%
  Diminishes it a lot
•  
  35%
  Diminishes it a little
•  
  36%
  Doesn't diminish it

(Total votes: 57,412)

It's a curious development that the two teams that most successfully avoided wild-card races will help determine which teams earn those spots. The Phillies and Yankees are safely in the postseason, but the Yankees visit the Rays for three games, with the latter just one game behind the Red Sox in the AL wild-card race. In the NL, the Phillies visit the Braves, with the latter just one game ahead of the Cardinals. Do the leaders owe the wild-card contenders full effort? Rank 'Em: Your MLB Power Rankings

Which team will win the AL wild card?

•  
  46%
  Red Sox
•  
  50%
  Rays
•  
  4%
  Angels

(Total votes: 64,452)

Which team will win the NL wild card?

•  
  55%
  Braves
•  
  45%
  Cardinals

(Total votes: 59,811)

Which team would be the most dangerous in the playoffs?

•  
  4%
  Angels
•  
  12%
  Braves
•  
  22%
  Cardinals
•  
  36%
  Rays
•  
  25%
  Red Sox

(Total votes: 12,668)

The Cardinals wasted a golden opportunity in losing late against the Mets on Thursday, but neither the Braves in the NL nor Red Sox in the AL can feel comfortable about their leads entering a potentially wild weekend. Do you expect a clear picture by Monday morning?

What record will the Red Sox have on Monday morning?

•  
  14%
  91-68
•  
  34%
  90-69
•  
  33%
  89-70
•  
  19%
  88-71

(Total votes: 3,377)

What record will the Rays have on Monday morning?

•  
  47%
  89-70
•  
  34%
  88-71
•  
  12%
  87-72
•  
  7%
  86-73

(Total votes: 3,160)

What record will the Angels have on Monday morning?

•  
  28%
  88-71
•  
  42%
  87-72
•  
  19%
  86-73
•  
  10%
  85-74

(Total votes: 2,704)

What record will the Braves have on Monday morning?

•  
  27%
  91-68
•  
  41%
  90-69
•  
  21%
  89-70
•  
  12%
  88-71

(Total votes: 2,748)

What record will the Cardinals have on Monday morning?

•  
  31%
  89-70
•  
  39%
  88-71
•  
  19%
  87-72
•  
  11%
  86-73

(Total votes: 5,111)

What record will the Giants have on Monday morning?

•  
  18%
  87-72
•  
  35%
  86-73
•  
  30%
  85-74
•  
  17%
  84-75

(Total votes: 2,510)

The Red Sox lost again Wednesday night but gained ground in the wild-card race when the Rays lost a doubleheader against the Yankees. Then again, they also gained a challenger when the Angels pulled even with the Rays. But does all of that add up to the lesser of the wild-card races? With a win this afternoon against the Mets, the Cardinals could pull to within a game of the Braves in the NL wild-card race, and the Giants are still lurking.

• "Wow, the Cardinals are surging and couldn't have picked a better time to get HOT!!! If they do somehow get the NL wild card slot, they are going to be TOUGH to beat. ... Just imagine where we would be sitting right now if we didn't lose Wainwright?" -- SN commenter mizzoufan84
• "You have to give the Cards credit. The Braves had their shot at the Mets and the Mets bullpen, and they lost 2 of 3. They dug their own hole. Cards are doing what they're supposed to do." -- SN commenter oblio98

Which team is more likely to get passed in a wild-card race?

•  
  47%
  Braves
•  
  53%
  Red Sox

(Total votes: 48,710)

Which team would the Phillies least want to face in the first round?

•  
  49%
  Cardinals
•  
  27%
  Diamondbacks
•  
  24%
  Giants

(Total votes: 8,622)

What are the Phillies obligated to do with Cliff Lee in Monday's game at the Braves if the wild card is still up for grabs?

•  
  32%
  Start Lee and treat like a normal game
•  
  23%
  Start Lee, even if he has a reduced workload
•  
  45%
  No obligation to do anything

(Total votes: 7,704)

Whom do you want on the mound on the final day of the season with a playoff bid on the line?

•  
  13%
  Matt Cain on short rest
•  
  48%
  Chris Carpenter
•  
  39%
  Tim Hudson

(Total votes: 7,927)

It all seemed so clear just a month ago. The Red Sox had ceded the AL East lead to the Yankees but led the Rays by 8½ games in the wild-card race. The Braves weren't going to catch the Phillies for the NL East lead but led the Giants by 7 games and the Cardinals by 7½ in the wild-card race. Now? The Rays, Angels, Cardinals and Giants are all within four games of a playoff spot. Rank 'Em: What are your MLB Power Rankings?

• "Francona must go. Sorry apologists, this is the time of year where all the idiotic decisions he has made throughout the year haunt you as much as injuries. Wanna bet if they happen to get some sense and fire him the new "brilliant "manager gets them to the playoffs next year and all this BUNK about how good he is fades into myth?" -- SN commenter drysalami
• "I still have all the confidence in the world that this team can win the WORLD SERIES. Yes, I sound like an idiot. But that's how I truly feel. Do you really think a team this talented is going to suck for this long? It's almost impossible." -- SN commenter RedSoxRule1024

Which team will win the AL wild card?

•  
  44%
  Rays
•  
  51%
  Red Sox
•  
  6%
  Angels

(Total votes: 59,142)

Which team would you most like to see make the playoffs?

