ITS ALMOST TIME

The start of the season is almost here, but the silliness has not yet ended. At least the WBC is over...except for Jayson Stark of ESPN.

***AS IF THE WBC WASN'T DISRUPTIVE ENOUGH***
Jason Stark has come up with a plan to make the WBC palatable. Wait till you hear this:
Round 1 - Played AFTER the World Series, when the players are still in shape (...after a 4-week layoff for most players - he left that part out).
Round 2 - Played during spring training (That's not disruptive, is it Jason?)
Round 3 - Played during ALL-STAR WEEK (Another new part of the plan). The week would include the home-run derby, the all-star game and the finals of the WBC. (I'm sure teams in the middle of a pennant race would be glad to gamble that their players wouldn't get hurt.)
Here's Picasner's plan - NO WBC.

***THIS FROM GREG COTE OF THE MIAMI HERALD***
Barry Bonds is still interested in a comeback: "Analysts say he is expected to attract interest from the many teams that are lacking a 44-year-old clubhouse cancer, who is the face of the steroids era and is awaiting trial on federal perjury charges." Quite a package!

***FROM DWIGHT PERRY OF THE SEATTLE TIMES***
Front row seats at Yankee Stadium cost $2625 for one game. "In keeping with the theme, ticket-booth personnel will wear a ski mask and brandish a pistol. What's next? Bernie Madoff Bobblehead Night?

***T.O. A NO-SHOW***
But the Bills aren't worried; it was a voluntary workout. Still, I'm sure some of the front office people are are shaking their heads and thinking, "So now it starts."

***CURT SCHILLING RETIRES***
Of course, his blog goes on and on. There is already a discussion of his chances for Hall Of Fame membership. A 216-146 record isn't quite enough in my mind. Burt Blyleven and Mike Mussina have a lot more wins and their entry is being questioned. ...and Blyleven definitely belongs. Schilling's proponents talk about his post-season credentials, which are outstanding and his "bloody sock", which isn't. By the way, I saw that sock in Cooperstown; I thought dried blood was brown. This was still red (Can you say Sharpie?). Interesting. Sorry, Curt, maybe the Sportswriters HOF will be interested.