Pitchers and catchers reported today! So even though it's currently 10 degrees in my back yard, with a wind chill of -5 and an overnight low of zippo, Spring Training is here. Still, my excitement is somewhat subdued. After all, the next two weeks are nothing but practice and bland jargon-filled quotes from players and coaches. Then there's a full month of exhibition games with no stakes whatsoever. The bulk of the playing time will go to minor leaguers and retread veterans - the Jimmy Myers types. He was the "other Myers" on the 1996 Orioles, a ten-year minor league journeyman who inexplicably made the big league bullpen on Opening Day. The 27-year-old righty was scored upon in seven of his 11 regular-season appearances, including eight runs in his final two and one-third innings. That left him with a 7.07 ERA, a 1.5 WHIP, and a ticket back to Rochester. He'd hang around with various AAA clubs through the 1999 season, never returning to the majors.
What was I saying? Oh yeah...Spring Training! Think warm thoughts.
