MICHAEL KIRAL

When learning baseball for the first time, a youngster usually begins by having a catch with his dad. Appropriately, that’s the way the baseball season begins, with two men playing a game of catch. Spring training is baseball in its purest sense. Fans are usually close to the action. The atmosphere, especially early on, is relaxed. The temperature is usually mild and sunny. Everything feels new and every team (yes, even the Expos) can dream of winning the World Series. Once upon a time, spring training was used to get players in shape, a tradition that legend says began when Cap Anson brought his team to Hot Springs, Ark., in the late 1800s. Those days are gone. Most players now work out year round. Instead, teams now use spring training to work on fundamentals, to fill in holes on the roster, to answer any pressing questions that may come up. Questions like who will be the next Rafael Furcal and be an impact rookie. Will it be Louisiana’s very own Ben Sheets be among them? How will Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki, the first Japanese-born position player do under the glare of the media and American League pitching? How much will signing the largest contract in baseball history have an effect on Alex Rodriguez? Will he be able to bring the Rangers back into the hunt for the pennant? How will Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle fare in the thin air of Coors Field? Can Manny Ramirez help the Red Sox break the “Curse of the Bambino?” Speaking of the Red Sox, will Pedro Martinez continue his dominance of American League batters? How much of an impact will the new rules concerning the strike zone have on pitching and hitting in 2001? Can teams like Minnesota, Kansas City, Montreal and Pittsburgh find ways to compete under budget constraints. Will and to which teams will Gary Sheffield and Sammy Sosa be traded? There have already been trades made that may impact the race this year. Oakland gave up one young star, Ben Grieve, and got another in Johnny Damon. St. Louis added to an already strong pitching staff by acquiring Dustin Hermanson for Fernando Tatis. On the subject of the Cardinals, can Rick Ankiel, one of the most promising young pitchers in the majors last year, be able to rebound for his nightmarish performance in the postseason? Will Chuck Knoblauch overcome a similar throwing affliction to regain his Gold Glove ability at second for the Yankees? Injuries and how players overcome them are always a major factor in every season. Players that teams will be keeping an eye on this season include John Smoltz and Kerry Woods, both trying to get their careers on track after arm surgeries. If Mark McGwire can stay healthy after missing much of last year, another 60-home run season may be in the works. Houston can bounce back if Billy Wagner, Craig Biggio and Shane Reynolds can come back from injuries from last year. Of course, one of the biggest questions is whether anybody can challenge the Yankees and break their three-year run of World Championships. The addition of Mike Mussina will only make them stronger. But the biggest question may be one that will not be settled until after the season is over. And that is can the owners and players come together on a new collective bargaining agreement and avoid another work stoppage like the one in 1994 after the season is complete. The answer to that question will determine whether we can ask questions pertaining to on-the-field activities this time next year.