How Many Days Until Spring Training?

I'm finally back after an extended absence. In the future I want to weigh in the Host Stove League and the salaries that are seemingly out of control again.

When you're a sub .500 career pitcher and you're getting a $40 million contract, you're going to have a lot of extra money for the game room. Hopefully, guys like Ted Lilly will get the deluxe air hockey table.

The Coolest Thing About Spring Training

Almost overlooked when people take a vacation to Spring Training to visit their favorite team: for most teams, the public has access to the practice field complex. This is a lot of fun in late February before the exhibition games start, as you can watch your team actually go through drills (pop up drills are actually funny to watch sometimes). One thing most people overlook is, once the games start in March, there are usually minor league exhibition games that take place on the practice fields. Oftentimes, major league players will play in these games just to get extra work in. And being that these games are on practice fields, there is virtually nobody there watching, except for a few fans in the know, organizational people, and yes, family members of some of the minor league players.

If you ever plan a Spring Training vacation, do not overlook this great opportunity to see major league players up close and personal.

Autographs

I've always noticed something about Spring Training but I've never written about it. Before the game the established players are into their routines (stretching, throwing, etc.), while the younger non-established players who will probably start the year in the minors wind up signing all the sutographs. This just might be the protocol established by the veteran players, and the minor league guys don't mind signing, as it undoubtedly helps their drive and focus to make the Majors.

The fans don't mind. Heck, as long as a guy is wearing a uniform, fans want the autograph. With some people, they'll even ask for batboy's autograph.

Speaking of batboys, when I was little my brother had me convinced that the batboy was Batman's son.

Radio: The Forgotten Art Form

Baseball and radio. They go together so well. But a whole generation of fans has accepted baseball on the radio only as a last resort.

Everyone wants to watch the game in high def on the big screen.

Do yourself a favor. Listen to Vin Scully broadcast a game sometime on the Dodger radio network. Vin works alone, and yet he is never at a loss for words. Close your eyes, and his words will take you to the ballpark. Really, you'll actually see it in your mind! Try it some time.

That's why I always loved Harry Caray. He would talk about the people at the ballpark. Many times, they were more interesting than the game!

Rites of Spring

It's February and Spring Training is just about here. If you are in Arizona or Florida and like baseball you need to get to a game or two. Or, if you don't live in Arizona or Florida and love baseball, consider taking a vacation in March to see a few games.

Spring Training is unique in that, except for the players that are fighting very hard for a roster spot, the players are more relaxed and interact more with the fans. You'll see players signing more autographs and talking with fans, even during the game, than you would ever see in a regular season game.

Don't get too wrapped up in the game, because it doesn't really matter. Just have fun!

Breakfast Baseball?

I remember attending a morning baseball game at Comiskey in 1976. The game started at 10 am and the thing I remember most is how lackluster the players seemed to be playing. It wasn't until years later that I heard one of the players was quoted as saying, "Morning baseball? I'm still drunk from last night!"

Needlessto say, morning baseball was a flop.

An 8-Year-Old's Summer

Back in the early 70s, we hadn't video games, computers, or cable TV to compete for our free time. My typical summer day went like this:

-- Wake up at 8 o'clock
-- Eat breakfast
-- Run up to the local park (three blocks away) to meet the neighborhood kids
-- Play baseball for the rest of the morning
-- Come home for lunch and watch Bozo.
-- Watch the Cubs on WGN (before it was a Superstation), beginning with "Lead Off Man" ("Hey, hey, there's one over the fence. Tru Link fence!). The players the Cubs had at that time were great: Jenkins, Hundley, Santo, Kessinger, Beckert, Williams. And Carmen Fanzone and Paul Popovich. All guys I remember watching and admiring. Yet, being a White Sox fan, I rooted for them to lose.
-- After the game, go out and play in the street, usually "running bases," or perhaps sit on the sidewalk and trade baseball cards with friends. Why did I have eight Joe Lovittos in 1973?
-- Have dinner
-- After dinner, sit down with my Dad and watch the White Sox.
-- Off to bed, with plans to do the same thing the next day.