Pitchers and catchers reported this week to spring training camps in both Arizona and Florida. Teams will begin training for the 2013 season. As a fan of the San Francisco Giants, it wasn't quite as nerve racking of an off season, knowing that your team won last year. Teams are hoping that they made the right additions and subtractions, have some new talent coming up from the minor leagues, and maybe made the right choice for manager.

I am looking forward to spring training games beginning later this month to see what teams will be strong in 2013. The one thing I am not looking forward to this spring is another installment of the World Baseball Classic. I know it is designed to stir up interest in the sport around the world and maybe people in Latin America or Asia care….but I don't. I could care less whether the USA wins or not. I am much more interested in the black and orange winning than the red, white, and blue. It will be a successful WBC if no one from the Giants gets hurt. The NHL is wrestling right now if they want to interupt their season for two weeks during the Olympics to let their stars play in the Russia next winter. Hockey will probably do it and it will probably help the sport. I just don't see the ratings boom for Major League Baseball in the states. So they must be making it in other countries.

As for this spring, Tim Lincecum has reported to Giants camp without his long hair and a little bit heavier (which is good). Look for him to have a big year. It his last under the current contract and if he wants to entice the Giants or any other team in to giving him another one he has to show a lot more than he did last year. In 2011, after the Giants won in 2010 they just never really got it together. Much of that can be pinned on the Buster Posey injury in May. Assuming nothing of that magnitude happens, my biggest questions are will Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro have the kind of years they did last year to warrant big contracts…and can the two Brandon's – Crawford and Belt – continue to develop at short and first. Barring injuries, the pitching looks pretty solid, especially if the post season Barry Zito shows up again.

As for other teams, will the Dodgers big additions from the end of the summer come together and give them the kind of team they thought they were putting together. Will Baltimore and Washington take the next steps? Will the Red Sox come back to contend for a playoff spot?

I am looking forward to another great season. Play Ball!