I can almost smell the freshly mowed grass of the outfield, feel the gritty dirt of the pitchers mound, and hear the slap of a baseball hitting leather or the melodic wooden whack of the bat. So zen, so peaceful, it makes me happy.
Finally, MLB Spring Training has begun!
Pitchers and catchers have been in camp all week, as well as some position players, but the full squads for most teams reported for duty Saturday. This means in one weeks time Spring Training games will begin in earnest leading up to Opening Day on Wednesday March 31st. Then the real fun begins.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Spring Training is a crucial time for veterans and rookies alike. Although most athletes train in the off-season Spring is the time for players to shake off the cobwebs, stretch the muscles and get to work proving that they deserve a spot on the 40 man roster. A lot of the younger players know that exposure during Spring Training is just that, exposure. It is a chance for the hopefuls to perform so the coaches and scouts can gauge the players readiness for the big leagues. Most of these young players will find themselves in one of their team’s minor league affiliates come Opening Day but know that they are one step closer to making the Big Show.
Veterans and players that have been in the big leagues for a few years approach Spring Training a little differently. Big contract players or super stars know they have a job and only need to use this time to hone the skills that got them there. Players at the end of a contract or hoping to start a new one have a little more at stake because there is always someone waiting in the wings that can play their position just as well or better.
What I always find interesting are the guys that are joining a new team after spending many years with another. Here is a quick recap of some the players that will be spending this Spring Training and season with a new ball club…
My favorite change of scenery story is Dan Uggla joining the Atlanta Braves after 5 years with the Marlins. The Braves gave up a super utility guy in Omar Infante but gained a super bat in Uggla. Yeah! Welcome to Atlanta Danny boy!
Bean Town must be an attractive address because Carl Crawford left the Tampa Bay Rays after 9 years to join the Boston Red Sox who also lured Adrian Gonzalez away from San Diego after 5 years with the Padres.
Speaking of Boston, two former Red Sox team mates have rejoined forces in the Tampa Bays Rays organization. Johnny Damon called Detroit home last year but spent the previous 8 years split between New York and Boston. Even after 15+ amazing years mostly with the Cleavland Indians and Red Sox, Manny Ramirez was lucky to find a suitor in the Rays after a horrible season last year split between the Dodgers and White Sox.
Adam Dunn spent a little over 7 years with the Cincinnati Reds and was the lone super power for the Washington Nationals for the past two and a half years. Now Dunn finds himself on the south side of Chicago starting a new chapter of his career with the White Sox.
The north siders of Chicago should be happy that the Tampa Bay fire sale allowed them to acquire Carlos Pena after 4 years with the Rays. The Cubs reacquired their one time ace pitcher Kerry Wood after he spent the past two years away from Wrigley.
Zack Greinke isn’t in Kansas anymore and has found his way to the magical land of the Milwaukee Brewers. After over performing with an under performing Royals club for the past 7 years, Greinke hopes he chose the right path to the post season.
Finally, the biggest “player with the same club for the longest amount of time but finally changing teams” award goes to…Vernon Wells. After 12 years with the Toronto Blue Jays, Wells has moved to sunny California and will most likely finish his career as an Angel.
Every team in every city should expect a few new faces on their ball club this season. Some of the photographs have already been taken and some of the articles have already been written but Spring Training is the time when anyone’s name, anyone’s face, and anyone’s story can adorn the pages of their team’s program come Opening Day.
My Boyfriend Likes Baseball 