Springtime.

So, I started this blog last year, thinking I'd actually make regular posts. And like every spring, I'm filled with optimism, because it's a new year. So here's a new dedication to starting this all over again. I will regularly talk about baseball here, rather than just brooding over it in my head.

1) I don't play for real baseball. I play fantasy baseball. It takes a lot of hard work, a pinch of luck.

It's like for real, only it's fantasy! But seriously, I love being a stathead geek and picking and choosing favorite players of mine. I think my greatest joy is finding the 'sleepers'. The guys who nobody else notices, but I see as someone who's poised to break out. And i pick them with like the 20th round pick, and he plays like he should've been picked 10 rounds earlier. I think I did that with Choo with the 20th round in 2009 or picking Jorge De La Rosa in the same year off the waiver wire.

2) What a year for the Mets. They have two guys that should obviously be dropped (Oliver Perez & Luis Castillo), but they won't. I think ollie deserves all the criticism he gets, and hope he never pitches in the major leagues ever again. not that I'm wishing bad on the guy, but I wish that no other fan base will ever have to bear with his wild inconsistencies and selfish play ever again. As for Castillo, I can't blame the guy for taking the contract. Omar should never have given him that contract. He was ALWAYS going to be a slap hitter. decently high OBP. Old legs, that are losing speed. And bunting way too often. He should never have been treated the way he was, as it was Omar's own fault for giving him the contract, and not moving him when they could.

AND, I hope Jose Reyes stays with the mets for life. I hope he shows a career high OBP (370's? please?) Show's his legs that got him 78 steals in 07. and plays the defense he's wow'ed everyone with.

AND, I hope Wilpon eventually sells the team to good owners who are real baseball people and won't meddle in the day to day operations, and will provide solid financial base to make a good team. a solid 125-150 mil payroll that a big market team should have every year, and the smart GM to find the people worth giving the contracts to.

3) I hope the Orioles finally start contending this year. The AL East is such a tough division, but If Matusz becomes the ace that he can be, Burgeson, Tillman & Arrieta can be the good pitchers that they can become, they have a shot. I think the offense will come this year, but the real worry is the pitching. The young pitching really needs to come into its own.

Here's to spring.

Here's to optimism.