So now I come to the meat of this blog. It is February. The snow has melted. The air is getting warmer. And there is but one thing on my mind. The smell of pine tar and glove oil. Stale beer and peanuts. Fresh cut grass, watered down dirt, the crack of the bat and the pop of the glove. It is baseball preseason, and though the games are televised, it is not the names that we are used to seeing. It is the players of tomorrow and those who we may never hear from again. It's numbers that look more liked defensive lineman than pitchers and outfielders. But it is truly so much more than all of that. It is the first real sign that winter is on its way out, and Spring/Summer is right around the corner.
Personally, I love watching preseason games. I like seeing young prospects making their argument for a spot on the team. Most of them will be relegated back to a farm club, possibly never to see more than a cup of coffee with a big league club. But some of them, will shine. And when they do, I will be watching, breathing in every magical pitch, every unexpected soaring home run, and every dream come true for these young 20 somethings that if for nothing more than a twist of fate, would be sitting in a classroom or an office somewhere, leading a normal life.
The players we see in spring training are possibly the most electric players we will see in the season. Because they are truly playing for their lives, they leave it all out on the field...and THAT, is something to behold. So bring on the fastballs, curveballs, and change ups...bring on the hit and run, suicide squeeze, double steals, and inside the park home runs...bring on the diving catches and picture perfect double plays...some call it boring, I call it, the most pure and exciting game ever played. Bring on Baseball Season, and warmer days to come!
R.I.P. Duke Snider
1926-2011
