Football season is over and pitchers and catchers are beginning to report throughout Florida and Arizona. In a few days Spring Training games will begin and before you know it, March 31st will be here and the Rangers and Astros will be kicking off the 2013 MLB season. Now is the time that every team and all their fans are optimistic and filled with hope before the harsh realities of the season kick in. This year we get the added bonus of the World Baseball Classic. Whether or not you’re a fan of the tournament, it’s a good way to see how baseball is developing around the world and anything that can grow the game should be seen as a positive. As always, the season will somehow magically fly by and before one even realizes it, we’ll be wrapping up what will hopefully be a great World Series and tremendous season. With that in mind, and in no particular order, here are 100 things I want to see happen around baseball over the next eight-plus months.

50. Less talk about PEDs and more talk about VORP, ERA, and RBIs.

49. Giancarlo Stanton and Ricky Nolasco give Marlins fans a reason to come to the ballpark even if their ownership doesn’t.

48. No snow for the Rockies’ home opener on April 5th. (Or any other cold weather city for that matter)

47. Felix Hernandez to justify his enormous contract…and the Mariners to field a competitive team around him.

46. The Pittsburgh Pirates finish with a winning season.

45. The Kansas City Royals finish with a winning season.

44. Derek Jeter fully recovers from his ankle surgery and posts another 200-hit season.

43. Tim Lincecum shows 2012 was a fluke and returns to the Cy Young form he showed in 2008 and 2009.

42. Matt Kemp bust through the 40-40 barrier.

41. Buster Posey continue to evolve as the face of the San Francisco Giants, as well as Major League Baseball.

40. No somersaults from Aroldis Chapman…or anyone else for that matter.

39. Prince Fielder best his father, Cecil, and hit at least 52 home runs for the Tigers.

38. Continued good health for Johan Santana so we might get another glimpse at just how good he once was.

37. A return of playoff baseball in Canada.

36. Justin Upton, B.J. Upton, and Jason Heyward to be recognized as the best outfield in baseball, not just a great black outfield.

35. Another winning season for Tampa Bay, even when everyone always counts them out before the season begins.

34. Yonder Alonso becoming the next great Cuban player.

33. Chase Headley starting AND finishing the season with the Padres.

32. Yoenis Cespedes finishing with a 30-30 season.

31. A fifth straight 200-plus strikeout season for Yovani Gallardo.

30. CC Sabathia continuing on a Hall of Fame career path.

29. World Series games that start early enough for young children to watch and have their own dreams about World Series success.

28. Albert Pujols reversing his downward trend of the past two seasons and return to form as the best hitter in baseball.

27. Somehow come to grips with Kevin Youkilis in Yankee pinstripes.

26. Curtis Granderson to finish with more games played than strikeouts.

25. Let the Red Sox play well enough so we can all forget about Bobby Valentine.

24. Joakim Soria completely recover from Tommy John surgery.

23. A return to health, and dominance for Mariano Rivera.

22. 200-plus innings pitched for Stephen Strasburg…and at least that many strikeouts.

21. Jim Leyland letting Justin Verlander pitch a complete game on Opening Day.

20. Starlin Castro continue to outdo himself in the field and at the plate.

19. Kate Upton in the next MLB video game commercial.

18. One last chance for the Phillies to prove they are a team of veterans, not old men.

17. 150 games played for Justin Morneau.

16. Bryce Harper have the type of age 20 season that Mike Trout had last season.

15. Mike Trout to have the greatest age 21 season in the history of baseball.

14. One more rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by Stan Musial on his harmonica on the jumbo screen at Busch Stadium on April 8.

13. April 15 continued to be recognized as the best day of the baseball season. And more recognition to those that came before Jackie Robinson to make what he did possible.

12. Andrew McCutchen continues his rise to the top of baseball and is named MVP, while leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to the playoffs.

11.  Ryan Braun continues on the track of a Hall of Fame career, despite another suspicion on the validity of his use of PEDs.

10. Zack Greinke pitches as well at Dodger Stadium as he did at Miller Park.

9. Miguel Cabrera continues to keep his weight under control and shows why he’s still the best pure hitter in baseball.

8. Another year of misery for the Cubs. (Apologies to all my friends that cheer for the baby bears.)

7. A season of three-run home runs in Baltimore, just to give Earl Weaver something to smile about up in Heaven.

6. The Nationals being able to pitch Stephen Strasburg in a decisive playoff game.

5. Hanley Ramirez to play for an entire season the way we all think he’s capable of playing.

4. Vin Scully call postseason baseball for the Dodgers and then return for the 2014 season.

3. A Dodgers-Nationals NLCS.

2. A Tigers-Blue Jays ALCS.

1. A champion team crowned in the nation’s capital.