It’s Baseball Time!!
By Jeff Schafer
The San Francisco 49ers put 31 points on the board Sunday night during the Super Bowl, the same amount I predicted for them to score. But those Ravens snuck in an extra 10 points I didn’t see coming to score 34 (I predicted the final score 31-24 Niners winning). The way I felt heading into the game was just “ehh” – two teams I had no alliance to, just had a few dollars in a squares pool at work. The feeling I had right after the whistle blew and the confetti falling on the heads of the Baltimore Ravens – priceless.
The end of the football season means we’re days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Is there a better time of the year? Possibly, and probably many to count but after a cold January, the four words of pitchers and catchers report is very humbling.
Mar. 14, 2012; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; ESPN Wide World of Sports statue outside of at Champion Stadium during a spring training game between the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Kissimmee Florida is the home of Champion Stadium where the Braves will play their home spring training games at. The first game on the schedule is against the ALCS champions, Detroit Tigers on February 22nd. But before the games begin, spring training doors will open – first for the Braves pitchers and catchers on February 12th, then a few days later, February 15th, the full squad reports.
Pitchers and catchers report early to give the pitchers an extra few days to get their arms in shape ready for live batting. They also need to get their legs underneath them again by running poles. Even though February 22nd won’t be the first time they pick a baseball up since that October 5th night, the excess of long toss and stretching out their legs, the guys will be sore. The extra few days will be enough for the soreness to leave and be ready when the rest of the team arrives.
After these eight days, the pieces will begin to be put into place and we will be at the regular season opener before we know it. So put away your skiing gear, quit crying over another fantasy football unsuccessful season and gear up for Florida because the warm weather is around the corner and the sound of a baseball hitting a mitt is almost here.