Last fall, the 2010 Major League Baseball season came to a close, which could only mean one thing for baseball fans: a long off-season. However, after a long winter filled with free-agent signings and trades, the wait is finally over. Baseball is back.

When I found out that I was going to Tampa, Fla. for spring break to watch a week’s worth of Yankee games, I was ecstatic. Being from Virginia and living in New York, it was very unlikely that I would ever get to experience spring training, especially because it’s something that only super-fans usually do, but I was lucky enough to get that experience.

No sooner did I walk through the turnstiles at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa when I experienced my favorite flashback of familiarity that signaled the return of baseball. I could smell juicy hot dogs being cooked to perfection. I could see fans buying jerseys, and I could hear the excitement and enthusiasm that usually takes place during the pre-game festivities.

Before I followed the directions to my seat, I took the time to look around Monument Park where all of the Yankee greats are forever immortalized. Seeing the retired numbers of players such as Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra made me excited for the potential history that I could witness. With that in mind, I took my seat along the third-base line, prepared with my glove to catch any foul balls.

Feeling restless, I got up from my seat and saw that Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher was signing baseballs and other merchandise for some younger fans. Immediately, I rushed over with a ball and pen and I asked him to sign. To my delight, not only did he sign it, he and I also had an extended conversation about Chipotle burritos.

After this wonderful encounter, I returned to my seat right before the first pitch of the game against the Baltimore Orioles. At first, this was an ordinary game. The Yankees put up an early run in the first inning and there was great pitching throughout by Ivan Nova, a pitcher vying for a spot in the starting rotation.

As the game progressed, the Yankees piled on more runs, but the real start of the show was Nova, who pitched six innings without even allowing a hit. The energy of the crowd was overwhelming as each inning passed without a hit. No-hitters are very uncommon during the regular season, and much less so during the spring training exhibition games, so it was cool to have a front-row seat to the action.

One of the reasons I went to spring training was to see the Yankees play, but I also wanted to meet players as well as some of the sports writers and broadcasters to get their perspective on spring training. At the end of the game against Baltimore (which the Yankees won by a score of 10-0), I marched up to the press box to meet Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay, who graduated from Fordham College at Rose Hill in 1982 and is my personal career idol. Unfortunately, however, I was unable to meet him before I was kicked out of the stadium by security.

The story above was just one of the six games I saw during my time in Florida, including games versus American east rivals such as the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. Overall, I’d say the Yankees played quite well. The regular players like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez played like they were in top form, and in combination with solid, stable pitching were able to win, and even dominate, games.

If I had to make predictions for the upcoming season, I’d say the Yankees could pull off a playoff berth if their pitching stays as strong and the lineup isn’t hampered by injuries. As a Yankees fan, it’s very hard to admit this, but look for the Red Sox to do very well this season. Also, an upstart Baltimore Orioles team could also prove to be a thorn in the Yankees’ side this season.

Regardless of how the season turns out, one thing is for certain: it is sure to be exciting. As soon as spring training ends, the slate is cleared. Every team starts at zero wins and zero losses. On opening day, it’s anyone’s game. Any one of the 30 Major League teams could be next year’s World Series winner, and all the fans have to do is watch it unfold. The first games of the 2011 season are scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m on March 31, which includes the Yankees season opener versus the Detroit Tigers.