It is still too early for the predictions such as: “the Yankees might not make it to the post season.” “The Phillies are not the team they used to be.” “The Mets look promising.”

It is still way too early to start worrying about this. Let the teams play and let the cards fall where they may. Most teams are still getting the Spring Training kinks out and are still in the pre-molding stage. Let’s worry about stuff like this after the All Star break. The season is not enough a month old.

Until then, see ya at the park.

Enriched in the mind of a young boy, is his favorite player making a diving catch or taking a full swing for a homerun. It starts at a young age, and continues throughout live. This is baseball and one of the reasons why I love the game.

My love for the game began when I was young and had the dream of being a Major League baseball player. I loved the nostalgia of the game and what it stands for. Forever in my mind is the bedroom I created when I lived at my parent’s home — I had pictures, stories, autographed baseballs, bats and hats decorated around. I lived the game, dreamed the game, and treasured the game.

“Watching Ferris Bueller?” I asked the little boy, in the scene when they all cut school for the day and attended a Chicago Cub’s game. He began to laugh. Of all places, we were at a Long Island Ducks game (members of the Atlantic Professional Baseball League) in the heartland of Long Island, known as Citibank Park.

At a time when the politics of the game went on the backburner and the overriding enthusiasm and support of Long Island to support the Ducks was real, the dream became a reality.
It is for the hot dogs, peanuts and beer and the chance to see up and coming stars and some stars there were in the Major Leagues, but attempting to make a comeback — Rickey Henderson, Mark Whiten, Carlos Baerga — to name a few. I also mention in this book a meeting with Jose Rijo of the Reds, he’s one of many good ballplayers that I have had the chance to meet and talk with. They are the game, they make the game.

Besides also going to Ducks’ games, I have been on baseball road trips to live the reality. I went to see the Glens Falls Tigers (AA-ball) when John Smoltz, former member of the Atlanta Braves and part of one of the best rotations going and one of the most feared teams of the ’90′s — besides the New York Yankees – carving his craft to become one of the best pitchers in Major League baseball. I traveled to the Toronto Skydome to see the Toronto Blue Jays play against the Yankees, Fenway Park, Old Shea Stadium, and many minor league ballfields.

When I was asked to write a poem for the book Baseball Stories for the Soul, I wanted to write something that America would remember the pastime by.

So, I wrote “America’s Pastime” and it went like this:

Yesterday there was Willie, Mickey and the Duke.

Today there is the Rocket, Junior and Big Mac.

Tomorrow there is Bip, John and Steve.

It is not music, but a game that makes its own music.

From the singing of the anthem…To the crack of the bat.

To the Duke hitting a homerun in Ebbets, Big Mac taking his swing at 70…80…Junior going downtown.

Each with something in mind — to win.

America’s game — Baseball.

The National Pastime.

This is why I love baseball, America’s Pastime.

For the Yankees their rotation is pretty much set with: C.C. Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia. A much easier decision, but before Pineda’s injury, the odd-man out probably wold have started in the bullpen.

So, all is well for the Yankees.

This season I will be traveling to some major and minor league ballparks, enjoying the game and spending lots of time with my beautiful wife and family. As always, I write here at MLB.com and also write about baseball cards at my other blog The Card Life.

When the sunrises on Sunday the days will start to get longer and warmer. The great Rogers Hornsby said it best: “People ask me what I do in the winter when there’s no baseball. I tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

Until then, see at Spring Training!