With 2011 finally beginning and 2010 nothing more than a fond memory, we continue to push forward to the beginning of spring training; with it, a new slew of opportunities in the game we all love.
Many teams will be in rebuilding mode: the Orioles and Dodgers immediately spring to mind. Both teams performed well under what they would have liked last season, both made multiple moves that, while not receiving the same amount of attention as the bigger signings, were made in the interest of improving their chances at a winning season at the least. While these teams probably won't make the playoffs or win the division, they're going to play in the hopes of getting recognized in the near future as contenders.
Other teams, like the Diamondbacks and Royals, are skewing younger in the hopes that fresh faces will bring them something they're moderately unfamiliar with: a postseason berth. These teams are in similar positions as teams in the above category, but they're taking a different approach. They're going straight past revamping and looking straight towards October. Pie-in-the-sky as their views may be, they're putting a lot of faith in the abilities of the young to rocket them into the playoffs.
Some teams, like the Rays and Marlins, will be scrambling to make up for their supposed losses this offseason. These teams lost strong players that made the teams noteworthy, and didn't add much back. They'll have to get a lot out of the players they have left to resemble something of their former glory, but it certainly won't be easy with so many significant parts missing. In fact, it's more likely that they'll perform worse in 2011 than they did in 2010, a shame for some but the same old for others.
A few teams, such as the Pirates and Mariners, will just be glad to still be in existence. They've been so pathetic in recent memory that many fans not living in the teams' cities tend to forget them. It'll likely be a few more years until they return to some prominence, and they seemingly stick around simply to serve as window shopping for larger market teams. Time heals all wounds, though; these wounds just run a little deeper than others and won't be healed by Opening Day 2011.
Teams like the Giants and Rangers will be doing their best to prove to everyone that their impressive runs in '10 weren't flukes or mistakes, and that they are more than capable of holding their own in the playoffs once again and for years to come. It won't be easy, though; they've lost some important players that will be difficult to replace. They have more on the line than most teams, as they can't let their hard-earned reputations slip away.
There will be big teams, such as the Yankees and Cardinals, who will be in somewhat uncomfortable positions: they've fallen short of expectations, and not much has been done this offseason to remedy that. They either didn't make a push for the big guys, or massively missed out on them. They might have to do the most retooling out of any of these teams to put on a stronger display than last season, and even then, without the sorely needed help, it may end up being for naught.
And, of course, teams like the Phillies and Red Sox will be watching all of this, smirking; they both stacked the decks pretty roughly against any and all opponents this winter. They'll breeze through the regular season and handle the postseason accordingly, being the favorites to either be in or win the World Series. The only thing that could deter them is catastrophic injury, but other than that, little will stop them.
So, as we inch closer to March 31st, we continue to keep a scrutinizing eye on all the teams, hoping to see an inkling of future outcomes. But the best thing about this sport is that it's truly and completely unpredictable, so all we can really do is sit back and enjoy our time before we're consumed again by the magic of this game.