Nevermind the Bullocks! Let's Play Ball!

With big, fat flakes of snow falling gently upon the hills of Worcestershire, it has been exactly 126 days since the last pitch was thrown in a game between two Major League teams and FINALLY baseball is back in business!

A wilder offseason than usual that saw two future Hall of Fame pitchers change sides and a New York franchise that wasn't the Yankees land the two biggest free agents available. An offseason that saw the birth of Jose Conseco's controversial book and the reinvigoration of the steroid controversy. An offseason that shall mercifully end today when Sports Amnesia's beloved Mets face the newly enfranchised Washington Nats in Spring Training's first exhibition game of the season. The end of winter is here!

(Not to mention, the game is available for free to watch on mlb.com television.)

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Tom Glavine is due to start for the Mets rather than Pedro, who won't get his first start until Friday against the Cardinals. Glavine will face Tony Armas Jr. Armas has missed most of the last two seasons because of assorted arm problems and was was 2-4 with a 4.88 ERA in 16 games started last season. Neither is likely to be their teams' opening day starter. The last time Armas pitched in an opener of any kind was on March 31, 2003, when he pitched the first game of the regular season against the Braves in Atlanta.

The Mets intrasquad games this week gave us a glimpse at what the lineup might look like this season: Hamstring Jose leading off, with the fumbling Kaz Man batting behind him. Beltran would follow and then Piazza and then Cliff Floyd and future Allstar David Wright, rounded off by Mientkewicz and (WE PRAY) Victor Diaz rather than the Wildly Whingeing And Uphappy To Be Moved From Centerfielder Mike Cameron.

Further notes on the Mets can be found at Archie Bunker's Army.

Manager Frank Robinson said he would have his regular lineup on the field to start the Grapefruit League season:
1) Endy Chavez -- center field
2) Cristian Guzman -- shortstop
3) Jose Vidro -- second base
4) "Angry" Guillen -- right field
5) Brad Wilkerson -- left field
6) Vinny Castilla -- third base
7) Nick Johnson -- first base
8) Brian Schneider -- catcher
9) Armas -- pitcher

And it's a good thing that this game isn't being played at old RFK Stadium yet because from the looks of it, it still ain't ready yet.

"When I look at the field, I really have to use my imagination," said Jimmy Rodgers, the new head groundskeeper. "But if the weather clears up, we'll get it done."

IF the weather clears?

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Meanwhile, back Yankeeland, where seldom is heard, an encouraging word and the skies are cloudy all day with Giambi Steroid Rumours and a Bitchy Gary Sheffield, it can't be an encouraging sign that The Unit has been scratched already from his first scheduled appearance.

Actually, it's only because of tightness in his left calf but in the New York tabloids, this is major news.

Stop the Presses! Randy Johnson is old!

Imagine what happens when his back and knee give out.

Well, he's not the only one, but the Yankees other senior citizen moundsman, Kevin Brown of the punch-yourself-broken fame last season, started off this season a little better than he ended the last one by throwing two scoreless intrasquad innings yesterday.

*****Other Pitching News*****

Dontrelle Willis, one of the Marlins alleged aces, wasn't too sore to pitch but maybe he should have been. The lefty was hit hard in his spring debut Tuesday against the University of Miami, giving up six runs and six hits in 2 1-3 innings whilst the collegiate were beating the Marlins 9-7 in an exhibition at Jupiter, Fla.

Rather auspicious beginning. Not even the Mets have lost to a college team yet this Spring. Of course, it's still early.

Former Yankee and current $18 million man Roger Clemens teammate Andy Pettitte was back on the mound yesterday throwing only fastballs during his 28-pitch performance. He gave up two runs, two walks and three hits before getting an out.

"I felt like I hadn't pitched in a long time," Pettitte said after he pitched for the first time in a long time. "I didn't feel real comfortable out there today."

Hmmmm. Not the kind of comments you want to hear from one of your aces when your offense has already been gutted during the offseason.

*****Baseball and Politics*****

Quickly becoming my least favourite team in the Major Leagues, Jesus Freak and Bush Lover Curt Schilling and his Boston Bloody Red Sox are headed to the White House to be feted.

After an offseason of trash talk completely and perfectly befitting a classless team who has let ONE successful season in 87 years go rapidly to their collectively inflated heads, I am seriously rooting for the Red Sox to go down in flames this season. Of course, as a professed Yankee-hater, this doesn't leave me with many options to root for in the AL East. Slugging Steroid Sosa and the contemptible Peter Angelos-led Orioles, the unexciting and overly Canadian Toronto Blue Jays or Lou Piniella's Tampa Bay Devil Rays who play in the ugliest venue in all the Major Leagues?

Maybe I'll just drop coverage of the AL East altogether.

In other baseball/political news, Jackie Robinson is going to receive a Congressional Gold Medal.

President George W. Bush will present the medal to Rachel Robinson, Jackie's widow, at the conclusion of the 75-minute ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET. Around 600 people are expected, including Commissioner Bud Selig, Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt, and John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner of the Boston Red Sox. Every member of Congress has been invited.

The gold medal is the highest honor the Congress can give to a non-military individual, movement or institution and has only been awarded about 300 times since the inception of the U.S. government in 1776.