You may not be able to tell by looking out your window, but baseballs will be flying in less than two weeks. Equipment trucks are on the road. With temperatures struggling to get above the teens in the central and eastern portions of the United States and snow piling up, an emotional thaw is on the way.

In less than two weeks, pitchers and catchers will show up in spring training cities throughout Florida and in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area. The sound of the crack of the bat will bring welcome relief to those shivering amid new storms and freezing temperatures.

Baseball will return. Finally.

I'm bullish on the Oakland A's at this early stage of the coming baseball season. Why? It's the pitching. Especially in the pen. I'm a big believer that quality teams are built from the mound. In the case of the Oakland A's, I believe they can win lots of close games with their starters going 6 or 7 innings and turning the game over to a strong and reliable bullpen. If they are healthy, pitchers like Grant Balfour, Andrew Bailey, Brad Ziegler, Brian Fuentes, Michael Wuertz and Craig Breslow provide the A's high quality pitchers with proven track records. The additions of Balfour and Fuentes make me a believer. Two notes of caution: I believe the A's are at least one bat away from being a very good club. I am also aware that relief pitchers are unpredictable. Many are good one year and awful the next. Relief pitchers can bring managers great joy or countless Malox moments. In the case of the A's, I believe they have enough depth to cover a bad year from at least one, maybe two arms in the pen. Perhaps a bat like Vlad Guerrero or jermaine Dye could provide a difference in run production. Perhaps.

Some free agent signings caught my attention this week. Many players signed to minor league contracts often make the big league club as things shake down over spring training. Lastings Milledge is being given a chance to take the role Andruw Jones played for the White Sox. With Jones now a Yankee, Milledge may have a chance to take the place of Carlos Quentin when (not if) Quentin lands on the disabled list once again.

Juan Cruz has a chance to help a totally reconstructed Tampa Bay Rays bullpen. At one point, Cruz had closer type velocity and a "can't miss" label. But that was then and this is now. He will come to camp with a minor league contract and a road map to try to help him find home plate. With all the potential in the world, Cruz just hasn't been able to throw enough strikes or hit the corners with any consistency in his career. But with another new club, maybe Cruz will find himself. Such is the case with relief pitchers. On again, off again or maybe never on. Give Cruz a look during spring training and see if he has a chance to make the club. He might be a late round pick up as a set-up man or even as a closer. The Tampa closing situation is in flux. Please, not Kyle Farnsworth.

Randy Winn is recylcled yet again, yet again, yet again. This time it's the Orioles who feel he really has 9 lives. It makes me wonder why Jermaine Dye isn't getting a nibble? Certainly, he has as much to offer as Randy Winn. Maybe Dye has priced himself totally out of baseball.

Mark Kotsay may be a good signing for the Brewers. Why? Think Carlos Gomez in CF. Nuff said?

The Indians are looking at Jeremy Bonderman to take their 5th starting role. Of course they're looking at anyone with their arm firmly attached to their body and a price tag that fits a business model that requires dependency on revenue sharing to survive.

Is Gordon Beckham the first half (.216) or second half (.310) guy? I don't know. I'm just asking.

Is there a chance Casey Blake will play some in the outfield? Maybe Marcus Thames is the answer to the 4th outfielder issue with the Dodgers. I think Thames will impact the job of Xavier Paul.

I can't help but think Mark Trumbo will be important to the Angels this year. What if? What if Kendry Morales has a setback with his leg? What if designated hitter Bobby Abreu can't hit? Enter Trumbo, a good hitting option but he comes with a high strikeout rate.

I'm very high on the potential of Jed Lowrie. Lowrie's presence may put Marco Scutaro on a short leash in Boston. Lowrie and Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias provide the Red Sox with outstanding depth at a critical position. Not to mention Yamaico Navarro. The only flaw in the Red Sox script remains behind the plate.

Speaking of catching, the Tigers still say that VMart will be catching only a couple times a week. And if Alex Avila falters behind the plate? Well, you know the answer to that question. Martinez will have to catch more often. That may not be such a bad thing. But the Tigers pitchers will have to keep runners close. Justin Verlander is one of the best at keeping runners in check at first base. Maybe that's when Victor goes behind the plate.

Andy Pettitte is retiring. And if he's bored to tears by June? That story is far from finished being written.

Jake Westbrook is another season removed from surgery. I think he's worth a good long look as a solid starting pitcher on a good baseball team.

Count me among those who feel jesus Montero will be catching in the big leagues by June or July at the latest. I feel so strongly I traded for him this past week. Posada is injury prone, right? Cervelli?? The key? Russell Martin. (2009=.250, 2010=.248). Will the Yankees want their starting catcher hitting 2 and half bucks when they have a guy like Jesus Montero hanging around? With their pitching woes, I'm not sure the Yankees will be patient enough to wait around for hitters to hit. The hook may be quicker than usual in Gotham. At least that's what I'm hoping. Montero, although still very, very young---can flat out hit!

Well-here's this week's question. Very important. What will you be eating during the Super Bowl? I'm still working on the menu.
I'll certainly take your suggestions. Be well my friends.