March 22, 2008 - Doesn't this seem to be the toughest time of year? Spring hasn't exactly sprung yet, DST throws off your sleep rhythms, and baseball has been just out of reach for what seems to be an eternity. And this year is riddled with its own oddities.
Teams have picked up from their normal Spring Training sites to play across the country or across the globe. This was also the last year for Dodgertown in Vero Beach, where the Dodgers have been for 61 years. To top it off, this year's "Opening Day" is in Japan.
Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time getting excited about that last point. I understand why MLB is trying to encourage the globalization baseball. Why not? When you are riding high on the greatest number of visitors to games and baseball stadiums ever, why not try to capitalize on the popularity? I would prefer that it would be through exhibition games in the off season with the regular season played at home.
But maybe that's just me. Maybe it's just my attitude this time of year. I'm sure that I'll forget all about it in 9 days when the first pitch is thrown at home and my TV and XM radio have baseball games on them everyday. I'm sure that as soon as I'm on one of my baseball trips that I won't even be thinking of the off season.
I don't know about you, but I can't wait...
Teams have picked up from their normal Spring Training sites to play across the country or across the globe. This was also the last year for Dodgertown in Vero Beach, where the Dodgers have been for 61 years. To top it off, this year's "Opening Day" is in Japan.
Admittedly, I'm having a difficult time getting excited about that last point. I understand why MLB is trying to encourage the globalization baseball. Why not? When you are riding high on the greatest number of visitors to games and baseball stadiums ever, why not try to capitalize on the popularity? I would prefer that it would be through exhibition games in the off season with the regular season played at home.
But maybe that's just me. Maybe it's just my attitude this time of year. I'm sure that I'll forget all about it in 9 days when the first pitch is thrown at home and my TV and XM radio have baseball games on them everyday. I'm sure that as soon as I'm on one of my baseball trips that I won't even be thinking of the off season.
I don't know about you, but I can't wait...