The first week of the season has validated my observation that today's hitters prefer low pitches. But by the middle of the season, they will begin to adjust their swings and start hitting the high pitches better.

There were four home runs in the Royals-Yankees game I worked on the second day of the season. All four came on pitches around the knees. And all the home runs I've seen on the highlights have come on knee-high pitches as well.

Before, people have said pitchers need to keep the ball low to win. I've always disagreed with that approach. And now, it's being emphasized even more that pitchers need to move the ball up and down in the strike zone to be effective.

Here are my responses to five questions from the season's opening week:

1. How important will it be to the Cardinals for Rick Ankiel to have an effective start on Sunday?
It's an important start because the Cardinals need to know whether they can count on Ankiel or not. But that question will not be solved in one start. If too much emphasis is placed on Ankiel's first start and he has a poor outing, it doesn't mean he will have the same problems as last season and be unable to get his act together. At the same time, a solid outing doesn't mean he will be fine either. His whole season should not be based on one start.

Ankiel is critical to the Cardinals' chances this season. He was one of the reasons they won last year. When a team has a young pitcher like Ankiel whom they hope will grow into a No. 1 starter, it pushes the other pitchers like Darryl Kile. Ankiel is even more important because he is left-handed. I've always felt any left-hander who throws strikes has a chance of winning in the big leagues.

Along with Ankiel, the other Cardinals pitchers have to pitch effectively for them to win. And the hitters must produce more than they have so far. Mark McGwire, for instance, has yet to start hitting.

2. We've already seen series between the Mets and Braves and the White Sox and Indians. Now two traditional rivals, the Dodgers and Giants, are hooking up. What do you make of the unbalanced schedule with more games between division rivals, especially so early in the season?
I like the unbalanced schedule because it gives teams a quick look at the teams they need to beat. They will also get a midseason look and a final look down the stretch. Before the leagues were separated into divisions, it wasn't as important to play certain teams. Now the unbalanced schedule has helped teams in the same division get a gauge on the competition early.

In the case of the Mets-Braves series, everyone feels they are the two teams to beat in the NL East. Right away the Mets can say they are the kingpins of the division. The Mets held their own well at Turner Field, where they have had a lot of problems in the past.

3. Does Curt Schilling look like the Schilling of old and how much do you think he'll benefit from the high strike zone?
All pitchers benefit because they have more area to pitch to, and the hitters have more area to protect. But the strike zone particularly helps Schilling because he throws a lot of high fastballs. Many hitters, even with the belt-high strike, would chase the high fastball with two strikes on them. Now, they will chase a little higher pitch with two strikes. That will aid a power pitcher like Schilling, as it did in his 12-strikeout, seven-inning performance against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

In his first start, Schilling was always up with his fastball. He is able to change the hitters' eye level with high fastballs and his splitter. One pitch is up and one is down. That's the key to using the high strike zone -- moving pitches up and down, not so much side to side.

Schilling is a big force when he's healthy. He had arm problems two years ago. When pitchers have arm problems, it takes time to return to their former level. Last year he was 11-12 and ran out of gas down the stretch. Now, he is getting strong again. As a power pitcher, Schilling needs his arm strength.

4. The Rockies swept the Cardinals at Coors Field behind the pitching of new additions Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle along with Pedro Astacio. How much should we read into this early success?
You can read a lot into the Rockies' success because Hampton pitched fantastically in the first game. There was a lot of pressure on him, especially against the Cardinals, one of the best hitting teams in baseball. I always knew Astacio would pitch well in Colorado because he is a quality pitcher.

The series against St. Louis was a good indicator of how well the Rockies are capable of playing. If Neagle, Astacio and Hampton can keep them in games -- which they should do -- the Rockies should win because they will score runs. The hitters love Coors Field and have confidence there.

The Rockies should be a force, especially at home, but they haven't locked up the NL West after only three games. The question will be how they hit on the road. They will pitch well, but will their bats produce? That remains to be seen.

5. Who has impressed you the most over the first week of the season?
Hideo Nomo impressed me with his no-hitter against Baltimore. The Red Sox pitcher has struggled the last few years. In the National League, his ERA went up every year except for 1999. Then he pitched poorly in Detroit last season and was released. But it seems Nomo has picked his game up again and may have set a tone for the season.

Remember, his two career no-hitters have come at Camden Yards and Coors Field, two of the best hitting ballparks in baseball. So, when Nomo is on his game, he is awesome.

Hall of Famer Joe Morgan works as an analyst for ESPN.