Spring Blues
My baseball mood has taken a major setback today. I was jumping into the baseball season mentally, physically and with my environment around me. I went for a nice vacation arrived back to grass. Yes, grass can be my best friend. I started some softball (close enough to baseball to be considered part of my baseball attitude) practises and had my first batting practise. And then it was Sunday. The first day of Spring- whoop-dee-doo! A day well spent with a bit of softball practise and stationing myself in front of the radio to listen to a ST game (that has kind of become a semi-tradition every weekend for the past month). It was only a matter of time before the diamond’s firmed up and it was time to start team practises.
And Monday was like summer. People were in capris, sandals, and light shirts. Many people were showing off their tans they got while spending the March Break and pre March Break in warm places (jealous). I spent a portion of the day watching some baseball feeds on the internet and reading an amusing conversation on Twitter between some of the league’s players. I must say that Vernon Wells is quite a funny guy. Oh, and my friend and I spent quite a bit of time talking about how it was Aaron Hill’s birthday…ya we had too much time on our hands. Happy belated Birthday Aaron!
My entire life had switched gears to the final stretch of the baseball countdown. Tuesday was well, Tuesday and that leads us to today. Wednesday. I never quite liked Wednesday. I woke up to snow. Where is the grass? Where is the sun? My whole baseball attitude has taken a huge step back. And it wasn’t just a little bit of snow, it was a storm. Filled with ice, and snow, and everything I hate about winter. Softball will have to wait quite some time, unless it pours rain soon, which I doubt.
On the bright side, BASEBALL STARTS NEXT WEEK!
So for all of you that can see the beloved grass, I envy you greatly. Every time I look out the window my heart falls a little and wish it would go right to summer. So for the love of baseball, I will spend the day getting back my baseball attitude, watching baseball feeds (what’s new?!), and keep on wishing I lived in Florida or Arizona…
“Realizing if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team”
-Sydney
Question of the day: Which team do you think will be the most improved from last season?
Good Look at the Future
Spring Training doesn’t matter- so they say. Players get back into the swing of things, pitchers shake off the rust, and players fight for spots on the rosters. But on March 31st or April 1st numbers posted by players are wiped off and it’s a clean slate. Both good and bad springs no longer matter and it’s time to move on to “real ball”.
Let’s consider the majority of Spring Training invitees that won’t start opening day with their club. Spring Training is really the only time fans can do some “scouting” from the comfort of their very own home. You get to check out the farm system, and even more importantly, check out who will help shape up your favourite team in years to come.
If you’ve listened or watched some games this year you will have realized that line-ups aren’t filled with the guys starting Opening Day. Sure you have the big leaguers (who will likely be pulled part way through) but you also have a lot of guys who spent last year in AAA, AA, and even A ball. I mean, let’s be realistic; most of these guys don’t have a real shot being called up until September- if they’re lucky. But the myth of “Spring Training doesn’t matter” couldn’t be less true especially for these guys.
Like I said, yeah it does kind of matter for the big league players but the guys who will spend the year in the minors need to take the opportunity to impress. This is really the only time of the season where us fans really get to see who will be part of the team in years to come. You get to see prospects that some of our favourite players were traded for, guys anticipated to make the club next year, guys who tore up the minors last year, and maybe even some guys you will never hear of again. And even if these guys tear up ST, they still might not make the team because there simply isn’t room for them.
To me, it’s a good to have a sense what is happening down in the farm system and how players are developing. A lot of guys won’t be mentioned through the duration of the season if they are playing mediocrely but you can see, and make opinions, first hand during this part of the season. You kind of have those moments when you think: wow I’ve never even heard of this guy but he has some skill over there at first. Hey we might need a first baseman next year, for example. You also get to see that GMs know what they’re doing and don’t always need to sign free agents or trade for big name guys when you have perfectly good player suited to fill holes down in the minors.
So yes I suppose it is fair to say that the standing don’t matter because most of the starting guys don’t start, but Spring Training really does matter. It may not be the most interesting but it is the first impression for a lot of minor league guys and they really get to show their potential to their club and to the fans. Will we see most of them this season? Of course not. But will we see them in years to come? Yes. Players will retire, they’ll be traded, they’ll sign somewhere else in free agency, and maybe the team will go through rebuilding. A lot of answers can be looked for down in the farm system and it all kind of starts with Spring Training. They get experience playing against big league players and are a part of the atmosphere of what it’s like up in the majors.
