Manny Ramirez is still without a team. Spring training games have started up, but he has still to sign a deal anywhere. For whatever reason, he’s not gotten into contact with the Dodgers, who are looking to re-sign him but now it’s not so sure that he will make it. We don’t yet know, but we can’t imagine that he wont get on a team. He has to be on a team, there’s no way that he wont! Stranger things have happened, and many of the teams are at their salary limit now. So let’s get him in there! How about your team?

Steroids. It has come to define an entire decade of the baseball world. It’s kind of a tough situation, especially for anyone who is a real purist of the game. The fact is that we’re all looking for heavy hitters to dazzle the lineup at some point. We’re looking for stars, rather than good team players. We’re looking for the guy who simply hits homeruns, rather than the guy with just a good clutch hit. Is A-Rod going to make it to the all-time record? During Bonds’ season two years ago when he beat the record, it was kind of a sad moment, because it did seem to be such a depressing second. Now we may be working our way to exactly the same kind of thing with A-Rod now. Oy!

The Barry Bonds issue is still at the front of the stove in the baseball world. He is still in the process of his trial right now, and the news today is that a judge has ruled that some of the evidence in his trial not allowed. The problem is that the evidence is good for the prosecution but not for the defense. So this is a win for Bonds and the prosecution is now in a bit of trouble. Read more here.

Ken Griffey Jr. has been without a home for a little while. Last year, he moved from the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago White Sox to play for them. The Sox decided not to pick him up again for next season, as part of making the team younger than it was before, so he’s been wandering around the league, searching for a new team. The Atlanta Braves have now expressed interest in Jr. as a way of strengthening their outfield. Their outfield had the least amount of homeruns during last season so they are doing a full revamp. This year, they might add Griffey, who will probably play at a reasonable price, and there are lots of other players around too.

Despite all the controversy, Spring Training is about to begin this weekend. With baseball already on the horizon, you know that warmer weather is approaching. You can start getting out your caps and jerseys. Get ready for long afternoons outdoors, watching your favorite team. Fun evenings with friends, watching the game on tv or listening to it on the radio. You should maybe review the rules. You might’ve forgotten it by now, it’s been so long. Don’t you just yearn for the new season? Your team probably didn’t win the Series last year, so this year may be your year! Here we go, get ready, baseball is coming!

There is a baseball controversy brewing. It’s kind of sad that during the lead-up to spring training, we have to pay a lot of attention to a new scandal with the performance enhancing drugs. Last week it was Barry Bonds. This week, it’s A-Rod. Accusations were made public over the weekend that he had tested positive for steroids a few years ago. He has interviewed this afternoon and has admitted to this, that he used steroids during the 2001-3 seasons in Texas. It’s too bad for him and now we’ll have to get ready to see what the fallout will turn out to be. Sometimes people are fine with him, but some people are completely outraged. It’s a question which one of these will take precedence this time around.

It’s only a few weeks until Spring Training really begins! It’s going to be a really great season. There have been some big moves this offseason and some of the more tepid teams from the last few years have improved themselves in a big big way. I’m certainly expecting that is going to be a big fight in some of the divisions this year. The AL Central may be extra exciting. The AL East is always good. The western divisions have been not as exciting last year, but perhaps this year it will be a lot better.

Now that the new season is coming, we should start taking ideas on who’s going to be really good this year and who’s going to drop off. We’ve already discussed the issue of the AL Central which looks like it’s going to be a big competition this year. AL East is always entertaining. What other teams do you think look good? Anyone that you’re concerned about? Leave a comment so I have an idea what you all think of it!