A few years back, I was tired of breaking every New Year's resolution I ever made by 10 AM on January first, so I came up with a no-fail system for reaching goals: set the bar as low as possible. It worked. I can happily say I have kept every resolution I've made since that day-- goals like: get out of bed at least 3 days a week, eat more junk food, and keep/add bad habits.

I think Burke Badenhop has adopted this same no-fail system when it comes to setting goals for his baseball career.

It's one of the least lofty ambitions you'll hear about this spring--especially for a pitcher who has already proven his tremendous value out of the bullpen over the course of two seasons. Nonetheless, the Hopper has just one goal in mind for 2010: make the opening day roster.

"I think I have some kind of Major League record, because I have two years of service time, but I've never been on an Opening Day roster," Badenhop noted. "It's tough to do that."

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"That's my goal this year, to be on the first-base line or the third-base line when we open the season," 

Burke probably won't be booked as a motivational speaker anytime soon. 

Given his performance out of the bullpen and as a spot starter last season, the Hopper certainly isn't setting the bar very high in 2010. I'm a big fan of modest aspirations, but even I have to protest here. And options or not, barring any injury or major meltdown, if Hayden Penn is on the opening day roster and the Hopper isn't, I will personally stage a revolt the likes of which the baseball world has never seen. Or, you know, I'll just whine a lot here on FishStripes and stuff.

While Burke may be aiming a little low, there is a first time for everything, and being on the Marlins roster for the season opener would be a first for Florida's long reliever extraordinaire. 

But I wouldn't call it a goal, Hop. I'd call it a given.