You might be thinking more about holiday presents than spring in the air, but because of MLB commissioner Bud Selig’s new mandate that the World Series not roll into November, baseball’s 2011 spring training will officially begin when pitchers and catchers begin reporting 24 hours before Valentine’s Day. Talk about love! What’s more, the Cactus and Grapefruit League slate begins Feb. 25. Man, that’s pretty early.

Who would have thought a year ago that Cinderella’s slippers would have landed in San Francisco and that the Reds and Rangers would be making their first postseason appearances since 1995 and 1996 respectively?

Only five of 30 MLB teams haven’t made the postseason in the past 15 years. So spring training will be here again before you know it. Here are five early storylines for the Cactus League and five for the Grapefruit League to ponder as you enjoy some egg nog.

FIVE EARLY CACTUS LEAGUE STORY LINES

No. 1: Six of the 15 clubs will have new managers skippering their teams in spring training.

New bosses Don Mattingly (Dodgers), Ron Roenicke (Brewers) and Eric Wedge (Mariners) will make their managerial debuts in their new roles in the West Valley. Meanwhile, Kirk Gibson (Diamondbacks), Ned Yost (Royals) and Mike Quade (Cubs) start their first springs as managers of teams they took over during the 2010 campaign. Yost has perhaps the most daunting task, as the Royals are the only team to train in Arizona that hasn’t made the playoffs, suffering the game’s second-longest playoff drought. The last time Kansas City tasted playoff baseball? 1985, or about four years ahead of the longest, playoff-deprived: the Nationals (1981). But perhaps some of that Rangers magic will inspire KC? Stay tuned. The club’ share spring training facilities.

No. 2: MLB to debut its first spring training ballpark built exclusively on Indian land as the Valley of the Sun welcomes its 14th and 15th teams.

The Diamondbacks and Rockies will debut at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in North Scottsdale on the grounds of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in 2011, becoming the 14th and 15th teams to train in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Both National League West expansion clubs previously trained at separate locations in Tucson. The 11,000-seat Salt River Fields will mark the first time two teams in the same division have ever shared a spring training facility — or any team has played on Indian land.

No. 3: A new era in Arizona indeed — for the Diamondbacks, that is.

After an abysmal 2010, the Snakes start anew under first-year general manager and long-time trade-master Kevin Towers, who was fired as San Diego’s GM following the 2009 season by former Diamondbacks and current Padres owner Jeffrey Moorad. Now Towers has a chance to exact revenge on his National League West rivals.

No. 4: Will Red Legs fans come out and support the defending NL Central Champs?

Posting the lowest average attendance of 15 teams in their Cactus League debut a year ago, will fans in the Queen City show some love to the home town team at the turnstiles fresh off the Reds' National League Central crown and its first playoff appearance since 1995? Only time will tell. Stay tuned.

No. 5: In the wake of their World Series win, will the Giants sell out every Cactus League game? And will the Rangers' AL pennant spike attendance in Surprise?

Could the Giants eclipse the Dodgers and Cubs again in spring training attendance? Fresh off their first World Series title since 1954, when they also trained in the desert as the New York Giants, Bruce Bochy’s club should make Scottsdale Stadium an even harder ticket than usual, although Cubdom has excitement around Quade and there will be big crowds once again over in Mesa.

When it comes to fan atmosphere, Surprise Stadium has long been one of the duds of spring training, although it’s a well-designed and really nice ballpark. Will the Rangers faithful come out and support the defending American League Champs?

FIVE EARLY GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE STORY LINES

No. 1: New Era in New York — and Atlanta, too.

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The Sandy Alderson/Terry Collins Era begins in Port St. Lucie as the Mets try to right the ship that saw them witness a 48 percent drop in spring training attendance in 2010 from 2009. Meanwhile, up in the Orlando area, the Fredi Gonzalez managerial era launches for Braves fans, who will probably still do a double take at the Disney Complex. Not since their time way back in West Palm Beach has Atlanta started a spring without future Hall-of-Famer Bobby Cox at the helm.

No. 2: The Buck starts in Sarasota — along with refurbished facilities, too.

Fresh off their strong 2010 finish, the Orioles will return to Ed Smith Stadium for their second season to find a revamped ballpark and minor league facility as skipper Buck Showalter begins his first spring managing the O’s after taking over during last season. The ballpark has traditionally had quite a sterile feel to it, but the renovations may change that along with the enthusiasm behind the rejuvenated Birds.

No. 3: Even more fresh managerial faces.

Florida’s Gulf Coast will also have a pair of newcomers at the reins as Clint Hurdle starts his first season managing with the Pirates and John Farrell oversees the Blue Jays. Back on the Atlantic side, Edwin Rodriguez will enjoy his first spring as Marlins skipper after taking over during last season.

The Grapefruit League’s Pirates (1992), Blue Jays (1993) and Orioles (1996) each haven’t tasted the post-season in 15 years. But it’s better than the worst of them: the Nationals haven’t played meaningful October baseball since 1981, the game’s longest drought.

No. 4: Swan Song for the BoSox Sox at City of Palms Park.

2011 will mark the 19th and final season for the Chowda Heads at quaint but antiquated City of Palms Park as the Red Sox are slated to christen a new spring training facility in Fort Myers starting in 2012. There’s no denying the importance and history of this ballpark, however. City of Palms Park is where the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox prepared for their World Series runs, becoming the sixth franchise to train in Lee County to win the Fall Classic, following in the footsteps of the Philadelphia Athletics, Indians, Pirates, Royals and Twins.

No. 5: The Kid gets set to make his spring training debut.

No. 1 draft pick Bryce Harper is on the Nationals' 40-man roster, which means he’ll be in Major League camp with the big boys and will likely see Grapefruit League action in late February and early March at least. The only question is probably how long Harper will be in big league camp before he’s transferred over to minor league camp. Only one way to know and that’s be being there in person. And one look at the calendar says Spring Training will be here before you know it.

Joe Connor is a contributor to NBCSports.com and author of the annually-updated online spring training travel guide, “A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate Spring Training Experience” which is available for purchase exclusively at his Web site: and http://www.mrsportstravel.com.