Baseball, come back - A Hunt and Peck

The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here.

Look how white everything is, how quiet, how snowed-in.

I am learning peacefulness, lying by myself quietly

As the light lies on these white walls, this bed, these hands.

I am nobody; I have nothing to do with explosions.

I have given my name and my day-clothes up to the nurses

And my history to the anesthetist and my body to surgeons.

Tullips by Sylvia Plath

I miss baseball.

what else is going on in baseball...

• Cy Young Award winners too close to call | MLB.com
• Todd Frazier wins Heart & Hustle Award | MLB.com
• David Ortiz officially retires from baseball | MLB.com
• BBWAA AL and NL Managers of the Year announced | MLB.com
• Joc Pederson fulfilled his dream and practiced with the L.A. Rams | MLB.com
• World Baseball Classic schedule announced | MLB.com
• Astros Sign Charlie Morton; AL West Lefties Rejoice | FanGraphs Baseball
• Don Cooper on Pitch Usage and Percentages | FanGraphs Baseball
• Why Do We Vote for Manager of the Year So Early? | FanGraphs Baseball
• The Season’s Biggest Upset | FanGraphs Baseball
• Gary Sanchez Was the Rookie of Your Heart | FanGraphs Baseball
• The Risk of a Justin Turner Deal | FanGraphs Baseball
• The 2017 World Baseball Classic schedule is out | SBNation.com
• Here’s what you should expect from the average Rookie of the Year winner | SBNation.com
• The Braves should sell the farm for Chris Sale | MLB Daily Dish
• Corey Seager, Michael Fulmer named MLB rookies of the year | SBNation.com
• Jeremy Hellickson, Neil Walker accept qualifying offers, pass on MLB free agency | SBNation.com
• An Amazin' Cy Young in '17? Checking in on Mets' injury-riddled aces | Mets Blog | ESPN
• Miami Marlins Triple-A affiliate renamed to New Orleans Baby Cakes | ESPN
• How do the Miami Marlins move on without Jose Fernandez? | ESPN
• Rookie of the Year? Who cares? Gary Sanchez is face of Yankees | Yankees Blog | ESPN
• NL awards debate -- Nothing but Nationals, Cubs and Dodgers | ESPN

what the cardinals are up to...

• Forget Cubs, Cardinals chasing defensive fixes this offseason | St Louis Cardinals | ESPN
• BenFred's 5: Should Reddick be on the Cardinals' radar? | Ben Frederickson | stltoday.com
• BenFred: Add a shortstop? Makes no sense for Cardinals | Ben Frederickson | stltoday.com
• Cards-Cubs opener moved to Sunday April 2; Walden signs with Braves | Cardinal Beat | stltoday.com
• 10 Unforgettable Cardinals Shortstops | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
• If the White Sox Make Chris Sale Available, the Cardinals Should Jump In | 101Sports.com

KNOW THINE ENEMY...

the nl central

• This kid promised his friends they could rip out his tooth if the Cubs won the World Series | SBNation.com
• It's time the Cubs embrace their true identity -- baseball superpower | ESPN