That ancient tome, the Columnist Manifesto (not to be confused with the book by Karl Marx), is about ready to burst out of the pile of press releases, swimming results and scorecards it was buried under weeks ago in my little cubicle near Sixth and Phillips.

Like I really needed a reminder that Opening Day is here?

A new baseball season is upon us, like presents under the tree on Christmas morning. You're not sure exactly what will happen when you open them, but there's always the anticipation that amazing things will happen once you do.

History tells us that, year after year.

Who could have guessed the Phillies and Rays would make the World Series, unless you're the most optimistic of fans in Eastern Pennsylvania or Florida's West Coast? Who would have imagined the Yankees falling flat, unless you're a true citizen of Red Sox Nation? Or even the Giants and Athletics finding new ways to define mediocrity, unless, well, you're a Giants or A's fan that's a realist.

Along with my usual enthusiasm, though, there's a great deal of worry about the sport so many of us grew up with.

As if all the gloom and doom in the economy wasn't bad enough, there's the ugly shadow of the steroid era that, like a clingy ex-girlfriend, just won't go away, no matter how many times you say it's over.

A lifetime of mixed feelings about what's happened to the game under the guidance of Commissioner Bud Selig is now framed by one thought: Baseball must deal with this problem now, quickly and decisively, if it wants to re-establish its integrity. If it means lengthy suspensions, or even expulsions, for pricey stars and big names (hello, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez), so be it.

As baseball's first commissioner, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, saw fit to bar members of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox from the game, even after they'd been found not guilty by the courts, so must Selig act ... Immediately if not sooner.

A dark picture? Yes. Is there hope? Of course there is.

We got a hint of it in these very pages a week ago, when photos of Little Leaguers throughout our county appeared as they proclaimed their season open. There's also that bunch of children I see playing the game on the lawn between the gym parking lot and the Neighbor Bowl as I head back to my car after a Bullpups game.

I don't know who they are, nor do I want to.

All I know is, they're learning about something good. And maybe one of them will be the one that helps bring good things back to the game.

Until that happens, we'll have to settle for a few more thoughts worth that second cup of coffee as we wait for the first pitch:

• Cal-Hi Sports left Hanford High's girls basketball team in the No 3 slot in Division II in its final divisional rankings and placed the Bullpups at No. 11 in the final statewide poll. Despite the lopsided loss to Brea Olinda, Cal-Hi's No. 1 team, in the SoCal regional semifinals, Hanford got credit for aggressive scheduling and wins over Carondelt (Concord) and Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills). Plus, outside of Brea, Hanford's only losses were to No. 2 St. Mary's (Stockton) and No. 6 Cajon (San Bernardino).

• And speaking of typographical terrors, there's Hanford West's softball roster, with a Breanna (Young), a Briana (Pontecorvo) and a Bria (Kennedy). It's enough to look for a keyboard with extra padding on the 'b' key, since it looks like that key will be used often as the season develops.

Richard de Give is The Sentinel's sports editor. He can be reaches at 583-2430 or rdegive@HanfordSentinel.com

(March 5, 2009)