Don’t get me wrong, I think a lot of big baseball fans realize the importance of Spring Training. And people who think it doesn’t matter may not really have interest in players that aren’t in the MLB. But the statement is pretty broad. Yes, they might be referring to the standings not really accurately foreshadowing how the end of the season’s standings will be but I think the “importance” is seen by people who really are passionate, have a real sense for the game and really get into it- in general.
So keep a tab on these minor league guys, because you just may see them again somewhere. And when you see them, remember it was thanks to Spring Training. All great players started at the bottom and ST is an important way to try and make the club or make a good impression in case the club needs a call up. You never know, your farm system just might be carrying the next Roy Halladay…
“Realizing that if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
-Sydney
Question of the Day: Which prospect has impressed you the most this Spring Training?
One Small Town, One HUGE Baseball Fan
You know what my town needs? Some baseball lovers. In this town the population of baseball fans probably comes to approximately one. Yeah and that would be me. Okay there is probably more but people have kind of given up on the whole baseball thing around here. But here in the blogosphere, no you all haven’t given up. Baseball is 365 days a year, right?
Full of dreams, hopes, rants and just baseball in general surfaces in these blogs. I told some people two weeks ago that it was spring and they just told me spring wasn’t until the end of March. Typical. How do people not grasp how wonderful the sport is? I know that everyone is entitled to their opinion but hey, I have baseball fever!
Guess what! It rained last night. Big deal right? Well in the lyrics of Luke Bryan- rain is a good thing! I mean it totally looks like spring in Arizona and Florida, actually compared to here it looks like summer. The rain is melting the way the HUGE piles of snow. Can’t wait to get ol’ ball glove worked in. And baseball registration is this week- woohoo!
All I had to do was endure a few awful months filled with hockey, football and basketball. All my favourite teams won’t even make the playoffs. You see my favourite teams just aren’t destined to ever win a championship- in anything. So I have all my hopes invested in this season, just like everyone else blogging here. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s possible to make it to the Series. But I’m not going to jinx anything- don’t want to be responsible for anything less than an October Classic appearance.
Have you realized that baseball can be compared to anything? I’m guessing this is just a withdrawal symptom but you know how it is. Baseball is like a universal metaphor. You can compare it to math, compare it to chemistry, compare it to grocery shopping and even compare it to hockey. Trust me, its manageable. Think about it, hockey is like the opposite to baseball yet I compared baseball to a hockey shootout on Saturday. Since when am I a hockey fan anyways? Kind of fell onto it as a transition I guess.
Anyhow- back on topic. Too bad y’all can’t all of the sudden flood into my tiny town. It could really use some more baseball lovers. But don’t worry, I’m representing the baseball loving community. Almost have enough love of the sport for every one of the citizens of the town. But today I saw six different MLB hats. I know, a whole six! It’s a breakthrough! Unfortunately you had to go to the outskirts of the town to find these semi fans…and I don’t even think they live here. It started with a Marlins hat, then a Red Sox hat, then a Yankee hat, then a Dodgers hat, then an Angels hat, and rounding off the day with the old school Jays hat. All over the map huh? That’s what happens when you live in the middle of no where.
So I still have a month to go until we are full time back in action. And since hockey and basketball has been nothing to get excited over, might as well spend it reading about real baseball fans on here. Not that nobody is a “real” fan around here, but we are no “Red Sox Nation” for one team or another, that’s for sure. I’ve been waiting for the season to start since the day regular season ended last year. Almost there…
“Realizing that if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
-Sydney
Question of the day: What was the best MLB game you ever attended?
Today is a Good Day
Finally. And I mean FINALLY. The wait for my beloved baseball is over. I know technically yesterday was the beginning but today is my favourite team’s turn to hit the field. Today my withdrawals will end as my boys hit the field. Let me tell you, I’ll be glued to the radio all afternoon.
No I’m not so fortunate to live down south and be attending the game and no the game isn’t going to be aired on my television but hey, the radio broadcasts the game better anyways. I woke up this morning and pretty much sprung out of bed. Any work that needed to be done today has been finished so my undivided attention will go towards the game. Hey, I haven’t waited months for nothing.
