TEMPE, Ariz. — This is the time we’re supposed to be counting down the days – even the hours – to the pageantry and thrill of Opening Day.

It’s the time we overreact to everything that transpires in the season openers, assuming trends will carry over for the next six months.

You win you’re a World Series contender. You lose, it’s “Wait ‘Til Next Year.”

These days, well, who could blame Major League Baseball for wishing it could extend spring training another week or two to end the swirling scandals, drama and controversy that engulfed the sport this past week.