The Dodgers run MLB until they don't anymore

[ASFN Admin]

This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.

Good morning, Winners! Happy MLB Opening Day! Welcome to a March Madness of another kind.

Baseball's opening day is one of those sacred sports holidays that you don't really know isn't a holiday until you grow up and get a non-sports job. Then you realize, wait, did I really have a cool teacher this entire time? Were we not supposed to roll out the TV and watch baseball during the last school period for all these years?

Nostalgia aside, this upcoming MLB year is so fascinating. It feels like we're staring down the barrel at another evil empire — but this time it's on the better coast. The Dodgers are the biggest World Series favorite in 21 years. The World Series-winning team that was already stacked last season somehow got even better this offseason. LA somehow picked up Blake Snell to bolster its already strong pitching rotation. The Dodgers also picked up Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott to supe up its bullpen. Not really sure how you beat this team at this point. It's not the bats. It's not the pitching. Now, it's not even the relievers.

But that's the thing about baseball, man. It's a long season — you never know what might happen. Maybe Juan Soto has one of the best seasons we've ever seen in this new era with the Mets. Maybe the Yankees are still fantastic, even without him. Aaron Judge is Aaron Judge, after all.

There are 162 games and each team has to play them all. We have to see how things play out. Nothing is given in baseball — everything is earned. The Dodgers have strong repeat chances, but nobody is backing down.

Baseball is back, baby. Let's get it. Here are a few links to get you ready for the season:

• We've got 15 bold predictions for the MLB season, including one that will make you really happy, Pirates fans.
• Here are our award predictions for each league, including MVP, ROY and more.
• If you're the betting type and are looking for over/under predictions, we've got you covered right here.
• Andrew Joseph ranked all 30 MLB stadiums. This is always a fun one. I'm SURE everybody agrees here.
• We'll be watching baseball on another channel next year. ESPN and MLB are breaking up. Here are some options from Blake Schuster.

Enjoy the games today, folks. Go Nats.

LeBron was SPICY ​

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Something about the Pat McAfee show that just really brings out the spiciness in someone, I guess? LeBron James went on there and talked all kinds of trash to everyone.

Prince Grimes says this is the most direct the normally passive-aggressive king has ever been:

"From James' pushback against the direction of the NBA -- "it's a lot of [expletive] threes being shot" -- to his confronting Stephen A. Smith over coverage of Bronny James, we've been seeing a more direct LeBron than in years past. That continued Wednesday with his surprise hour-long appearance on the Pat McAfee show.

The interview didn't reveal much new about James, who's been covered as thoroughly as any athlete over the last 20 years, but it was certainly the most layered we've seen him be in the public eye. He wore his emotions on his sleeve about certain topics in a way we haven't seen before, he was funny, and sometimes he was downright mean. He said some wild things during this convo, and it made for several awkward moments considering at least two of his targets work for the network that broadcasted the interview."

It was such a weird scene. I don't know if it was the best look for James, though it'll certainly score him a lot of points with the rabid fans making R&B Bron records. It was just really weird to see him carry such an openly petty temperament out in the open like that.

Prince is on to something. This is a new era for LeBron. Maybe this is just how it'll be with him from now on. It's just so weird because now, instead of talking about his game-winner against the Pacers, we're talking about this.

EVERYTHING HE SAID: Charles Curtis outlines the 5 wildest things James said in his interview with McAfee.

March Madness is back tonight​

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Half of the Sweet 16 plays for a spot in the Elite 8 tonight, folks. We're almost there. The tournament is almost over. It feels like it literally just started.

The schedule:

• No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU — 7:09 p.m. ET
• No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Maryland — 7:39 p.m. ET
• No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona — 9:39 p.m. ET
• No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Arkansas — 10:09 p.m. ET

I'm locked in on that Maryland game. That feels like it could potentially be one of the best games of the tournament. Derik Queen is coming off the high of hitting a game-winner against Colorado State. But if Mayrland plays Florida like it did Colorado State, the Terps are getting destroyed. That team is too good and too experienced to play around with.

Tonight is going to be so fun. Buckle in, folks.

Quick hits: Opening day schedule ... Austin Reaves did a really cool thing ... and more​

— Charles Curtis ranked all 14 opening day MLB games by watchability. He says you're welcome.

— Austin Reaves helping out with a genre reveal is pretty cool. Bryan Kalbrosky has more here.

— Duke is mad about the White Lotus meme, guys. Of course Duke is mad about the White Lotus meme. Caroline Darney has more.

— Here are the 15 biggest MLB stadiums by capacity. Yes, the Dodgers are still clearing everyone.

— There are two Max Muncys (Munci?) in baseball, guys. Learn the difference here.

— LeBron James had the best (and pettiest!) response to Stephen A. Smith's threat to him.

That's a wrap. Thanks, gang. Have a fantastic day. Enjoy the baseball.

-Sykes

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Opening Day belongs to the Dodgers until they don't anymore

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