Spring Has Sprung!

Today I got to watch my first baseball game of the season on TV, and while it's still just Spring Training, I was happy as a pig in slop.  Best of all, I got to watch one of my favorite plays in baseball, which, when executed correctly, results in a double play.  Done poorly, and at least one guy will score.  With a man on base, the batter hits a deep fly ball to the outfield (in today's play it was to center field), the outfielder throws to the cut-off man (in this case it was the second baseman), and the cut-off man throws to the catcher to get the runner out at home.  Baseball nerds call it "executing the relay."  It's a basic and fundamental play, but often times the outfielder gets all cocky and full of himself, and thinks that he can throw to the catcher without hitting the cut-off man, which often times results in an overthrow and the ball ends up in some one's dugout.  Yes, players with cannon arms like Roberto Clemente and Kirby Puckett had the ability to throw from the outfield to home plate successfully, but those times are few and far between.  Nowadays, Ichiro Suzuki can get you out at the plate too, but coaches and managers get all nervous when outfielders try to do that, and they prefer that you hit the cut-off man.  If I ever become Commissioner of Baseball and you don't hit the cut-off man resulting in the other team scoring a run, I will fine you a hefty fine for being selfish and stupid.

I was happy to see Chipper Jones looking all healthy and happy today.  He hit a double, which even in his heyday would have still been a double.  It was strange not seeing Bobby Cox in the Braves' dugout; he retired last year after managing the Braves for about 75 years.  I wonder if Cuban-born Fredi Gonzalez will be as animated with the umpires as Bobby was.  Gonzalez was a catcher during his short Major League career, and I have always thought that catchers make the best managers.  Best of luck to Fredi!

In other results from today, the Cincinnati Reds shut out the Chicago Cubs 10-0.  Those poor Cubs!  Then the Yankees beat the Astros 10-8.  Not remarkable, except for the fact that the Yanks had 21 hits and the 'Stros had 17.  That's a LOT of men left on base!  I think even the team mascots each got a hit!  (Wait, do they even have mascots during Spring Training?  I'm thinking not.)

So Opening Day is less than a month away (25 days, to be exact)!  The weather here in Maryland is getting milder, the days are getting longer, and the crack of the bat will be here before you know it.  Have a great week, my friends, and may the baseball players in Florida and Arizona continue to play hard and stay healthy!