Baseball season has opened. Hockey is in the playoffs. Exams are upcoming. Spring is here.

This time of year is always one of the most exciting times for any sports fan. The combination of baseball's opening day with hockey's Stanley Cup playoffs is an indicator that summer is almost here and that the semester is nearly finished (and thank God for that).

The Toronto Blue Jays have looked sharp in the pre-season, with their retro sky-blue uniforms and well over 20 wins. Whether they will be able to play as well in the regular season is anyone's guess. Spring is just that: training. It means nothing once they play opening day.

However, with the expanded MLB playoff format, the Blue Jays have a much better shot at getting into the post-season this year. They haven't been in the playoffs since 1993. I still remember exactly where I was when Joe Carter hit the World Series-winning home run. I was with my parents listening to the game on the radio, driving back from my Dad's rec league hockey game. It would be nice if the Blue Jays could create a few more nice memories like that for their fans. It's been a long time coming.

They have a much better chance of making the playoffs this year, even though they continue to play in the American League East, against the well-salaried juggernauts the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. There will be five playoff teams in the AL this year, with the two wildcards playing one another in a one-off to see who advances into the final four. It's something of a half-assed addition to the playoffs, as one extra game does not constitute an entire extra playoff round. But it's better than nothing, and Jays fans have lived with nothing since '93.

Some baseball purists hate the expanded playoff format. Remember, for decades only two teams from each of the American and National Leagues made it into the playoffs. They played each other for their respective league's titles, and the winners went on to play in the World Series. That's only four teams in the playoffs altogether.

It wasn't until the '90s that baseball recalibrated its divisions into three per league (previously it was two) and had four teams from each league make it into the playoffs instead of two, doubling the amount of playoff teams altogether. Of course, purists didn't like that one, either.

Baseball changes. It needs to. Things that don't change die. And after a spike of popularity a few years ago, baseball's popularity has been at lows, largely due to the steroid scandals that have tarnished the sport's wholesome façade. Baseball needs to evolve to survive, and a slight change to the playoff system helps.

Will the Blue Jays make the fifth spot in the American League, at least? Hey, maybe they'll get first. Who knows. I suppose if you're not a Jays fan, you don't really care. But baseball is all about rooting for the home team (as the old song goes), and I highly doubt London is going to get a major league franchise anytime soon (apologies to the Rippers). The Jays are Canada's only existing major league baseball team, and one of Toronto's few sports franchises that aren't an embarrassment to the city's population. So here's to the Blue Jays.

And here's to a long summer.