•  
  14%
  Angels
•  
  54%
  Rays
•  
  33%
  Red Sox

(Total votes: 17,506)

Which team will win the NL wild card?

•  
  64%
  Braves
•  
  28%
  Cardinals
•  
  9%
  Giants

(Total votes: 17,984)

Which team would you most like to see make the playoffs?

•  
  46%
  Braves
•  
  31%
  Cardinals
•  
  23%
  Giants

(Total votes: 18,200)

We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)

Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)

Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)

Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)

2. Would you leave off Posey or Heyward?

We're generally not fans of mindless orthodoxy around here, but sometimes, you can think a little bit too far outside the box. For example: the writers who either voted for Gaby Sanchez as their NL Rookie of the Year, or left Jason Heyward or Buster Posey off entirely. Could you see yourselves doing the same thing, SportsNation? Assuming you had a ballot. Which you don't. Probably.

• "Thought Posey deserved it. Wouldn't have thought it criminal if it had gone to Jason either. That they were left off any ballots is a joke. Garcia, Castro, Alvarez, Vinters, Sanchez, et al, weren't good enough to knock either guy off anyone's ballot. " -- SN commenter Roulette1970

• Vote: Power Rankings | Postseason pitcher rankings | ALDS and NLDS picks

ALDS: SportsNation's burning questions for Rangers vs. Rays

• Which closer do you trust in the ninth inning?

• Do Rays need Evan Longoria more than Rangers need Josh Hamilton?

• Vote on those and other questions about the Rangers and Rays!

Bobby (Texas)

While Tampa Bay stole the most bases in baseball, Rangers catchers were 26th in baseball at throwing out runners? How can Texas limit the Rays' running game?

ESPN Dallas' Richard Durrett

That's one important storyline of this series. And we're actually working up a big blog post on that now. Manager Ron Washington said yesterday that keeping runners close is part of the pitcher's job, which of course it is. They'll be aware and make sure they do what they can to step off, throw over and mix things up to try to keep the runners from getting big leads. Full transcript

Game 2: SportsNation's burning questions for Twins vs. Yankees

• Which Derek Jeter will show up in the postseason?

• Is everyone outside of New York rooting for Twins?

• Vote on those and other questions about the Twins and Yankees!

Doug (New Rochelle, NY)

Do the Yankees even need 4 starters in round 1, or does it depend on the schedule?

Rob Neyer

No, they don't need four starters in the Division Series if Sabathia goes once on short rest. We'll see what Girardi does. Full transcript

Game 3: SportsNation's burning questions for Braves vs. Giants

• Is Buster Posey a better rookie than Jason Heyward?

• Would you rather have Andres Torres' WAR or Omar Infante's average?

• Vote on those and other questions about the Braves at the Giants!

Jerry (Elk Grove, CA)

Jerry, Can you remember a time when it was best for a team to leave their two highest paid, healthy, players off of the playoff roster? This year, should the Giants make it, there's no way they should include Zito and Rowand, not with Sanchez and Bumgarner stepping it up and with all of the other outfield choices they have.

Jerry Crasnick

Jerry, Zito is a strange case, because it's hard to see him coming out of the bullpen. I'm not sure who Bruce Bochy will take as his fourth guy after Lincecum, Cain and Sanchez. Aaron Rowand is one of the all-time great guys and competitors, but he barely plays these days. The Giants have such a glut of outfielders, I can't see where he fits in October. Full transcript

Game 4: SportsNation's burning questions for Phillies vs. Reds

• Would you rather have the likely MVP or likely Cy Young?

• Do the Reds have Roy Oswalt's number?

• Vote on those and other questions about the Phillies and Reds!

Herbie (Cincinnati)

Joe. Is Brandon Phillips the best Reds 2nd Baseman since your tenure?

Joe Morgan

He's great. He makes unbelievable plays at second, and for a stretch there, he was the best Reds player I've seen in a long time. He got hit on the hand by a pitch and didn't get his offense back, but he says it's well now and he expects to play well. I would say yes, but there have been some good players there. Full transcript

• Rank 'Em: Is Stephen Strasburg the biggest draw in baseball?
• Vote: Is Strasburg having the best season of any NL rookie?

Newly-crowned Miss Iowa Katherine Connors lists the following nugget of inspirational goodness from Eleanor Roosevelt as her favorite quote: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." (Connors also enjoys shopping, watching movies and spending time with family.) Ironic, then, that Nationals emergency starter Miguel Batista called on Connors in searching for a comparison point when disgruntled Nationals fans did their best to make him feel inferior in the town in which Roosevelt spent many years.

Batista got the call to start just minutes before Tuesday's game after scheduled starter (and the reason more than 40,000 people showed up) Stephen Strasburg was scratched with inflammation in pitching shoulder. Talking about the smattering of boos in the park, Batista, a published poet and author, offered up this pearl of wisdom. From the recap:

"Imagine if you go there to see Miss Universe, and you end up having Miss Iowa."

Of course, as Batista proved with five shutout innings in an eventual win for the home team, Miss Iowa isn't always just a consolation prize. And considering Connors wants to be a registered nurse, perhaps the Nationals could have used her Tuesday.

“

wow, jason heyward vs the struas man is gonna have to wait AGAIN!!

” -- rfly12321

“

How do they get shut out by a 39 year journeyman who hasn't starter a game in two years??!!??!!

” -- IndyDolfan11