On Pitchers & Catchers
by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 11, 2012 6:39 PM PST
in Miscellaneous
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PrintPopular way to refer to occasion:
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
Not popular way to refer to occasion:
Pitchers and catchers have entire bodies physically examined.
Very unpopular way to refer to occasion:
Mariners insist that Felix Hernandez sees doctor.
I don't intend to bury Matthew's post below, nor do I feel like a whole lot has to be said about today anyway. Mariners pitchers and catchers are in Arizona, and today they got looked at. All of them were presumably given a clean bill of health. Maybe one of them was given a clean bill of health and has tuberculosis. Doctors don't know everything. Soon, pitchers will pitch to catchers. Some other position players are already in Arizona, too, and they've been doing position player-y things.
I don't think the day that pitchers and catchers report to spring training ought to be a holiday, like so many people say they do. I'm guessing those people are only half-serious. The day that pitchers and catchers report does not mark the return of baseball. There will not be baseball tomorrow. There will not be baseball in a week. There will not be baseball, the way we want there to be baseball.
But I think what this day stands for is the return to thinking about baseball in terms of the day-to-day. It's still the offseason, in that it isn't the season, but we're not thinking about big roster moves. We're not thinking about trade options, or how the Mariners might look in 2014, or anything like that. It's time we start thinking about the day's events, and what they might mean for tomorrow's events.
Welcome back to the routine. It's probably going to take you a little while to adjust. It's kind of spring training for everybody.
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The reason it is semi-exciting to me...
is that now I am not going to be the only person I know who is following Mariners and MLB news every day. Which will lead to more intelligent bar conversations, instead of me just talking lineup structure and trade possibilities to brick walls.
Nothing will change for me
I still click USSM and LL about 4 times a day in the offseason.
by ColeFitz88 on Feb 11, 2012 7:43 PM PST reply actions 12 recs
It may not be baseball yet but it's not nothing
My heart raced a little when I realized a bunch of Mariners reported to camp today and one of them is named Jesus Montero…
.
Some other position players are already in Arizona, too, and they’ve been doing position player-y things.
Is Chone there practicing keeping the bench warm?
by ToddK on Feb 11, 2012 9:05 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
.
It’s kind of spring training for everybody.
I’d like to take this moment to inform everyone that I’ve added 10lbs over the winter and am now in the best shape I’ll be in for the rest of my life.
by Bearskin Rugburn on Feb 11, 2012 9:15 PM PST reply actions 19 recs
Awesomesauce!
Tell us your secrets.
Don't be an idiot. If an idiot would do that, then don't do it. Muahahahaaha back on twitter
I have lost five pounds.
But it’s muscle mass and I’m suffering heavily from the aging curve and while I am in the best shape I’ll be in for the rest of my life, that’s not saying much…. But, Baseball!
I miss Hyphen.
I hope he pans out and sticks a while with the Astros, so that starting next year we’ll see him a bit more in our division.
Yeah
The Chicago Cubs and pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith have agreed to a minor league contract, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. Rowland-Smith didn’t pitch in the majors in 2011, but he appeared consistently with the Seattle Mariners from 2007-2010.
by ThundaPC on Feb 12, 2012 10:16 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I noticed that too. Maybe pitchers in AAA have a little too much time on their hands
Also, the Perth Heat? I loved Perth, but really? By Australian standards, it doesn’t even get that hot there. C’mon, you guys missed a golden opportunity to be the Quokkas!
Ladies and gentlemen,
I’ve found our new hockey team name.
by Two Rs and Two Ls on Feb 12, 2012 2:48 PM PST up reply actions
Perth is one of the hotter capitals.
In fact it’s probably the hottest outside of Darwin.
by Aussie Mariner on Feb 12, 2012 3:07 PM PST up reply actions
Wow, I stand corrected
It was quite beautiful when I was there. But I guess that was a little later in February (I was hanging around waiting for the coral to spawn up at Exmouth / Nigaloo)
And all is right in the world of cricket
Aussie winning again, England losing again.
Profundity
I’ve long pondered why people find this so significant. The conclusion I’ve come to is that it isn’t about the event itself; but its what the event signifies. Like the leaves turning color in fall, its a signal testifying that a change in season is coming. P’s & C’s reporting is a signpost along the way to warmer weather, longer days, sunnier skies, and yes the daily hitting of balls with bats. As winter creeps through its dark and damp ways, this is something people can cling to as a change and something new – an affirmation that time has past and better things days are ahead. Its not just about baseball, its about the progression of nature and of life.
The sun is the same, iIn a relative way.
But you’re older. Shorter of breath.
And one day closer to death.
But meanwhile, there’s baseball. Which is another word for hope.
by J0SER on Feb 12, 2012 11:34 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
baeball BaseBall BASEBALL!!!
Of course this is the specimen jar part of training, but it begins the joy of baseball thinking and the optimism of playoff hopes despite all numerical projections. These are the times we hope for. First Place. Right now Felix is discussing throwing a ball to Jesus (our Jesus not the other one). Ahhh spring training.
When it's really spring, will everything turn green?
by Two Rs and Two Ls on Feb 12, 2012 2:48 PM PST reply actions
It used to take five times for that to happen, but that was judged too easy and they raised the standard to ten.
How come you can do all this other great shit, but you can't lie the fuck down and sleep?
by JAH on Feb 12, 2012 4:13 PM PST up reply actions 11 recs
Only if 10 people rec it.
...and now I'm here
Holy crap how did I not see the above comment,
I swear it was not there when I typed it. Sorry
...and now I'm here
"It's kind of spring training for everybody."
So you’re saying there’s going to be cuts before we start the season? I hope I don’t get sent down to minor-LLeague camp.
by Eyebrows on Feb 13, 2012 3:18 PM PST via mobile reply actions
It's not the end of your career
Think of it as developing your key stroke.
by datboyeddiep on Feb 14, 2012 7:25 AM PST up reply actions
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