With the season officially kicking off Tuesday as the BoSox take on the A’s in Japan, I thought it would be appropriate to examine the key stories to follow this year in the Junior Circuit. I’m leaving this one wide open for some reader input, so feel free to jump in with your opinions. Let’s hear what you think, people.

1. Can Boston withstand Josh Beckett’s back and Curt Schilling’s shoulder?

2. Can the Yankees continue their playoff streak without Joe Torre?

3. Is Toronto’s pitching staff good enough to close the gap on Boston and New York?

4. Will Grady Sizemore win the AL MVP this season?

5. Will dropping the “Devil” from “Devil Rays” allow Tampa Bay to finally top the 70-win mark?

6. Will dealing Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada reap rewards for Baltimore by the end of the decade?

7. Does adding Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis and Edgar Renteria put Detroit and its lineup of seven former All-Stars over the top?

8. Has Seattle improved its rotation enough to compete in the AL West?

9. Does adding Torii Hunter finally give Vladimir Guerrero the protection he needs in the Angels’ lineup?

10. Will the ChiSox have enough starting pitching after Javier Vazquez and Mark Buehrle?

11. Can a healthy Francisco Liriano make up for the loss of Johan Santana in Minnesota?

12. Can Trey Hillman work his NPB magic in Kansas City?

13. Will Texas ever have a pitching staff capable of competing?

14. How long will Joe Blanton remain on the A’s?

15. Can Cleveland break through for its first World Series title since 1948?

16. Can Carlos Pena come even close to matching his 46-homer, 121-RBI breakout season?

17. Will Adam Jones make Orioles’ fans forget they had one of the best lefties in the game?

18. The Yankees led the majors with 968 runs last year, while Detroit was third with 887. Can Detroit score 1,000 runs in 2008?

19. How will the Angels cope without John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar to start the season?

20. How much better will Daisuke Matsuzuka be in his second MLB season?

So we’ll need to see more to believe he’s out of his slump. Apparently, the problems have resulted because he’s been tipping his pitches. We wouldn’t want to risk it against a hungry Yankee squad and showing-no-signs-of-cracking Detroit team this week. That’s a tall order for Buehrle even if he were on his game, which he clearly hasn’t been in the last month (0-5, 11.48 in July). more

The Braves are another team on which opportunity knocks for any pitcher — especially a reliever — who can actually get anyone out. Atlanta went el cheapo on its bullpen this year, and the results have shown. But it’s created a situation in which unproven pitchers are getting their shot. And some of them have succeeded. more

Oh baby! That was a seriously fine All-Star game last week. Sure, the whole “this time it counts” mantra is tiresome, but these past three midseason classics have really lived up to the title and been worth watching. The game has evolved into more than just a stupid fly-by followed by four hours of boredom. more