We're getting closer and closer to Opening Day. I can't wait until all the discouragement of spring training fades away and we have something real to be depressed about.

• The World Baseball Classic is still dominating the baseball news. Tyler Kepner talks to Brandon Phillips about how he was inspired to be a baseball player after serving as the bat boy for the 1996 US Olympic Team. Now Phillips is a player for Team USA in the WBC and says it's "the best thing that's ever happened to me, wearing the red, white and blue." MLB hopes that kids from around the world are similarly inspired.
• Bryce Harper says that "they can write my name down right now" for the 2017 WBC. His teammate Ian Desmond also wants to play, but isn't quite as confident he'll get an invite. He probably would have been a better choice than Jimmy Rollins at short.
• The Netherlands had some injuries while qualifying for the final four, but like Napoleon, manager Hensley Meulens kept some of his best troops in reserve. Jurickson Profar may join the team in San Francisco for the semi-finals. They don't call Muelens the "Napoleon of Managing" for nothing. OK, I just made that up. They actually call him "Bam-Bam."
• Brian Cashman wants Chipper Jones to come out of retirement and play for the Yankees. Chipper says he's flattered, but no thanks. Derrek Lee and Scott Rolen are more realistic targets. Derek Jeter wants the Yanks to go after Mike Schmidt.
• A terrible outbreak of "Bunting Epidemic" has broken out at the WBC. The CDC has been alerted.
• The computers have spoken: The Los Angeles Angels are your 2013 World Series Champions.
• Vin Scully went on a date with the future creator of Sesame Street the evening after he called Game 7 of the 1955 World Series. It's too bad the relationship didn't go anywhere. Elmo would be so much less annoying if he was voiced by Vin Scully.
• Zack Greinke has an undetermined problem with his elbow and may miss opening day.
• Hank Aaron is not dead. I have no idea if he's pining for the fjords, however.
• Chris De Luca says White Sox manager Robin Ventura is the "calm" after Hurricane Ozzie.
• Albert Chen says Adam Eaton is the new face of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just don't confuse him with the pitcher of the same name who retired four years ago.
• Joey Votto wishes Team Canada's run in the WBC lasted longer.
• The Mariners are hoping that Michael Saunders's success with Team Canada translates to a big season in Seattle.
• Twins minor leaguer Deolis Guerra is in intensive care after developing a blood clot.
• Michael Bourn has come a long way since his Little League days in Houston with Carl Crawford.
• As rumored, Manny Ramirez is going to play in Taiwan.
• The Globe and Mail looks back at Roy Halladay's career and wonders if he could come back to the Blue Jays in a mid-season trade.
• Tigers manger Jim Leyland is worried about the durability of Andy Dirks.
• This is something that is going to appeal mainly to the stat geeks out there, but speaking of Andy Dirks, Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs tries to figure out why Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference disagree about how many times Dirks bunted last season. He finds the play in question and still can't decide whether or not it's a bunt. I've included a poll. Maybe we can decide.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster, because we'll be one day closer to opening day.