Seeing Brown means one of two things to me. Everyone else is either injured or sucks. Because I just cannot believe that he will actually EARN time on the field.

It would be fun to sit with you at the Bank. We would have seriously good conversation. Especially when Dom comes to bat. lolololol

I don’t hate the Pence deal as much as you.

I like Domonic Brown a lot more than you do. I think you’re going to see him a lot this year.

Definitely with you on the 18 days.

Yes, we have arrived where we are over a longer time span than this winter. There has been a series of decisions over time that were – apparently – ill advised. I am sure we all have our top three WTFs. It is hard to miss the fact that every year since 2008 has been less successful than the year preceding it (measured in how deep into the post season we have gone, which is for me the yardstick of success or failure). Your point is right on the mark when you say that it is the core with the big contracts and names who simply have to perform. If they do not, the rest of it is merely sidebar.

The thing is that they DID tie money up in big names. And they DID trade away the cream of their farm system for players who were supposed to warrent those trades. What still befuddles me is that they did all of that and then either do not have the resources or are not willing to spend the resources to complete the team. Not being willing to go over the cap means that they essentially flush the money spent on those pitchers and the years of their careers here down the hole. The economics of that mystifies me.

My top three WTFs: The choice to spend three serious prospects on a one year rental of Hunter Pence was a terrible choice. Not to acquire corner outfielders last winter when they were plentiful and good and FAR less expensive than this winter was a false economy and a poor baseball decision. Not knowing more accurately the medical condition of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard over last winter and preparing appropriately was professionally negligent.

So, here we go. I do have considerable hope that the core everyday players will be both healthy and productive this year, and that we will have them for the year. I do think that the core pitching will be back; Halliday will be back if it is all physically possible. He is far too proud a man and tough a competitor not to, unless he is simply toasted. And I am pretty happy with the acquisitions of both Revere and Michael Young. I think both of those guys will give us reason to cheer. I like the way the bullpen is shaping up; last year ought to be a miserable and fading memory. And I even have hope that Ruf might just be a player. If he is, man will that be a dose of good cheer.

I am worried about not having Chooch for a whole month. I am worried about the corners defensively and offensively. I am sick of hearing about and depending on Dom Brown.

So pitchers and catchers in EIGHTEEN DAYS. I can’t wait.