It’s difficult to think about baseball these days.

Temps in the single digits. Wind chills that would even make Dick Vitale’s heart cold.

I built an igloo in my back yard. No. Seriously. I built an igloo right in the spot where in the summer months I lounge in the shade and enjoy the warm breeze in my gazebo.

I was surprised. It’s quite warm in there.

While inside my igloo, burning whale blubber for warmth, I pondered the upcoming Major League Baseball season.

OK. So I didn’t build an igloo or burn whale blubber for warmth. But I did think about the MLB season quite extensively while sitting in front of my space heater.

Here are my thoughts.

The Pirates are going to be good?

How good? I think they may just win the National League Central Division — and that’s not the whale blubber fumes talking.

I love their lineup with the centerpiece of Andrew McCutchen. The Buccos’ outfield — with Gregory Polanco, Cutch and Starling Marte — may be the club’s best since the Bonds, Van Slyke, Bonilla days.

Neil Walker has become one of the best second basemen in the NL and if Josh Harrison can recreate his 2014 magic, the Pirates are going to be a fun offensive team.

And the pitching looks to be solid, too.

It could be a Bucco Summer.

Is A-Rod done?

Another compelling story line this spring will be the return of Alex Rodriguez, who the New York Yankees were praying would just disappear.

But he’s like this cold this winter. He just won’t ... go ... away.

The Yankees are in a no-win situation with A-Roid, er, A-Rod. If he hits this spring, they’ll have to keep him and his bloated contract (and ego). If he stinks this spring, the they’ll have to keep him and his bloated contract (and ego) because no one else will want him.

He’s like a boil they can’t lance.

Will hitting continue to fade?

Whether it’s because of the crackdown on PEDs or the fact pitchers are throwing eight million miles per hour now, hitting numbers have dropped off significantly.

Only 16 dudes in all of the MLB batted .300 or better last season. Only 12 drove in 100 or more runs and only seven scored 100 or more runs.

Meanwhile 13 pitchers had 200 or more strikeouts and an astounding 80 pitchers who logged at least 30 innings had 10-plus Ks per nine innings (including Zach Duke. Yes, that Zach Duke).

Pitchers throw harder for shorter periods of time, making it more difficult for hitters who have to face sometimes three or four different hurlers a night.

Talk about cold — bats that is.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.