Winter Meetings

Less than two months until pitchers and catchers report and I watch SportsCenter each night hoping to hear something - anything - about the winter trades. Of course, being Week 16-17 in the NFL means that no mention of baseball will make its way into SportsCenter unless an entire team is traded. This also means that I will likely have to subscribe to ESPN Deportes so that I can catch Dominican baseball. No worries... I can do this. Winters are long and hard for us baseball fans but there are ways to entertain ourselves during this trying time. I will, for instance, watch Field of Dreams at least five times during the next eight weeks. I will go to the batting cages to simulate ninth inning scenarios - not fifth inning of a WS game with a runner on 3rd and only one out (you don't bunt at the batting cages!). I will start getting the kids ready for the Spring by playing catch and hitting off the tee. I will light candles for a new commissioner. All of these things will hopefully help the Winter time pass more quickly. It is a La Nina year which means - supposedly - warm, dry Winters so we can play catch when the feeling strikes.

Last year, the Astros were projected to finish last in their division; we came in third. This year, I am sure we will be picked to finish near the bottom again. Third place is in the middle... I can handle that. It just needs to get here so we can hurry up and get on with it.