Okay, so I know that these games don’t entirely matter besides seeing which holes need to be filled and whatnot but I look as if it is any regular game. I’m pretty superstitious and somehow wearing my lucky hat will help my favourite team win. I have a lucky hat for listening or watching games, a lucky hat for attending games, and a lucky hat when I have to unfortunately miss a game. I’ll just have to plan carefully so the right alignment of merchandise equals a World Series appearance. It’s quite the mathematical process really…and one I wasn’t able to figure out last season. But I’m dressed for a win even if it’s just preseason.
And who said nobody score keeps these days? It’s a PRESEASON game and I’ve had my lineup card filled out hours ago. It’s quite a relaxing hobby really and it helps you remember stats of games from months ago- something which I enjoy. And I know I have kind of complained about a selected few players that will probably get the start opening day that I don’t necessarily agree with but today, it doesn’t matter. Just to hear the names come from a little square box is enough to make my day- win or lose. I guess it’ll be nice to hear three hours’ worth of my favourite team come out of someone’s mouth besides mine. It’s like when I open my mouth everyone around me goes “oh there goes Sydney going on about baseball again”. I guess I’ve tired people out about my endless baseball talk but I’m sorry, the season hasn’t even started yet. Just wait until then.
So long story short, I’m absolutely, undeniably, 100% excited for today. It’s almost as if a small part of me has been missing for the past several months but today it has returned. I pretty much see rainbows, fields of grass, a bright sun and unicorns out my window rather than the snow and grey skies. I’m almost literally walking on the clouds. Because my year really begins today…
“Realizing that if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
-Sydney
Question of the day: What questions will Spring Training answer for your favourite team?
Claiming the Pennant
With the season approaching, everybody has begun to make season predictions. And what come along with the predictions are World Series predictions as well. Some people make them off of last year’s results, off season additions or losses and many just base it on their favourite team.
Okay, so it seems as if analysts have agreed that the World Series will be the Phillies and Red Sox. Well many people don’t really care what the analysts say because there is someone to advocate for every team that they’ll make it to the Series. Is there much to support some of these predictions? Not really, but that’s what being a fan is all about. Nobody is going to flat out think that their favourite team is going to come last in their division.
Every year I decide to claim the pennant before the season even begins and make my opinion known. It’s part of being a stereotyped die-hard fan around here. Unfortunately at the end of every season I have to eat my words. But then the next season comes around and I’ll claim it again. People tell me they’ll come in last but obviously I’m not going to predict that my favourite team will come in last.
Take the Orioles for example. They are in tough company over in the AL East. Many fans are going to claim the Orioles are going to win the pennant. Kind of a tough prediction with the fellow competitors in the division. But of course they won’t come in last again because this is their year, say Oriole fans. Hey they might, but I wouldn’t make a definite prediction amongst the Yankees, Red Sox, Jays and Rays. It’ll be a tough one over there.
And how about the Cubs? Why can’t the Cubs break their World Series-less streak this year? Fans have said “next year will be our year” for a while now. I’d say the Cubs have some of the most loyal fans out of every team. They prove my point because despite their drought of winning the World Series, every year will apparently be there year. But hey! That’s what being a fan is about.
It’s part of the beauty of the game. Does it mean that analysts’ predictions are always wrong? Well no, but it’s just their prediction. Maybe the Phillies and the Red Sox will meet in the October Classic. But being a fan is more about team loyalty because eventually your favourite team will win the World Series. Might as well claim the pennant because why can’t it be this year?
“Realizing that if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
-Sydney
Question of the day: What is the most memorable season-opener you have seen?
Dear Winter
Dear winter,
You have been a long and drawn out season. It is hard enough living without baseball for months but then you give me cold weather and snow up to my head. No thank you!
Basketball, hockey and football were supposed to help me with the tough transition of winter. So much for that. For starters, the Minnesota Vikings season was disappointing- they came in last in their division behind the Detroit Lions. And you don’t want to know who I cheer for in the NHL and NBA. Quite frankly, both their seasons are embarrassing. So I would consider those three sports a fail in helping me cope with the season.
But you know, I have survived. Yes I have. The blogs, the trade rumours, the news, and even baseball players on Twitter have helped me through this difficult time. And despite your dismay, regular games will be here before you know it!
But as of tomorrow, I will no longer have to deal with you. Spring starts in March you say? Oh no, spring is not marked by a date but simply when pitchers and catchers head down to Florida and Arizona. Finally February 14th has arrived!
