Thursday, February 18, 2010

What to Expect from Early Spring Training

Not much happens in terms of baseball news when camp opens up. In fact, so little has happened that Yankees camp coverage so far has focused on the lack of things happening (i.e. no PED related press conference). I figured I'd take a moment and give you a primer on what you can expect for the next few weeks.

Pitchers will continue to throw bullpens and say they want to win another championship. They will all be in the best shape ever because every baseball player is in the best shape ever come the opening of camp. Players never show up and say, "I really let myself go this winter, I don't even care anymore."

Then the position players will show up and Jeter will hold his annual first day of spring training press junket. You can expect to hear the following things: 1. Jeter wants to win again. 2. Jeter is not concerned about his next contract, he's focused on winning, that will resolve itself later. 3. Jeter is not engaged. Jeter could be happily married with seven kids and he still will not admit to being engaged. 4. Jeter likes the new additions and the team's 2010 chances.

The rest of the coverage will focus on Hughes v. Joba, Granderson v. Gardner (in center), Granderson v. Johnson (in the two hole), and the occasional 'will Javy fare better this time around.' There is nothing else to talk about, and unless some unforeseen controversy pops up, the next couple weeks of coverage will be aimless repetitions of the above. At least they're back at camp, however, and we can finally stop pretending that we watch the Super Bowl for something other than the commercials.

12 comments:

cheshirecat said...

Excellent prognosticating. I think you are totally right. And yet I will still be checking the LoHud Yankee blog three times a day hoping for some news.

lady gaganonymous said...

It took a whole 28 minutes for someone to ask Girardi, at his press conference, about A-Rod! It's a new season, baby!

Rich Mahogany said...

A boring spring training is often a good sign. I don't miss discussion of the crazy conditioning coach who caused 20 players to tear their hamstrings within the first month of the season, diatribes about ARod murdering baseball history, or discussion about Angel Berroa being 146 years old.

Clint said...

Off the topic question. Do you think the other seasons have to go through Training such as Spring does? I personally think Winter would come up fairly short in this.

Rich Mahogany said...

Spring is traditionally the most unprepared season.

There is a thread on fangraphs.com collecting all the "Player X has shown up for Spring Training in the best shape of his life and with a renewed interest in baseball" articles. Entertaining stuff.

lady gaganonymous said...

MARIANO!!!!
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100218/capt.24cc83f34e4b4052bb136b84a8531d2d.yankees_spring_baseball_flkw115.jpg
Okay, now I'm excited.

Rich Mahogany said...

I could not get your link to work LG, but I am excited nonetheless.

Word verification: flatho

Roberto E. Alejandro said...

Rich, click here for the link

Rich Mahogany said...

Thanks. I hope that when Rivera retires, ten years from now, he stays on with the team as a coach so we can keep seeing pictures like this.

Anonymous said...

Thanks! Now, you know whose picture is on my desktop.

lady gaganonymous said...

here's a better picture for your desktop:
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100218/capt.c4583051d01a4816ad336d4548edd8e4.yankees_spring_baseball_flkw101.jpg

I hope it works. But he looks like a superhero here, or like he's in one of those old-time baseball pictures you see.

Re: the other Mo picture - I hope they bring back the bullpen golf cart.

lady gaganonymous said...

AAAH because these never seem to work, I will separate it into separate lines:

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100218/capt.c4583051d01a4816a
d336d4548edd8e4.
yankees_spring_baseball_flkw101.jpg

if you copy & paste that altogether, then put it in your browser, that's the picture I was trying to link to. Yeah.

Also, I think AJ is rocking the high socks this year from what I've seen. YES. Andy needs to bring the high socks back...