Greetings from Maryvale.  Here are a few random thoughts that have popped into my head.

I can honestly say I am blissfully ignorant of almost anything other than spring training.  That’s one the great thing about baseball.  All spring you can occupy your time with the thoughts of what can happen if the stars align and the baseball gods smile upon you.  IT probably won’t happen, but you never know.  I have been around a clubs that have gone from worst to first.  All you need is a little hope and hope springs eternal in the spring.

I watched the highlights of the WBC last night and was shocked to see the passion from Team USA in their opening game.  One of the things I think that has been lacking in the event is the buy-in from the Americans.  It’s almost been a team yawn with players not fighting for spots on the roster.  If American big leaguers fight for spots on the roster the way they do for Team USA for hoops, the WBC can be what Bud Selig had envisioned when he brought us the WBC.  Imagine if the best of the best played for every nation.  Team USA would be stacked, but so would Team DR, as would Japan, Korea and just about everyone else in the event.  Until we see Team USA trot out the very best America has to offer, the WBC will continue to be less than it was supposed.

I went with a friend to check out the PAC 12 semi game UCLA vs Arizona.  It was an ok game, but the best part was Sean Miller calling timeout at the end of the game for no apparent reason.  Turns out UCLA did it when they beat the Cats during the season, and Miller was going to rub the Bruins nose in it during the Pac 12 Tourney.  It wasn’t right and the UCLA kids did not deserve to be punked like that at the end of the game, but neither did the Wildcat players when Steve Alford did it to them.  Bad sportsmanship from both coaches that will become bad blood between the two schools that fans can yap about for a while.

I’m in Maryvale today, home of the Brewers.  Great food here, the Bratwurst is imported from Wisconson for the spring.  I was crushed by the Kettle Korn guy who was handing out free samples.  Shame on him for making me eat so much Kettle Korn.