Tony DeMarco

We come to you today from the performance enhancing drug-free zone, with zero tolerance for grandstanding, blame-gaming and WADA references. Instead, in the spirit of moving forward, we bring you nine reasons for delicious anticipation of a new season that is about to unfold:

1. The Boston Red Sox, and this century’s first shot at a mini-dynasty. They have won two World Series in the last four seasons, and are the odds-on favorite to win another as they return virtually intact from a sweep of the Colorado Rockies. And they were good enough to do it despite shutting down top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz after he threw a Sept. 1 no-hitter to protect him from over-use.

Unlike after their first title in 2004, there is no need for a makeover. Instead, there are emerging young talents such as Dustin Pedroia, Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester to cushion the effects of age on a roster that includes 40-somethings Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin, and a mostly-mid-30s lineup.

2. The Johan Santana question. Has a pitcher of this magnitude ever been stuck in this must-be-dealt situation? And where he goes — Red Sox, Yankees, Mets or surprise late-bidder — will alter the balance of power in either league. The Twins are trying their best to maximize their return, but in reality, they are up against it here. You can only ask for so much young talent for a pitcher who will be signing an extension in the $150-million range, and both the Red Sox and Yankees wisely aren’t willing to go any higher than they’ve already gone. The Mets might be willing to, but don’t really have as much to offer.

The Twins’ only remaining leverage is to wait until somebody flinches and a key injury occurs that will upgrade an offer. But that runs the risk of a Santana injury or downturn in performance that could lessen his value. Something has to give, because the Twins are mistaken if they think they can contend in the AL Central, even with Santana.

3. Joba Chamberlain, Philip Hughes and Ian Kennedy. We pretty much know what to expect from the rest of the Yankees’ roster — a talented but aging one that is yet another year older, includes a glut at designated hitter, and holes at first base and in the bullpen.

What we don’t know is just how good Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy will be, and how soon they will get there. And so these three young pitchers who will make about $1 million between them could be the key to the Yankees’ fortunes in 2008 — an interesting twist from the franchise that brought you the first $200-million payroll.

4. The Detroit Tigers’ lineup. Any way Jim Leyland decides to go — and knowing him, he will go in many different directions — this is a potential 950-run monster. Here is one possible combination: Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen, Jacque Jones, Edgar Renteria, Ivan Rodriguez.

In 2007, that grouping included five hitters at .296 or better, three at .320 or better, five 20-plus home-run hitters, three 100-plus RBI men and the rare 20-20-20-20 accomplishment. With this group in place and healthy, there’s little reason to worry about Dontrelle Willis’ adjustment to the American League. 

5. The National League West race. Good luck winning it, as the division that gave us the 2007 NLCS matchup is poised once again. The Dodgers have added Joe Torre, Andruw Jones and Hiroki Kuroda in hopes of erasing the memory of their late-September meltdown. Meanwhile, the comebacks of Jason Schmidt, Rafael Furcal, Hong-Chi Kuo and Yhency Brazoban are on schedule.

The Diamondbacks pulled the winter’s biggest coup by landing Dan Haren for a bunch of prospects they can do without, giving them their best 1-2 rotation combination since their 2001 World Series title season. And you have to figure that young core players Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew, Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton and Chris Young will get better. But can the D-Backs hit in the clutch as well as they did in 2007?

The Rockies lost more than they added this winter, but there is little debating the fact that they were the best team in the National League during the entire second half, not just their late-September run. And they should get full seasons from No. 2 and No. 3 starters Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez, which they didn’t get in 2007.

6. The Milwaukee Brewers. While Commissioner Bud Selig finds himself embroiled in a mess that won’t go away, his former team is doing its best to fight the fight of the small-to-mid-market franchise. Look no further for a team poised to improve in 2008 behind emerging stars Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy, Yovani Gallardo, Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Pain on the skating rink, flying high on the hardwood, upsets on the football field, and more. more photos

The latter will move to left field, where hopefully his defense won’t be an issue, and Gold Glover Mike Cameron will improve a below-average team defense once he serves his 25-game suspension. The rebuilt bullpen will have to survive without Francisco Cordero, but it wasn’t that great in front of him last season, anyway. And you have to figure Chris Capuano and David Bush have better years in them than their 2007 disappointments. A full season of Ben Sheets could push them into the post-season.

7. The Chicago Cubs. They needed a corner outfielder and some left-handed power to balance their lineup, and got both in Kosuke Fukudome. He could hit second, or he could hit fifth, and his power should translate to Wrigley Field, adding another threat to the combination of Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. And adding Brian Roberts to that mix would bring another All-Star-level talent and speed to the top of the lineup, if they can work that proposed deal with Baltimore.

There are plenty of quality late-inning bullpen options in Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Jose Ascanio, rotation depth has been added with Jon Lieber and Ryan Dempster, and it says here Carlos Zambrano is poised for his first 20-win season in a bounce-back year of sorts. Felix Pie and Geovanny Soto will have to do what Ryan Theriot was able to do last season in establishing himself as a regular, but things are pointing to a return trip to the post-season.

8. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Randy Johnson, Trevor Hoffman, Curt Schilling, Jamie Moyer, Kenny Rogers: We’re running out of time to appreciate this stellar group of 40-somethings that could include up to five future Hall of Famers. And in fact, it could be our last chances to watch Maddux and Glavine, two 300-game winners who did it in the biggest offensive era in the game’s history.

9. Ken Griffey Jr.’s 600^th homer (he’s seven away); Maddux’s 350^th win (three away); Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield’s 500^th homers (10 and 20 away, respectively); the 2,600^th hit for the game’s new active career leader — surprise! Omar Vizquel (two away); and maybe — just maybe — Johnson’s 300^th win (he’s 16 away).

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

MLB offseason no longer a time to rest Jays sign SS Gonzalez to 1-year deal CTB: ‘Voice of the Yankees’ officially retires Sosa sued for $203,000 in Dominican court Opinion: Who needs Roy Halladay the most? CTB: Red Sox putting on press for Halladay CTB: Andruw Jones a great pickup for White Sox Complete list of free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz SCORES, SCHEDULES, STANDINGS, STATS Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: