~ Sandy Koufax
Four magic words have brightened my day, “Pitchers and Catchers Report.” Though I am sitting in Lockport, Illinois with a temp of -2 degrees and a high expected of only 18 degrees, those four magic words have brought an incredible amount of joy to my heart.
The reporting schedule looks like this.
Arizona Cactus League:
February 17th Pitchers and Catchers - February 22nd Full Squad First Workout. Teams: Arizona Diamondbacks - Chicago Cubs - Chicago White Sox - Kansas City Royals - Oakland Athletics - San Diego Padres - San Francisco Giants - Texas Rangers
February 18th Pitchers and Catchers - February 22nd Full Squad First Workout. Team: Cincinnati Reds
February 18th Pitchers and Catchers - February 23rd Full Squad First Workout. Teams: Cleveland Indians - Colorado Rockies - Los Angles Dodgers - Los Angles Angels - Milwaukee Brewers - Seattle Mariners
Florida Grapefruit League:
February 17th Pitchers and Catchers - February 22nd Full Squad First Workout. Teams: Baltimore Orioles - Detroit Tigers - New York Yankees - Philadelphia Phillies - Pittsburg Pirates - St. Louis Cardinals
February 18th Pitchers and Catchers - February 22nd Full Squad First Workout. Teams: Boston Red Sox - Houston Astros - Toronto Blue Jays
February 18th Pitchers and Catchers - February 23rd Full Squad First Workout. Teams: Atlanta Braves - Miami Marlins - Tampa Bay Rays - Washington Nationals
February 19th Pitchers and Catchers - February 22nd Full Squad First Workout. Team: New York Mets
February 19th Pitchers and Catchers - February 23rd Full Squad First Workout. Team: Minnesota Twins
Each team will test their players for COVID-19, give normal physicals and get started on throwing and fielding drills. As the position players arrive, general drills will increase, the position specific drills will be added as well as the conditioning routines and finally spring training games will start. This all leads up to that glorious day of the opening games. The baseball cycle has begun.
I’m still surrounded by snow, wind chills and temperatures non-conducive for playing baseball outside; but my heart is warmed, my enthusiasm is high, my anticipation is peaked, and all is right with my world. Spring in the Midwest is still a few weeks off, but hope abounds, BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING has begun.
Spring, a time when the weather gets warmer, the days get “longer” and life begins again. Baseball starts in the spring, coincidence, I think not!
Enjoy!
~ Coach Mike