by Aster C. Lilly

Created on: March 07, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

As we emerge from the deep freeze of winter, we baseball fans have a few thoughts on our minds. Baseball time is almost here, and we want have a few pressing questions that must be answered. In no particular order, here are the top three questions that I want answered in the 2007 Spring Training.

1. Does Daisuke Matsuzaka live up to the hype?

I don't know if Dice-K has even thrown one gyroball yet, but his first two outings (albeit against Boston College and the Marlins' Spring Training Roster) have been promising. Daisuke has thrown two scoreless innings against Boston College, giving up only one hit. He has walked one, allowed two hits and struck out three batters with the 47 pitches he threw against the Marlins.

This isn't much baseball data, but so far, so good. Hopefully the $103 Million dollars spent on D-Mat were well worth it, we'll know as soon as he blossoms (or withers) during the regular season.

2. What will this Spring Training mean for Barry Bonds?

We all know and love (and hate) Barry Bonds. He's got the scandals, the salary, the bone chips floating around, and of course, the unmistakable ego.

There are a lot of what-ifs floating around for Barry right now.

Will this be his last spring training, ever? What will happen when Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's career home run record? (Bonds is at 734, not too far from 755.)

So far, the sweeping epic that is Barry Bonds has had the flu, and is resting.

3. Will the Chicago Cubs actually have a chance this season?

Face it, they've spent a lot of money. $317 million, to be more precise. What did that money get them? Big names like Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, Jacque Jones, Matt Murton, and Juan Pierre. They even grabbed players from other sports, as was the case with Jeff Samardzija, who signed with the Cubs in lieu of a promising football career.

With a roster like this, the only way the Cubs could lose is if they were cursed! Oh wait. Never mind.

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