The Hot Stove season is upon us. It's typically the time large market teams fill their cupboards with high priced superstars while mid to small market teams scramble to add a player or two "at the right price."

This year's group of free agents is probably the thinnest in years. Yet, at the top, there are still a couple of big names. Those big names, Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, are two of the best hitters in baseball to be sure. You might even add Big Papi to the mix. What there isn't though is pitching. There's a great vacuum where high priced free agent aces would normally reside.

The best pitching "acquisition" could be had by the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals when Cy Young candidate Adam Wainwright returns to their staff in 2012. They may or may not see King Albert return but, if he does not, one could argue that they might be better next season with Wainwright on the hill and Allen Craig's bat in the lineup every day. That's not to say any lineup is better off without one of the best hitter's of all time. It's only a thought that the hitting fall off wouldn't be as great as the pitching gain could be. Of course, saving 20+ million dollars per season the next 7-8 years on a hitter (ok, a Hall of Famer) in his thirties might not be the end of the world.

CC's return to the Evil Empire, while missing the frugality boat all together, was, at least in the near future, "Must see TV." Their customary 200 million dollar payroll would look rather foolish without a single #1 starter in the mix. Sabathia gives the Yankees an anchor, meaning quality innings, wins and leadership at the top. They may still kick the tires on a Japanese import (Darvish) and/or pursue Texas Ranger CJ Wilson but retaining the big lefty, who looks great in vertical stripes anyway, was the key to their off season.

Probably the 2011 contender most in need of pitching is Detroit. They have their ace, to be sure. After Verlander though, it's hard to imagine sustained success behind Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Brad Penny or any other very average pitching candidate on their roster.

Scherzer has his moments. He also has his struggles. Plus, his delivery isn't exactly a poster for how to avoid arm woes. With Jacob Turner a possibility but probably a year or two away from seeing MLB success, maybe the Tigers should be pursuing CJ Wilson?

Given the pitching depth of the Phillies and Braves, Gallardo and Greinke in Milwaukee and the return of Wainwright in St. Louis, it's likely the National League will see the same playoff mix again in 2012. If the Giants find a lineup, they could certainly push past the Diamondbacks again but the league champion probably plays their home games in Philly, St. Louis, Milwaukee or Atlanta.

In the American League, it has to be the usual suspects. The Yankees will be there at least one more year. Eventually their fantastically dominant lineup of the last several years will show its wrinkles. They're aging across the diamond. We know Jeter and Alex are in their mid-thirties but did anyone realize Mark Teixeira will be 32 this April or that Robinson Cano will hit 30 in October? Have to love Robbie Cano. Yet, I always hear coaches predicting he will "win a batting title someday." He better get on that, as he turns 30 this year.

The Red Sox are turning a new leaf, with the departure of their Manager and General Manager. Odd to see, given they were pretty much every analyst's choice to win the pennant, if not the whole ball of wax, in 2011. Their 82-41 stretch, after a tough start in early April, didn't seem to indicate clubhouse issues of any sort either. Yet, in the world of "What have you done for me lately?," a September slide left Red Sox Nation questioning everything about their club. With Lester, Beckett and, hopefully, Clay Buchholz returning and their great ability to score runs, the Sawx should be just fine in 2012.

It has to be New York, Boston, Texas and probably Detroit leading the way next season, doesn't it? Anaheim has a shot if Weaver and Haren can duplicate their 2011 dominance. Tampa is always fun and certainly has pitching. It's just difficult to see either Anaheim or Tampa having the bats to beat the Yanks, Sox or Rangers if the favorites stay reasonably healthy.

While the Hot Stove window is unlikely to show us great pitchers moving on to new addresses, the few teams who would like to join the mix of favorites listed above can only hope the July trade deadline offers opportunity. Perhaps a Felix Hernandez or Zack Greinke could become available? Without any aces trading places in 2012 though, it looks like we'll see a repeat of the 2011 contenders again chasing the trophy.

Does the NBA exist?

Whether it was George Berkeley or not, someone once posed the question, if a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? It creates a debate between philosophical and scientific corners. In this case, as October has become November, is there a sound emanating from the NBA?

The NBA made its first sound when the Russell led Celtics dominated Wilt, whether in Philadelphia or Los Angeles. The Celtics were an American institution; winning titles were as certain as death and taxes. Dominant teams tend to capture attention.

Yet, the 1970's ushered in a new era. As the decade wore on, the NBA became a second rate league. Whether it was too little defense, too many drugs or any of a variety of reasons, the Association barely had a heartbeat.

Ahh, enter The Hick from French Lick and the Magic Man. Larry and Magic. Celtics and Lakers. East Coast vs. West Coast. Blue Collar battles "Showtime." Whatever story line grabbed an individual's interest, it did spark never before seen interest in the NBA. There was a palpable electricity in the air on those June championship nights, whether in the steamy Gahden or the Fabulous Forum. The NBA was alive and very well.

On to MJ and his Bulls. The most recognizable person in the world was an NBA player. Children in other countries recognized Michael Jordan before the President of the United States. His team was dominant too. Six titles tend to capture attention.

What would happen after MJ? The NBA continued to roll out superstars to mass market, from Kobe and Shaq to Bron- Bron. Sprinkle in an Allen Iverson, a D Wade, a "Big Three,"even a Dirk or Tim Duncan in smaller doses and there were captivating stars fueling the league. Teams? Skim past Rockets and Pistons and Spurs (Lions and Tigers and Bears) and focus on the Celtics and Lakers again...even the South Beach Heat. The NBA retained a strong pulse.

Right now there is no pulse. There's no sound. There's nothing capturing our attention. The story is, 50% versus 52% has created an epic divide. Be careful though. As much as a certain four letter network (and a couple lesser three letter networks) will force feed us the Association as soon as it returns, maybe most of us will have found we don't miss professional hoops that much. Maybe we'll have found more exciting, more interactive, more useful and more productive pastimes to occupy our evenings and holidays? Maybe we only paid attention to the playoffs anyway? Maybe we saw in Bird and Magic and MJ all that was great? Maybe the "Golden Era" was just that?

Whatever the case, I don't hear anything from the NBA right now. Whether I'm a rabid fan or a casual observer, silence rarely inspires. Absence in sports doesn't make the heart grow fonder. It makes us wonder if what we knew ever existed at all.