The Dark Days Are Done and the Bright Days Are Here

Today, we celebrate the three most beautiful words in the English language.

We welcome and embrace sweet sentiment and sappy romanticism. Our day and our minds reverberate with those three beautiful words. Today, they sound fresh and meaningful in a world that often feels frigid.

Pitchers and catchers.

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training today. The first official workout in Peoria is tomorrow. Position players report on Saturday, and the first full squad workouts begin Sunday.

We made it. Winter is over. Spring is here. Pitchers and catchers. Catchers and pitchers. You are back and our hearts are full. To you, in the tune of Sunny by Bobby Hebb, I dedicate this song:

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Pitchers, yesterday my life was filled with rain,

Pitchers, you appeared in spring and really eased the pain,

Now the dark days are done and baseball is here, with pitches opposing hitters will fear,

Pitchers, throw so true, I love you.

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Catchers, thank you for the sunshine bouquet,

Catchers, thank you for the glove you brought my way,

You gave to me springtime ball and now I feel like a fastball,

Catchers, frame so true, I love you.

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Pitchers, thank you for the awkward swings at curves,

Pitchers, thank you for the splitters in the dirt,

My life was torn like wind-blown sand then, a rock was formed in the palm of your hand,

Pitchers, throw so true, I love you.

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Catchers, thank you for controlling the game pace,

Mmm, catchers, thank you, thank you for the fouls you run down with grace,

You’re the spark of baseball’s fire, you’re the future manager a team desires,

Catchers, frame so true, yes, I love you.

Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

Pitchers, yesterday, oh, my life was filled with rain,

Catchers, you appeared in spring and really, really eased the pain,

Now the dark days are done and baseball is here, position players and real games are near,

Pitchers and catchers wearing blue, I love you.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

I love you.

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

I love you.

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

I love you.

Happy Pitchers and Catchers Day!