Returned from my annual Florida spring training trip Wednesday night. Hated to come back to work but a man’s got to work.

We saw the Braves, Cardinals and Tigers play twice. My Braves lost twice, once to the Cardinals and once to the Tigers. They were hitting the ball hard but right at somebody.

The new shortstop for the Braves Tyler Pastornicky is a slick fielder. Brian McCann was knocking the crap out of the ball like always. Hopefully they get Tim Hudson back in a month or two and the pitching staff will be set. Jurrjens did get knocked around pretty good by the Tigers but he will be alright when he gets a few more starts.

The Tiger fans at spring training are fired up about getting Prince Fielder and they should be. He has a beautiful swing and can flat out hit. Detroit should have no problems scoring runs this year. Early prediction – Detroit will make it to the ALCS this year and maybe the World Series.

St. Louis looked awful good even without Pujols. Their fans were everywhere at spring training and turned every stadium into a home field advantage for the Cardinals. They have a very good pitching staff and it would not surprise me to see them make a run at another National League Championship this year.

Hopefully my Braves will have something to say about that. It’s all about getting hot in August and September.

We also watched Tampa Bay. They can really hit. If their pitching comes through they will be right in the thick of things.

The Phillies looked like the Phillies. Good. Enough said.

We really wanted to get down further south to the Red Sox and the Twins spring training facilities but it did not work out this year. Maybe next year if we don’t make a trip out to Arizona. I have never been to spring training in Arizona but would love to take a trip out there next year.

Straight from watching spring training baseball to watching college baseball with South Carolina taking on number 1 Florida this weekend. I love this time of the year.