Spring Training is Here-Let's Talk Baseball!

[Figment22]

The Hot Stove thread can be put to bed for another season. Pitchers and catchers are reporting and the ST camps are open! I thought I'd post this great article in honor of the occasion:

'Pitchers and Catchers' -- Beautiful 3 Words

Pitchers and catchers. Are there three better words?

It is a most magical mantra, pulling a fan through the winter, when you can go days without ever seeing the sun and weeks or months without seeing the ground. It leads you through the darkness and pulls you toward the light.

“Pitchers and catchers.”

You hear the phrase as soon as the old season ends in a shower of champagne. You repeat it to yourself as you shovel the walk and driveway after December’s first soggy snowstorm. When the new year slides into the depths of January and it’s colder outside than a slumlord’s heart, you look at the calendar, flip a month ahead, count the days, reassure yourself that spring is not far behind.

Forget Groundhog’s Day. Forget robins. Nothing heralds spring like “pitchers and catchers.”

Opening Day is a festival, the day the season begins; pitchers and catchers is a nativity, the day the season is born. It is images of strong and athletic young men, their ledgers clean and yet to be written on, their possibilities infinite, stretching in the sun on freshly mowed turf. It is the bright snap of a ball striking leather, the crisp crack of seasoned ash, the smell of damp clay and grass. It is a daily CARE package of palm trees and deepening tans delivered on television, endlessly dissected on radio, savored in newspaper columns.




Let's talk Spring Training baseball here. I'm excited and I can't wait to see some games. Play Ball!

 

[PrincessaC]

Go Braves!!!

 

[minniecarousel]

We received our 20-game plan tickets on Monday for the A's!

Also looking forward to buying some of our friends' Giants tickets! (what a beautiful ballpark they have in SF!)

PLAY BALL!!

 

[BunsenH]

I'm still basking in the glow of the World Series victory by the Red Sox. I waited over 40 years for that moment. I remember '67, '76, '78, '86 and all the minor disappointments in between.

The playoffs and Series were broadcast again last week, and I still was nervous watching them. "Maybe it didn't really happen."

 

[MUFFYCAT]

It is a special time of year. Forget the flowers blooming the pitchers are throwing! throwFor about 15 years I use to go to opening day at Shea. My mother even let me play hooky to go to the games.

 

[Missy1961]

I am so excited! and I'm going to a Spring Training game this year so I am really excited.

 

[Golter]

Bunson, it was 75 that the Bosox lost to my beloved Reds.

I think this is finally the year that Griffey stays healthy.

 

[Missy1961]

It is a special time of year. Forget the flowers blooming the pitchers are throwing! throwFor about 15 years I use to go to opening day at Shea. My mother even let me play hooky to go to the games.

I'm a Mets fan too. I went to Opening Day in 2001! It was so great.

There are a few other Mets fans on the DIS boards---maybe we should have a DIS meet at Shea!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Bunson, it was 75 that the Bosox lost to my beloved Reds.

I think this is finally the year that Griffey stays healthy.

You are very optimistic - I gave up on Griffey a long time ago! I have been at 3 of the games where he was injured and lead to the DL(including once at spring training) - I know I probably should quit going to the games! I just think we need to quit building our hopes on him!

But like every other sucker here in Cincinnati - I get sucked in every year - maybe this will be the year (although I have wisely given up on the Bengals) -

so GO REDS!!! (Opening day tickets go on sale Saturday!!)

 

[richiebaseball]

Ah spring! Where everyone is tied for first and hope springs eternal for Cub fans.

Go Braves.

Richard

 

[diznygirl]

Great article! Thanks for posting it - that's exactly how I feel.

And one more month to our annual trip to Vero Beach. I can't wait!

 

[Bob Slydell]

Go Indians?

 

[Virgo10]

Just two words.



RED SOX!!!



Roberta

 

[Dan Murphy]

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[lissawynn]

Dare I say it, Go Yankees! DH is very excited that Tino Martinez is back with the Yankees.

 

[sand21]

Go Cubbies!

 

[Figment22]

Go Indians?

I'm not laughing at the Indians. I think they've got a club that's just about ready to contend again. There'll be some good baseball at Jacobs Field this year. And Cleveland fans are great.

 

[patrickbrian184]

"The Cubs will come Alive.....in 2005"


In addition "Go Tribe"!!!!!! (Cmon!!! You can't help but rooting for the Indians)

 

[raidermatt]

Go A's, I guess...

I'm afraid our "money ball" strategy is going to catch up with us this year. (That, and now there are teams using the same methods but with bigger payrolls...)

 

[KrnB]

I'm ready for the season to start, now that the Twins finally got their heads on straight and gave Santana the contract he deserves! I mean, sheesh, the guy only won the Cy Young, what more did they want out of him?? But yea, 4 years for $40 million - he's earned it (as much as anyone can "earn" that much money...)

And no more cry-baby Sosa in Chi-town...

I'm so ready for baseball!