The Toronto Blue Jays may not have some of the superstars the had in previous years.
But first baseman Carlos Delgado for one likes the makeup of the 1999 Jays.
"We've got a really good ball club," Delgado said last week.
"We've got some really good arms--a great pitching staff. And we've got a group of guys that can play. They're hungry. They want to win. It just boils down to executing."
Toronto kicked off it 162-game regular season schedule earlier this month. For Delgado, 26, this marks his fourth full season at the major league level.
What does he enjoy most about being a professional athlete?
"Just hanging out with the boys," he said. "The camaraderie is great. And being able to do what I love. I get up every morning and say 'I love my job.'"
But being a professional athlete is not glamorous all the time, Delgado said.
"Dealing with the media, all the travelling, spring training, all the rules, agents, the contracts and funtions--that's what is time-consuming. It's not bad but it's hard."
"When you're a little kid and watch (pros) play on TV, you think that's all they do--they just come to the park, play the game and go home. It doesn't work that way. There's a lot more to it than the three hours you spend on the field."
Are you a kid who wants to be a professional ball player?
Delgado offers this advice, which can be applied to any field.
"Whether you want to be a baseball player, a lawyer or a doctor, you have to stay between the lines and listen to your elders," he said.
"They usually mean well. And you've got to have discipline and a lot of dedication."