Tomorrow I’ll smile a little wider, my eyes will be a little brighter and my heart will be fulfilled. Baseball will be my Valentine’s tomorrow and I’ve been awaiting the day that me and my beloved met again for months. And tomorrow will just be the beginning of our eight month long affair filled with bliss and happiness.
So dear winter, I will not miss you one bit. Yes I’ll look out my window and the snow you have provided will prevent me from playing baseball or dressing as though it is spring. But mentally I’ll be somewhere else. My mind is down in Florida and Arizona and really I know tomorrow marks the first day of spring. And despite your desperate measures to persuade me that spring isn’t for another month, I will go on with my happy ways tomorrow because winter, you cannot come in between my love and passion for baseball.
I wish I could tell you that it has been a slice, but it really hasn’t been. I’ll see you again in October (the real beginning of winter) but until the adieu!
Sincerely,
-Sydney
P.S: And by the way, PLAY BALL!
“Realizing if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
Question of the day: Which playoff team from last season will fall short of playoffs this season?
Ruling Differences
In no other sport league is there such a difference between the two conferences. Teams can play “interleague” without even realizing that they aren’t in the same conference. This allows more of an array of teams that can play against each other with no difference in the way the game is played. Instead of being confined to teams in the same conference, there are nearly twice as many teams that could possibly be scheduled against in the season. Every sports league besides the MLB that is.
Since 1999 there is a period of time within the regular season dedicated to interleague play. The rules state that if a National League team is hosting an American League team than the game must be played by National League rules and vice versa (with an exception one side aren’t able to host the game like the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies this season). So American League pitchers who are not required to bat are suddenly thrown into a position where they have to bat, and often strike out. Not to mention the fact that even if the pitcher is pitching adequately in a tight game they are pulled out early and substitute, in many cases, with the designated hitter.
Though the disadvantage seems to be to the American League, the National League has lost the majority of interleague games. Since the introduction of interleague in 1999 the American League has won 1,637 games while the National League has won 1,534. In either case, the flow of the line-up is interrupted by trying to make the substitutions in order to satisfy the rules of interleague. Some teams have thrived in interleague while others…haven’t. That part of the season could be considered somewhat dreaded and a period in the schedule that teams just want to get over with.
It seems as though the league should either get rid of interleague or make the rules the same in both conferences. Personally, I think they should just make the rules the same throughout the league. In my opinion, if or when they decide to go that direction, the American League rules should be in effect. I know it is a tradition for the pitcher to hit but now they bunt half of the time and have horrible averages. Not to mention that they just about always hit ninth and do nothing elaborate in fear they’ll hurt themselves while at bat. The league has already altered the All-Star game so it satisfies both conferences, so why not carry that through to all the other games? More old rivalries can be relived more frequently and there is more of a range of teams that can play against each other. In addition, the amount of games required to play against divisional opponents could be reduced because there are more teams to play against with no difference in the way the game is played.
Ultimately, some teams’ entire playoff hopes can be and are destroyed in the slated interleague schedule. Though months before October, if teams had a better winning percentage or continued the same winning percentage they held the rest of the season through interleague, it could make a huge difference in how the season unfolded. I think this change is needed and is beneficial to the league. I’m sure the idea and topic has been brought up within the offices of the MLB but no progress has been made. Or at least publicly.
How many teams have to miss the playoffs, number 8 batters intentionally walked, and pitchers get hurt before this idea is taken seriously? The commissioner seems to think everybody loves interleague. Well not everyone. Especially when your favourite team misses the playoffs part due to interleague. The league needs to find a way to sort this out… and soon.
“Realizing if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
Question of the day: What’s your opinion on the differences of rules between conferences?
-Sydney
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Finally. Finally! I have suffered through the long, cold days of winter just waiting for the season to begin, or at the very least, a day like today. Today is a very important day in the life of a baseball fan like me but this day varies from fan to fan. It is so much more than January 25: today I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
All of the sudden it seems as though the season is right around the corner. Almost time for single game tickets! Almost time for spring training! Almost time for preseason! Almost time for the season! So yes, YES! I CAN SEE THE BASEBALL SEASON. The catcher; the pitchers; the DH; the first, second, and third basemen; shortstop; right, left, and centre fielders; the coaches; the umps; the ball boys and girls; and of course the fans!!! There is just so much anticipation around the season….it has all clicked!
