You know that spring is just around the corner

. . . . when you can't practice your pipes in the park on a Saturday because it is chock-a-block with little leaguers. You can't even find a place to park for all the coaches and parents and tiny ball players in their perfectly detailed, if miniature, uniforms.

The taller ball players are back playing their spring-training games, too. I keep missing them; I'm not ready for baseball at 10:30 in the a.m. I need to set another alarm. This should be a great season for the Angels. The entire 2002 line-up will be back again. And this year Francisco Rodriguez will be in for the entire season -- not just for the World Series.