Spring Training records don’t matter, right up until the moment that they do. When things go badly for a team during Spring Training, it’s only spring. When a team or player shines under the Arizona/Florida sun, it’s great! It’s all deadly. Swing changes taking effect, players learning how to win, great evidence of organizational depth, the whole nine yards.
It’s all bunk, of course. Bunk. Trash. Hooey.
No. Well, that was easy. Enjoy your day!
It is not difficult to understand the Mariners quest of offense this winter. The M’s haven’t scored runs for years – due as much to a dearth of talent than the cavernous ballpark in which they play. Seattle’s front office wants runs and, after a slew of moves this winter, runs they shall have.
The Mariners doubled down on the offensive emphasis, bringing in countless DH/3B types in addition to changing the dimensions of their picturesque stadium. The goal was a team able to bang with their division rivals in LA and Texas, two prolific offenses. Early on during Spring Training, the results are pretty good.
Seattle is killing the ball during the early days of Spring Training, hitting multiple home runs in eight straight Cactus League games. Totally 25 home runs through just 12 games, they have the best fake offense during the ongoing fake baseball season. Mission accomplished! The Mariners are fixed!
Whether it’s David Price slamming the New York Yankees facial hair policy or Josh Reddick (pictured above) engaging in a “beard-off” with a rassler, beards are a hot item in baseball right now. Maybe it’s just that spring training is a long, dull drag and we’re all far too easily amused. Whatever the case, beards are rad and there’s a number of Major Leaguers sporting significant growth right now.
Here’s a look at several manes that currently have the attention of beard enthusiasts:
Domonic Brown‘s prospect trajectory could easily be classified as “tragic.” From can’t miss to can’t hit to can’t get a break, what the Phillies plan to do with their former top prospect — one they wouldn’t part with in any potential Roy Halladay trade — is anyone’s guess. This is a team which signed Delmon Young in the off-season, for the love of everything holy!
Watching Brown’s smooth stroke take Zach Nuding over the batters’ eye in center makes it seem like anything is possible for the lanky outfielder.
It also, convinently, points out a terrific wrinkle added by Baseball Reference today. You can now check out Spring Training stats on anybody’s BR page with a key feature: quality of opposition. Not all spring stats are created equal, so the geniuses at Baseball Reference grade the quality of the opposition. The stats are, unfortunately, not historical but will be kept from this day forward.
A decent reminder that Zach Nuding is not Yu Darvish. Nuding hasn’t pitched about high-A yet so, while he might be good one day, he isn’t quite good yet. Dom Brown hitting glorified BP homers is not nothing but it ain’t quite something either.
Shadows hide the extra chins.
When Mike Trout reported to Spring Training, ready to follow-up one of the finest all-around seasons in baseball history, he did so carrying a few extra pounds. Because he just came off one of the finest seasons in baseball history, everybody sort of freaked out.
There were a typical amount of jokes and jibes and fantasy lunatics worried about his stolen base totals. While Trout tried to downplay his weight-gain, it still attracted a great deal of undue attention. Which it certainly does not deserve.
Like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, there is no spring tradition quite like the veteran supernova. At each and every Spring Training facility across baseball lurks the great story of a career minor leaguer, waiting for his chance to fulfil a dream by reaching the big leagues.
While camps are lousy with players like this, it is the rare breed who catches fire for a few weeks and attracts all manner of spring attention. Spring Training is essentially a information-less vacuum by the second week of March. Beat writers are like nature, they abhor a vacuum. Into this void goes the upbeat story of the plucky underdog for whom everything goes right one spring.
For the Braves — more specifically, Atlanta Journal-Constitution beat writer Dave O’Brien — their great spring hope is Evan Gattis.
It’s only the first game of Spring Training…and it is more baseball audio through you computer or device of choice but it counts! The Grapefruit and Cactus League schedules kick off today with games! Games between teams!
Some clubs are still working through the split squad/local junior college sacrifice stage of the spring sked but today, real baseball! Well, the Reds/Cleveland game is a “charity” game but you, baseball junkie, should not look your own charitable gifts in the mouth. Or something.
Rick Porcello pitches against his spirit animal Tim Hudson today in Lakeland, Florida. Craig Kimbrell pitches today so, hey, strikeouts! Derek Holland pitches for the Rangers ahead of the World Baseball Classic, with rotation contender (and energetic dude) Robbie Ross following him at some point today.
Baseball(lite)! Baseball (sort of)! Baseball! We’ve waited oh so long.
Dustin Parkes, Andrew Stoeten, Scott Lewis, Craig Robinson, Matt Klaassen, Eno Sarris, Riley Breckenridge
