LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Actually, they won't start in earnest until Wednesday, that's if you really believe spring training games are "earnest" at all.

"Hope springs eternal..."
At this time of the year, all 30 teams are confident they will be in the postseason. By June 1st, however, the separation will be evident and there will be about half the teams that are legitimate contenders. Right now, the Chicago Cubs are the overwhelming favorite to win it all. I never thought I'd ever write that sentence.
The Yanks are picked to finish anywhere from 2nd to last in the AL East. The writers' fascination with Boston continues as the Red Sox are favored to win the AL East and maybe win it all. I still don't see it.

The Yanks biggest problem is health.Everyone is worried about the pitching staff, but look at the outfield. The first game is still 5 days off and already the Yanks have held back Brett Gardner to save a sprained wrist the he injured last year in their one playoff game. Every year it's something with him and the biggest problem is, nobody seems to know about any problem and he tries to play through it. His enthusiasm is impressive but his production stinks when he does this.
The centerfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, is as brittle as puff pastry and he has a hard time staying on the field and an even tougher time producing when he is.
The rightfielder, Carlos Beltran, turns 39 in April, and plays the outfield like he's 139. He can still hit, though.
In the infield, you have Mark Teixeira, 36 in April, who can still play when he's not beating himself up. Tex expects to play 4 or 5 more years. If Greg Bird heals up in good shape, Tex probably won't be in a Yankee uniform for those last 4 years. Even A-Rod is saying that he can only go as far as his 40-year old body can take him. I haven't even mentioned the pitching staff, so....
If they stay healthy, they can win it all and easily, if not, the majority of the Yankee press conferences will be held in the lobby of New York Presbyterian hospital.

Here and there
**Pablo Sandoval showed up at the Red Sox training camp carrying a lot of baggage. Oh yeah, he had some luggage with him, too. Why does he say that his weight is fine? Why does the team say his weight is not an issue? It IS an issue. By the middle of August, he looks like he just played a double-header in the Mojave Desert. I know KFC doesn't think his weight is an issue.
**Steph Curry is not human. He hit 10 more 3-pointers last night, one of them from half-court - a bank shot, no less. It would not surprise me if they suddenly discover he's actually a bionic man...or an alien.
**I watched Bob Lee of ESPN talking about FIFA voting for a new president and the candidates all saying they can save soccer for the world. Apparently, this is a vote taking place today, which Lee says will probably be the first of many. "After this vote, there will probably be more after some back...room politicking."  Now, he didn't say it but it looked like he was about to call it "backstabbing," but stopped himself. You should have said it, Bob, you know that's what we're all thinking.
**Dexter Fowler, the Cubs centerfielder, rejected a qualifying offer of $15.8 million from the Cubs to become a free agent. He also rejected a 2-year $17 million offer from Baltimore. Bad move, Dexter. There were no other offers. He has now signed an $8 million offer from those same Cubs. Wouldn't you have like to hear his agent explain that one to him? "See, Dexter, I thought...um, in free agency...somebody was sure to...I don't know. Just sign for the $8 million and we'll try again next year. ...I'll do better. Honest." 

***THEY SAID IT*** 
"The Ringling Bros. Circus has a clown college. Half the schools in the SEC tried to schedule a nonconference football game against this school."  -- Brad Dickson
"The Donald says he plans to build a border wall between the US and Mexico. In related news, Vegas bookmakers have just made Mexico the favorite for this summer’s Olympic Pole Vault competition."  -- TC Chong
"During this week’s FIFA elections. “Outgoing president Sepp Blatter has announced he won’t endorse any particular candidate until all bribes have been formally submitted to his office.”  -- David Whitley
"Johnny Manziel is back on Twitter, Retweeting advice he got from Charlie Sheen?! Ah, good to see Manziel is looking for serious role models."  -- Janice Hough
"Thai teen golf sensation, Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, looks destined for the LPGA Tour. Now all she needs are a few sponsor exemptions and a foot-wide scorecard."  -- Dwight Perry
"Oddsmakers have installed the Cubs as 4-1 favorites to win the World Series. Waiter, I’ll have what they’re having."  -- Tim Hunter
"Thousands of Liverpool soccer fans walked out during a game last week to protest ticket price increases. Their principal owner, Fenway Sports Group, who also own the Red Sox, immediately issued an apology, stating they will cancel the increases and look for further avenues to save money, like making Papi and Sandoval pay for their own Dunkin Donuts."  -- TC Chong
"Former NFL receiver Chad Johnson claims he soaked his sprained ankles in a teammate's urine. Call me old-school purist, but I think the only time a player should borrow a teammate’s urine is when he needs it to pass a drug test."  -- Brad Dickson
"Wonder if even Derek Jeter is thinking this  Kobe Bryant farewell tour is getting over the top?"  -- Janice Hough
"A man named Bud Weisser was caught trespassing at a Budweiser plant. Peyton Manning insisted on throwing the book at him, but came up twenty yards short."  -- RJ Currie

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