Yes! It's here

I still believe that MLB's Opening Day should be a national holiday. Since it is unofficially the national pasttime, it only makes sense. If anyone were to start a petition to submit to the appropriate congresspeople, I would sign it and promote its existence immediately.

It is still 6 weeks away but the anticipation of that day now starts to build as pitchers and catchers are reporting this week to Arizona and Florida spring training homes for all of the teams.

Early talk is of the Phillies and their pitching rotation. A Phillie hater can only hope for its quick demise and a return to the booing and hissing that is much more fun to watch in Philadelphia sports stadiums and arenas.

I have heard more than a few mention that they believe Cole Hamels is the pitcher on that rotation to outshine them all. Personally it still looks like he is physically incapable of putting up the kind of numbers to fulfill those prophecies. But we'll see what type of talents the Phillies trainers have and if they can help his stamina for a long haul. He certainly will have a huge task ahead of him trying to match Halladay's stamina.

Now the Albert Pujols contract watch is on in full. A Wednesday deadline (which I do believe is tomorrow) has been set by Pujols to negotiate a deal. Albert, off the top of my head, is entering the last year of his current contract and is now about 30 years old.

Pujols, in my opinion, is still baseball's number one player. As such, again in my opinion, he deserves to be the highest paid player in baseball. It is Pujols, perhaps more than any current player, who is feared the most at bat. His numbers, which I won't list here, do speak volumes.

Albert is also a first-class firstbaseman and a saint off the field. While he is not blessed with the amazing speed that would make him a "5-tool" star, the 3 tools (hit for average, hit for power, field) which he does possess, and especially the hitting tools, are what makes him the franchise player he is.

Now, how much is Pujols worth? How much do you think Pujols should get per year? Take EVERYTHING you wish into consideration. Take the fact that he is playing a game. Take the fact that teachers and firemen and policemen only make a fraction of what any current below-average baseball player makes. Consider all of that. How much should he make?

He is apparently seeking a ten-year deal. Now whether that is him, or his agent, or the players union (which his manager Tony Larussa is suggesting it is) that's a long time. It's not without precedent of course, but that would put him at 40 years old.

Ok, lets put it this way- if Jayson Werth is "worth" 18 million dollars a year, Albert Pujols is worth 50 million a year. Is he worth 50 million a year for 10 years? That's a chunk of change boys and girls.

Realistically though I would be shocked if Pujols doesn't become the first 30-million dollar per year man. Then I think he gets a 7-year deal with options for one, two or three more to help satisfy some of those terms for the years portion of the request.

If I am Albert's agent, I pull out a Jayson Werth baseball card and start my negotiation at 50 million per year. My goal would be 50 million per for 5 years, or 40 for 8 years or 30 for the ten years. If they anger me during the talks, I up it to 60 million. I mean really, 18 million for Jayson Werth? What the heck were the Nationals thinking?