Camps are open and we're starting to get some real baseball news. The off season just seems to get longer and longer for me and I get more impatient for the season to begin. When pitchers and catchers report it gives great hope. Injury news is filtering in. Weight loss reports are being communicated. Life as we know it is normal once again.

Speaking of weight loss reports, Indians catcher/first baseman Carlos Santana is reported to have lost 10 pounds. I'm glad to learn that. He has to stay lean and fit and avoid the trap of putting on weight. He can leave that to me. Another weight report relates to
Pablo Sandoval. He has reported that he has increased strength and muscle, not fat. I'll believe it when I see it. At the end of last season he looked very heavy to me. It looked as though some of the weight he lost in the off season found its way back to his middle. That said, the man can flat out hit.

I'm really struggling figuring out what catchers to target this season. Its the richest I have seen the position in a long time. There are veterans with proven track records and young players that have real promise. Many leagues require two catchers. This year, the second catcher may not always be a stiff as in previous seasons. "Only" leagues may still be searching for that second bat at catcher. But I like the potential of guys like Devin Mesoraco, Ryan Lavarnway and Wilin Rosario. Not to mention Salvador Perez who I am targeting everywhere. Hope he comes through with batting average. Not looking for power. Just don't flat line catcher for me.

I'm glad to see the Giants will be taking it rather carefully with Buster Posey.

I really understand the questions posed about some of the rankings on the RotoWire Roundtable 350. In my own rankings, I backed off putting a number on guys I haven't seen (Cespedes) and guys coming back from injury that haven't shown us anything yet. Like Ryan Howard, etc. I have a real concern about where Ryan Braun should be drafted. We'll know much more very soon. With regard to Cespedes, believe me I will not rank him highly. Two reasons: I dislike the A's as an offensive club that will help him either score runs or drive in runs. And I don't like the hitting environment of his home park. Of course we'll all know more when we see him play. I'll get my first chance in the opening game of the Cactus League on March 1st. That's when I'll begin my Spring Training Notebook.

Once we have seen pitchers throw after coming back from injury (like Adam Wainwright) we'll know much more about their slot among the pitching depth. I would caution being too positive now on pitchers that have been injured and have not had a September trial to check out the arm. Be patient and we'll see if they are sound mechanically this spring.

Good news about Stephen Drew. He is participating at camp, he is taking ground balls and he feels good. Except for the ramifications of a head cold, Drew reports are all positive so far. He's a critical component for the DBacks and probably for lots of fantasy teams.

Jon Garland did not take his physical today with Cleveland. As a result, he still has not reported to camp. If he does report, he is a good option for the 5th starter's job. We have to watch that very carefully. He might be a good guy to have on your club-especially if he goes against back end of the rotation guys with any regularity. Low draft choice or cheap draft option with a possibly good payoff. Garland, when healthy, can pitch. There are those words again. When healthy. They are two words that mean everything when I evaluate pitchers for my clubs. Hitters too, but pitchers for sure.

Manny Ramirez to the A's? I read today that he's a "good influence" on young players. Oh. He has signed a 500K Minor League contract. If he hits in Spring Training, is he their new designated hitter? They now have a ton of outfielders/designated hitters.
I think Manny will be an interesting story to watch this spring. Can he still hit? If he can, he'll have to sit while he finishes his suspension. Then he can designated hit once his suspension has been served.

Ichiro is being moved to the middle of the Mariners batting order. I think it works for him and the club. They don't have much pop and he'll certainly help. I like Jesus Montero and Ichiro hitting back-to-back if that's what Seattle will do. I'm still very high on Ichiro. Few hitters do what he can do. Get on base, steal and score. Yes, the drop was dramatic. But I don't think he's finished. I'll take him for the right price. I have a figure in mind. Not a dollar more.

I'm still not a Justin Smoak or Mike Carp fan. How would you have liked to go from Texas (Smoak) to Seattle? Yikes! From an extreme hitter's park with great bats all around to an extreme pitcher's park with not much offense.

Is this Mo Rivera's last year? I hope he stays healthy and finishes the season. I just don't want to see him go through what Jorge Posada faced last season. It was no way to finish a fantastic career.

Mike Cameron has hung em up. Good player. I enjoyed watching him play defense and chase down fly balls.

I don't hear much about the Astros J.D. Martinez. I really like his potential. Strikes out way too much, but he plays in a good park and he has some pop in his bat. Like Jose' Altuve, Martinez could be a very good target for your club. I'm bullish on both of them. Could be available late in your draft. Just a player I like.

It should be interesting to see what Raul Ibanez does in New York hitting for the Yankees. His left-handed swing at the short Yankee Stadium porch might really be worth a second look. I know he had a similar advantage hitting in Philly and it didn't do much good. But, and this is a big qualifier, he may see some good pitching surrounded by the Yankees lineup. I don't know that I like him, but I'm giving it a look this spring.

Caution-Ryan Vogelsong has a bad back. Ever have a bad back? I'm concerned. He indicates it happened during his weight lifting work outs. For me its a yellow light. I'm not off him totally, but my caution light is flashing. I don't like bad backs or sore shoulders in pitchers.

Speaking of sore shoulders-that my dear friends is exactly what Josh Johnson has suffered from. I'm just saying. By the by, my light isn't yellow with Johnson. It's red. So far, no pain in Spring Training. Long season. Missed games the last two. Not my cup of tea. The pitching pool is deep. I'll be fishing elsewhere. Shoulders could spell trouble. Not always, but he's faced the issue too often for me.

OK-that's it for tonight. Hope you'll follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff and on MLB.com in Voices.