Some gallimaufry while waiting for spring training games to begin

I don't know about you, but I consider this to be the worst time of the sporting year. The NFL is over, MLB spring training games have yet to begin, and we're still waiting for March Madness. So, while I anxiously await the start of the spring training games, here are a few random thoughts ...

Wow, the Dodgers got a pretty good signing of Orlando Hudson for 1 year at 3.4 million. Remember that the Diamondbacks replaced O-Dog with Felipe Lopez at a contract of 1 year at 3.5 million. I don't even think the Diamondbacks will tell you that Lopez is a better player than Hudson. So, for your rival to sign a better player for less money is quite a kick in the pants. The Diamondbacks can take some solace in that Hudson has 4.6 million in performance incentives, which could balloon the contract to 8.1 million (but then again, if Hudson plays well enough to collect that 4.6 million, I don't think the Dodgers will complain). In addition, the Diamondbacks get a draft pick from the Dodgers as compensation.

I've been watching baseball for almost 40 years, and I've yet to figure out the why major league teams needs a dedicated third base coach. I find it rather silly that the manager gives signs from the dugout to the third base coach, who then relays them to the players. Why not just have the manager coach third base? There are only two explanations I can come up with: 1) Having a dedicated third base coach is a way to get one more of the manager's buddies a cushy job or 2) The manager is so involved with planning strategy with his bench coach that he cannot split his attention. I'd bet the official answer would be #2, but I think the reality is closer to #1.

I heard that pitchers in Japan apologize to batters after hitting them with a pitch. This seems reasonable and shows sportsmanship. I once sent in a question to the Diamondbacks fan forum why this practice rarely occurs in MLB. I received one of the most stupid responses ever ... something to the extent that an apology would only be necessary if the beaning were intentional. Of course that's ridiculous ... if I ever accidentally hurt someone, I'm quick to apologize. However if I intentionally hurt someone I rarely apologize (probably because they deserved it). I concluded that the person who answered my question was probably some intern who gave it about 2 microseconds of thought.