"Pitchers and catchers report."
There aren't many things that bring more hope and excitement to baseball fans than this simple phrase.
For a lot of sports fans, once the Super Bowl ends, it always feels like there is a two month black hole in the sporting calendar. With the exception of the Jermey Lin phenomenon, it’s really hard for me to get excited about the NBA until the start of the playoffs. While I love watching the NHL, this time of year the games always seem to be overshadowed by the drama surrounding their trade deadline (which doesn't come until late February). And when it comes to college basketball, aren't we all just really waiting for the madness that is filling out those brackets in March?
So when baseball begins its annual pilgrimage to the spring training sites in Florida and Arizona, this is the signal that things are about to heat up again for us sports fans. Literally! For the uninitiated, spring training is much more than just your typical sports preseason. It's the ultimate fan adventure. The stadiums are more intimate, players interact with the fans, and it's autograph heaven!
Growing up in central Florida, it was my own little Shangri-La. There were many times my dad would pull me and my brothers out of school for a little “sick day” at one many ballparks in our area.
One year, I was even able to “accidently” find my way behind the gates at the Boston Red Sox facility. A friend and I made it all the way to the batting cages, just outside the clubhouse. With the exception of one superstar diva (who looks a lot like this guy), the players were incredibly nice to us. They talked to us and signed autographs for what seemed like a lifetime. And never once did they seem to care how or why we were in their “restricted area.” Try that during a regular season game and I’m pretty sure this story ends with me getting tasered.
But not during spring training. It's just a special time and place.
So forget what some silly groundhog says, the true sign that winter is about to end is the sound of grown men playing catch. The greatest thing about spring training is that feeling of pure optimism, that feeling that everyone has a fresh start -- and every team still has a chance at the holy grail that is a World Series title.
Even the Cubs.
So if you are sick of shoveling snow or you can't find any good games to watch on TV, just remember: All the pitchers and catchers have reported. All is well again.
Now let’s play some ball!
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