A deep miserable freeze has most of North America shivering in bitterness. But there is good news. Opening day is just 39 days away.
It’s time for thinking of checkerboard green grass, the green monster of Fenway, the ivy walls of Wrigley, the palm trees of Dodger Stadium, the stately façade of Yankee Stadium, and the sparking crown and fountains of Kauffman Stadium. The crack of the bat, pop of the glove, and roar of the crowd beckons.
Pitchers and catchers have reported. Preparation for one of the most highly anticipated seasons in Major League Baseball history is underway. There are a multitude of things to look forward in this new era in which more teams are haves rather than have nots.
There has not been a better time to be a baseball fan and we are on the cusp of a season that should go down in history as one of the best. The hot stove league has revived the hopes of such teams as the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, and Seattle Mariners.
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It would be great to see the Padres live up to the hype as they have captivated their once apathetic fan base in a way that has not been seen in 30 years. Petco Park may finally have crowds that match its beauty.
Kansas City Royals fans are still basking in the glow of their first playoff berth in 29 years that ended in a thrilling seven game World Series defeat that could not take away the luster of a magical Cinderella ride.
Royals ride demonstrated the greatness of this new era of parity. The baseball playoffs are now a crap shoot, much like March Madness, in which upsets are the norm and anyone can go on a run. While the game still has the stigma of being imbalanced towards large market teams, the fact is that baseball has a parity that the National Football League would love to rival.
With this new era of parity the New York Yankees face the prospect of actually having to develop their way to success. Their roster has aged and the expectations of a World Series are based much more on the past than the realities of today.
Old standby teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers are again looking primed for deep post season runs. They remind us of the majestic history and tradition of the game. Cardinal pitcher Adam Wainwright and Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw are illustrative of this new and improved era of better pitching were runs are no longer cheap. Wainwright and Kershaw also take us back to the past in that they connect to the Cardinals and Dodgers generational tradition of strong pitching.
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue their resurgence as a franchise. With one of the most picturesque settings in sports at PNC Park with its view of the city skyline, the Pirates finally have a team that is befitting of such a perfect park. Andrew McCutchen continues his emergence as a top centerfielder and leader. For fans that remember the Lumber Company glory days of Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, it’s a truly rewarding time.
The Cubs look like they are ready to end their days as lovable losers and make a serious run at becoming a perennial winner. With the arrival of top notch pitcher Jon Lester and the best manager in the game in Joe Maddon, there is a true sense that the misery of this franchise is soon to be forgotten. A newly refurbished Wrigley Field only serves to add to the excitement.
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Savor While you Can
The 87-year-old Vin Scully returns to call another season of Los Angeles Dodgers games, mostly at home, with a road games close to home as well.
Scully does something unique that nobody else even tries to emulate. He calls the actual game and he ties stories to the actual game. Scully refrains from sports bar talk idiocy that far too often make the mute button the most valuable player for a baseball fan watching on TV. Scully calls the entire game alone and is as strong as ever.
Nothing lasts forever, however, and it would be wise to make time to hear him call a game while you still can. With the Dodgers as a top contender, it will only serve to enhance Scully’s call of a game that is unrivaled in sports.
It may be cold, but thoughts of Scully calling a game with Nancy Bea on the organ in the background with the backdrop of beautiful Dodger Stadium completing the picture, the temperature begins to rapidly rise.
