By: Scott Polacek
It is time for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training. There may not be a better sentence in all of sports. In fact, it is the sports fan’s version of Punxsutawney Phil – the lovable groundhog who signals to the nation that spring is right around the corner (and someone we here at DWYD are all too familiar with).
In honor of the official start of sport’s spring, here are nine storylines to keep an eye out for during spring training and the upcoming season. Of course, I could have been conventional and done ten, but think of it as a storyline for each position on the baseball diamond (actually I was too lazy to do ten. Don’t tell anyone).
1. How will the Angels’ new superstars fare?
It’s not every day that the best player in an entire league changes teams (I was under the impression that when it does actually happen, it is supposed to be a drawn out ESPN publicity stunt that leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth). Albert Pujols is taking his talents to California after signing a ten year contract for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (yes, I did want to type that name all out). Some may wonder how Albert is going to adjust to the American League, but I’m more interested in learning how many souvenirs $240 million can buy at Disney Land. My guess is two shirts and a stuffed Mickey. The Angels also signed ace C.J. Wilson away from the rival Rangers, making the AL West Anaheim’s to lose.
2. Will the new look Marlins compete in the loaded NL East?
The Miami Marlins did more than swap the Florida for Miami over the offseason. The team changed its uniforms, hired Ozzie Guillen as manager, signed superstar shortstop Jose Reyes and pitcher Carlos Zambrano, and will move into a new stadium this year. The NL East, led by the Phillies and the Braves, may be the best division in baseball, so it won’t be easy for Miami to crack the playoffs. Either way, there remain two looming questions surrounding the Marlins. Will the Gatorade coolers put up more of a fight against Zambrano than those in Chicago did, and will there be more than 30 fans in the shiny new seats for any of the home games?
3. Will the Boston Red Sox bounce back from their incredible collapse last year?
The Red Sox, with their endless payroll and noticeable home field advantage, are always among the favorites heading into the season. However, after completely collapsing down the stretch last year, and losing their general manager and coach in the process, there may be some additional pressure put on the team from Red Sox Nation this time around. Bobby Valentine, fresh off a stint in the Japanese league, takes over the squad and will probably crack down on the alcohol consumption in the locker room during games (just a guess). What’s more, the Red Sox will have another year to close the ever-shrinking gap between themselves and the Yankees for the most hateable team.
4. Can 49-year-old Jamie Moyer make the Colorado Rockies’ roster?
It would just be too easy to make old man jokes here, so I’m not going to even try. I am genuinely cheering for him to make the team, mainly because I think it is amusing that someone who is almost 50 can bounce back from Tommy John surgery and play in the major leagues, while Albert Haynesworth can’t even complete a preseason conditioning test for the Washington Redskins.
5. How will Ryan Braun – coming off an MVP season and performing enhancing drug controversy – handle the scrutiny that will follow him?
This story is just getting weird now. First Braun was suspended for the season’s first 50 games, and now he isn’t. There was a successful appeal and perhaps some type of fraud involved, and I just don’t really know what to think at this point. All I know is Braun will not have Prince Fielder to protect him in the lineup in a year where Braun will constantly be in the spotlight.
6. Will the MLB officially change its postseason, and will commissioner Bud Selig even let everyone know about it if it does?
Baseball has talked about expanding its playoff system and probably will. There will be five teams instead of the traditional four to qualify for the playoffs in each league, and the effects will certainly be felt across the league. In a sport where there are 162 regular season games and only a handful of playoff games, I welcome the change. Not that Padres versus Astros on a Tuesday night in August isn’t exciting, but the more games that will a have playoff atmosphere, the better it is for baseball.
7. Everyone will report to spring training in the best shape of his life.
This isn’t even a question. It is a guarantee that every team’s official website will publish at least two stories this spring talking about how player X and player Y took the entire winter to get in shape and is ready to step up this year. Fantasy baseball players and fans alike will overreact, which will ultimately result in disappointment. And then they will get roped in by the same storyline next year.
8. The Yankees
It is actually written in the Constitution that every baseball preview article ever written must talk about the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have a plethora of pitching and will take the spring to sort out their rotation and various options. The real pressing issue, however, is whether Derek Jeter will continue to provide his dates with signed memorabilia after they spend the night. Some may call this arrogant, but I think it is hilarious. Arrogant is hanging pictures of yourself as a centaur (I’m looking at you A-Rod). Providing your dates with your own signed memorabilia? Nobody else but Jeter could pull this off. Just another reason he is better at life than you and me.
9. And finally, will the Chicago Cubs break their 104 year World Series drought?
I’m fairly certain global warming has once again prevented hell from freezing over. Oh well, I guess there’s always next year. And remember, it isn’t the lack of talent on the roster that is to blame. It’s a damn goat.
16 posts, end of quarter?
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