Finally, we can all relax. According to SI.com, like the first robin, Manny has arrived.

It's time once again to put these tabloid stories behind us.

I don't like the fact that he was, er, delayed, but so be it. He and the fans can concentrate instead on the games ahead. His numbers will once again be overwhelming; his big, goofy smile apparent for all to see and his occasional lack of focus, well, we'll live with it.

Why? Because he has 435 home runs going into this season and could surpass 500 within two years - if he should wear the Red Sox uniform that long; Because in five years with Boston he has driven in 610 runs; Because he is undoubtedly a first-ballot Hall of Famer; Because the opposition fears him; And well, he is Manny.

Despite his faults, Boston fans love having this guy on the field and especially in the lineup.

Without Manny, David Ortiz' numbers wouldn't be as good, the Sox wouldn't score as many runs and Boston wouldn't win as many games. It's that simple and every Red Sox fan knows it, fears it even.

Now let's move on to more important things...

On Tuesday, spring training officially started for me too. The USAToday has published its much-anticipated Fantasy Guide. At $4.95 it's not exactly a bargain, but I still grabbed two.

It signals the beginning of a new year and brings me a step further away from my S.A.D.

Although, I don't necessarily give the publication too much credit, I like to read it as part of my seasonal preparation. It's just a guide.

It appears USAToday is headed in a different direction this year. Gone are the top 200 players, dropped to 100. In fact, with this list not one catcher made the cut.

Gone too are the clever little one liners that I loved so much.

Surprises are few. Any baseball fan playing in a fantasy or rotiserie league should have this basic knowledge. And come draft time, little of it will matter. Injuries occur every spring and with the added WBC, there may even be more.

However, some players values sure shot up the ranks. Jason Bay for instance is the top outfielder. Doesn't suprise me; he single-handedly brought me a second-place finish last year.

David Wright, the 23-year-old third baseman from the Mets, was only second to A-Rod at his position. I covet him. He was on my team for the majority of last season. I picked him up at auction for less than $20 on draft day. That will not be the case this year.

The top Red Sox player listed was, of course, David Ortiz. I had him for a spell too and should have kept him - damn that Ichiro.

It's a new year, a new team and I can't wait for it all to begin.

I only hope a subsequent Baseball Weekly, I mean Sports Weekly, will have the usual stuff later this month. But with the addition of the NASCAR report, I doubt that will be the case.

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