The Hot Stove: Do You Enjoy The Off-Season As Much As I Do?

Dear Santa,
     For Christmas this year I want a Horse.  Not the one you ride in the pasture Santa, no no.  I want the type of horse you ride into the playoffs.  Such horses are hard to find, and once they are made by the tiny hands of the diligent elves of the north pole, more often than not the mold is broken. 

Where did they put that Nolan Ryan cast?  I would offer up my first born to find it.  She would make a great elf, and give me an insider within the organization.

Is Santa listening?  More than likely.  Have I been naughty or nice is the question.  I assure you it is the first of those two options.  I'm a Yankee fan so more than likely I'm considered ill behaved.  I may just not get what I wish for this off-season after all.  It is still so young though.

I damn near get divorced every year when baseball season comes around.  I go so far as to obtain a service that allows for me to watch Spring Training games, which the Mrs. absolutely loves.  Why does baseball have to be so long?  To totally satisfy my hunger for the game,  I tell my wife.  She indulges me and fakes interest, god I love her.

When it ends, I go through withdrawals.  I get terribly bored.  Then something amazing happens.  It turns out for us true fans of the game, baseball is a year round event. 
I get totally intrigued with the hot stove action that takes place.  Not just with players but with personnel moves as well.

It is great fun watching things unfold every off-season.  I especially enjoy the GM meetings in December.  How great is it to hear the daily achievements and chess matches that take place between rivals such as my Yanks and our beloved rivals the BoSox?  Even though lately Epstien is really making us look bad.  He is a true gem and has that team on the right track. 

I can only hope my organization can match their prowess to keep the rivarly interesting.  If not, the Sox may just run away from us and settle for our new found foe the Rays.

I was absolutely glued to my computer last year waiting to see how the Johan Santana sweepstakes unfolded.  My wish was not granted.  This year my Christmas wish is Mr. Sabathia.  High hopes for such an ill behaved child I think. 

This year, like every year will bring its little surprises.  Those in my opinion are more interesting than the obvious moves that should be made, the Mannys, the Big Texs, the KRods.  I look for the moves like the one that sent Mike Lowell as a bargain to the Sox when they acquired Beckett.  Those are the true victories. 

I wonder how a player like Lowell slips through the cracks like that, oh yeah that's right, he was a Yankee first and we saw fit to let him slide.  Scott Brosius was great though.  Where is he now?  Lowell brought home two rings since Mr. Brosius left us to ride off into the sunset with a few rings of his own.  I digress. 

There really is no point here.  I just wanted to state how much fun it is to see the business side of baseball unfold and take shape while the world is busy watching football or whatever it is that warrants the attention of the masses. 

I maintain focus, I stay the course and give my attention to my one true love.  Baseball doesn't always love me back though, Carl Pavano. 

This fan thoroughly enjoys the neverending chess match that is baseball.  The game is always being played, even if it is not on a field.  Teams are always trying to win, even when there is no game. 

I love this game, some might say just a bit to much.  I ask you this though, what else is there?  In the words of Tori Hunter, I live for this.