You know why that is? I think the puzzle pieces of my favourite team have finally started to fall into place. And it seems it’s a common theme around the league. Looks like in the past few days that the Rays, Angels, Jays, and Rangers teams have finally fallen into place to name a few teams. Last minute signings and trades have begun to define this season; for me anyways.
So here we go! 66 days until most teams kick off the season and we can hear the words baseball fans have been waiting for… LETS PLAY BALL!!!
Question of the day: What has been the biggest move your favourite team has made this offseason?
“Realizing if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
-Sydney
Passion
If there is one thing people know about me, it’s that I love baseball. It’s not difficult to figure it out. Spend five minutes talking with me and I’m sure you would have picked up on the fact because I wear team themed jewellery and have probably mentioned that there are70 more days until my favourite team’s opening game about ten times. Baseball passes a point that it is more than a sport; it is a way of life.
I’m sure none of you could disagree. I mean, why else are all of you writing about baseball in the middle of the winter? To some degree baseball has been made accustomed to our everyday routine. Nothing wrong with it, we are just fans. Maybe borderline obsessive fans but fans. I like to refer to it as passion.
I think real fans become fans of the sport. Or maybe we just have such major withdrawals that we speak out of desperation. Why else would we count down until spring training? We miss the game so much that the thought of the players finally reuniting in Arizona or Florida makes it feel like they are back. I mean it has been four months since we have seen the men we spend half the year with. Men that we feel and talk as though we have been best friends for years. Funny thing is that most of us don’t really know and probably won’t get the opportunity to meet.
Baseball becomes related to every situation we face in a day. I guess die-hard fans like us start to believe in the mentality that baseball is everything to us. Well at least it is to me. It has captivated my everyday life. Everything is somehow related to baseball. My Facebook statuses are either quotes or news from the baseball world, my planner is filled with countdowns and player birthdays, and of course I can subtly drop in a sentence related to baseball in my conversations. Like I said, it isn’t obsession, it is passion.
But even on one of my MLB posters it says: “MLB, I live for this” and I am definitely a supporter of that statement. People don’t understand how far we fans would go for a little bit of baseball. We passionate fans wait through the dullness of winter by dreaming that our favourite teams will win the World Series even if in reality, chances aren’t good.
We dedicate half of the year to the hope our favourite team will go all the way. Real baseball fans are dedicated. After all, it takes dedications to sticky by our team for 162 games a year; especially if you are a fan that doesn’t miss one of those 162. So our passion drives us every day for 365 days a year and captures our every thought. Still think it’s an obsession? People just don’t understand how it effects and drives us. Like I said, it is passion.
Question of the day: Which team will be the biggest surprise this season?
“If you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
-Sydney
Still on the Market
Need a DH? How about an outfielder who has seen better days? Well I didn’t expect that less than a month until spring training that two of the biggest names in all of baseball are still in the market. You got it: Vladimir Guerrero and Manny Ramirez.
Is it because of the age? Or are they both asking too much? Maybe it’s the uncertainty in their health? Maybe it’s a combination of the three. But isn’t it surprising that no team has been willing to take the chance on them? We all know what they have accomplished in the past, and what they are capable of accomplishing this year; so why not take a gamble on “Big Daddy Vladi” and Manny. Having one of them on your team gives you a huge threat.
Well, apparently five teams have shown interest in Manny Ramirez. These teams are the Twins, Rangers, Rays, the Angels and the Blue Jays. How serious are these teams? I’m not too sure. But Manny is prepared to play defense as well as bring his big bat.
As for Vladi – the Angels, Rays and Orioles have showed some level of interest in the slugger. Guerrero is turning 36 but he proved last year that he can still play at a high level. I believe if a DH is what you are looking for then Vladi would be your guy. His monstrous swing and his ability to hit the homerun pretty much sums up the position.
I expect that at least one of the sluggers will be signed by the end of the month. Names like Guerrero and Ramirez just don’t start the season unsigned! Some team will take a chance on these potential hall-of-famers, who may have seen better days in baseball. But just the thought of what they could potentially accomplish, it must be enticing for any team looking for a real shot at the playoffs.
Question of the day: Would you rather have Manny Ramirez or Vladimir Guerrero on your team?
“Realizing if you dream hard enough, you really are part of the team.”
-Sydney
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