15 Questions I Have!

I have been mum about things related to baseball, as cactus and grapefruit league play will not start until later this week. This is the time of year when dreams are biggest and hopes go to the sky. Usually what ends up happening is that your higher revenue teams take the run into October.

It used to be that we as fans would applaud dynasties that did it again year after year. Somewhere in the last 25 years that thinking has been altered in that we now prefer to see new blood enter the yearly Fall Classic. That's all well and good. Just don't tell that to the bigwigs on Madison Avenue. Anytime it's N.Y. and L.A. the networks drool at the revenues generated by markets #1 and #2. Alas I am getting ahead of myself.

One of the fun dynamics about this time of year is reading about, hearing about and learning about potential talent that abounds in one's minor league system. You also get to watch the new faces that join new teams. Periodically you will also get to enjoy a media feeding frenzy when a new talent comes to these shores. That was certainly the case with Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. I expect more of the same with Mr Matsuzaka, aka Dice K.

Anyone from the East Coast is more than the aware of the rivalry the Yankees and Red Sox wage year after year, fueled even more by the media. Cub fans must be marveling at how the higher ups forked out over 300 million dollars for top notch talent and one fiery but proven winner in Lou Piniella. I enjoyed watching Sweet Lou play in New York as a kid, and I enjoyed his managerial style in Seattle when baseball was but a hobby in between football seasons.

Out west many ponder just how Barry Zito will perform across the bay. The Dodgers on paper look to have all the pitching in the world. Even the D-Backs look like a real player.

Here locally we have new blood as skipper Ron Washington brings his enthusiastic and 'picking machine' ways. His passion reminds me alot of Avery Johnson. We're still six weeks away from the start of another campaign, but I am a believer in infectious enthusiasm, that feeling of 'I have your back, and you've got mine. 25 men together cannot fail.' I am already on record to say that I believe 2007 will be a special season in North Texas, while having to compete with the playoff runs of the Stars and Mavericks. It goes with the territory.

While I await the date of April 2nd (which is the night that the NCAA shall crown a champion) I am curious to watch the process of spring training play itself out. In looking ahead to 2007 I will be curious about:

1.When Barry Bonds sets the HR* record and if Bud Selig will be there to shake his hand.

2.Whether or not Alfonso Soriano hits 50 homers and steals 50 bases within the friendly confines

3.If Kevin Millwood becomes the first Ranger in a while to get 20 wins

4.How Barry Zito adjusts to National League hitters

5.When Sammy Sosa hits #600. I predict May 27th.

6.If the Detroit Tigers starting pitching is as good as in 2006.

7.How the Rangers shall fare with a mix of young and old

8.Mark Teixeira has astronomical numbers as a final season goodbye before playing free agency

9.How many times A-Rod hears '1 for 14' from the Yankee fans and other vitriol from the Red Sox nation

10. If Dice K lives up to all the billing. I like how he will now wear Johnny Damon's old number

11.Mark Prior and Kerry Wood can both be healthy and get back to the form that took them to the 2003 playoffs pre-Steve Bartman.

12.If the Cubs draw 3 million

13.The Angels being able to remain healthy

14.Oakland will deal with a demise in starting pitching. I like Haren and Harden but doubt that will be enough...and

15.What kind of contract extension is given to Michael Young so he retires a Ranger.

An abbreviated list, yes, but it isn't exactly March...yet!

For the third year in a row I will be hitting at least 70 Ranger games. This year I will be sure to enjoy it more since my health won't be an issue.

Even with cold winter weather still permeating most of the nation, like me, there are many who now await the countdown to the magical words, 'Play Ball!' When that days arrives, I will be real easy to find...

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will