Pitchers and catchers have already reported for spring training
piece by Ken Lay • artwork by Lauren Fyfe
If the recent snow and frigid temperatures have you singing the blues at this point of winter, you have reasons to cheer up. Spring isn’t too far away.
NASCAR season is already underway and yes, Major League Baseball teams have begun preparations for the 2024 season, which begins in late March this year. Pitchers and catchers have already packed their bags and headed to Florida and Arizona.
For baseball fans, spring training is a time where hope springs eternal, even if they root for the Pirates or the Royals, whose playoff hopes will likely be dashed long before the dog days of summer begin.
As a lifelong sports (and baseball) fan, there are definitely special occasions marked on my sports calendar. The Daytona 500, Indy 500, NCAA Tournament, the Super Bowl, the college football season, the Masters, Wimbledon, the Stanley Cup playoffs, the NBA playoffs and European soccer (mainly, but not limited to, the Barclay’s Premier League and the UEFA Champions League) are always highlighted on my calendar.
Sports take their fans on memorable journeys every year. Baseball is the longest ride, save NASCAR, beginning before first bloom and ending with the World Series in November. But it all begins with spring training, where players dream of reaching the big leagues and fans can mingle with their heroes (who get an at-bat here and there) before heading to the golf courses to play a few rounds in the warmth of the desert or Sunshine State.
Spring training is always special for the snowbirds of Florida in the stands cheering for their beloved Yankees or Red Sox while their friends, family and old neighbors are busy shoveling snow in the Northeast.
Like NFL preseason games, these tilts are often anything but must-see TV, as they feature split squads and a wealth of aspiring big leaguers. Many tune in to enjoy, however, and gamblers are also able to place a few bets if they’re so inclined. But spring training is truly a magical time because baseball signals the coming of warm weather and good times.
So while we appreciate the preseason, let’s take a look at a few of the storylines that could unfold over the next several months once the regular season begins.
We’ll start in Texas, where the Rangers won it all for the first time in 2023 after Bruce Bochy came out of retirement to help the club engineer one of the biggest one-year turnarounds in the history of American sports. Look for the Rangers and Lone Star State rival Houston to battle for supremacy in the American League West, as the A’s are just counting the days until they join the Raiders in Las Vegas.
Seattle could also be a factor there, but the Angels (under new manager Ron Washington) will continue their seeming eternal rebuild since winning the World Series in 2002. Los Angeles still has Mike Trout, one of the game’s best players when he’s in the lineup, but he can never seem to stay healthy for a full season. With Shohei Ohtani now in downtown LA with the Dodgers, it’s going to be a long year for fans of Orange County’s resident big-league franchise.
Moving up Interstate 5, the Dodgers are likely going to win the NL West after adding Ohtani to an already loaded roster. After undergoing elbow surgery in the offseason, he won’t pitch in 2024, but his bat will add some punch for the team, which is notorious for choking in the postseason because Dave Roberts hasn’t adequately managed his pitching staff.
Defending NL champ Arizona and San Diego, with its fat payroll, look to be the Dodgers’ biggest competition this year. San Francisco could make some noise, but the Rockies will be out of contention by May, as per usual.
In the NL East, money won’t buy happiness for the Mets. Look for the Braves to be the team to beat again (at least in the regular season). The Phillies will probably be in the mix for a division title if they can avoid one of their trademark prolonged slumps. Miami also made big strides under first-year manager Skip Schumaker, a former player for the Tennessee Smokies.
In the NL Central, Milwaukee, despite losing some talent from its roster, will look to be the top team again, but a young and enthralling Cincinnati team will aim to keep pace and challenge the Brewers for the division. The Cubs and St. Louis were both bland in free agency but will look to be factors after struggling last season.
The AL East will again be the toughest division, as defending champion Baltimore added another strong arm in Corbin Burnes, who won the 2021 NL Cy Young Award with the Brewers as their pitching ace. The Orioles will hope he can be the final lynchpin in a squad brimming with youthful talent.
Toronto, the Red Sox, and the Yankees all revamped their respective rosters a bit. Boston and New York were big disappointments last year and were at home in October, while Tampa Bay and the Blue Jays made the playoffs along with the Orioles. The Yankees added Marcus Stroman to a pitching staff that includes 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole.
In the AL Central, only division winner Minnesota had a winning record last campaign. The Twins again will be the favorites, as Detroit, Cleveland, the White Sox and Kansas City will all likely be mediocre at best.
For now, though, everybody heads into spring training with hope, so let’s play ball. Spring training games begin on Feb. 22, with the regular season slated to start with a two-game series between the Dodgers and Padres in Seoul, South Korea, March 20-21, and Opening Day taking place on March 28.
ken@blanknews.com
