Popular 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.
0 recs | 37 comments
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.
EricsLilHeros - February 11, 2012
Nothing will change for me
I still click USSM and LL about 4 times a day in the offseason.
ColeFitz88 - February 11, 2012
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…
glennpdx - February 11, 2012
And another is named Felix Hernandez.
harkening - February 11, 2012
Our entire franchise?
datboyeddiep - February 14, 2012
.
Is Chone there practicing keeping the bench warm?
ToddK - February 11, 2012
.
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.
Bearskin Rugburn - February 11, 2012
Awesomesauce!
Tell us your secrets.
RagingAlot - February 12, 2012
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!
kimalanus - February 12, 2012
Australian baseball on MLB network right now.
So there is baseball today!
Paul AB - February 12, 2012
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.
Chris_FB - February 12, 2012
Yeah
About that…
ThundaPC - February 12, 2012
Crap
Chris_FB - February 12, 2012
So when did Trevisbleckley start with the tattoos?
msb - February 12, 2012
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!
J0SER - February 12, 2012
Ladies and gentlemen,
I’ve found our new hockey team name.
Two Rs and Two Ls - February 12, 2012
You want the hockey team to be called the Perth Heat?
Easley - February 12, 2012
Perth is one of the hotter capitals.
In fact it’s probably the hottest outside of Darwin.
Aussie Mariner - February 12, 2012
I ordered a film recently entitled PERTH.
ignacio - February 12, 2012
Agreed
It was 40 degrees (celsius) about 105 farenheit the other day during the cricket there.
aussie_chop - February 12, 2012
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)
J0SER - February 12, 2012
And all is right in the world of cricket
Aussie winning again, England losing again.
Henry H - February 12, 2012
Exactly
Always hot in Jan. Nice in the mornings though, head down to Trigg’s with the boys for a run and a bodysurf to start the day. Try that in the NW…
Henry H - February 12, 2012
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
yesthe 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.NWade - February 12, 2012
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.
J0SER - February 12, 2012
Hope?
I thought you were a Mariner fan…
ToddK - February 12, 2012
I'm also a baseball fan
I didn’t say “Mariners” was another word for hope.
J0SER - February 12, 2012
Fair enough.
What’s another word for “iln”?
ToddK - February 13, 2012
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.
Whoopetydoo - February 12, 2012
When it's really spring, will everything turn green?
Two Rs and Two Ls - February 12, 2012
It used to take five times for that to happen, but that was judged too easy and they raised the standard to ten.
JAH - February 12, 2012
Only if 10 people rec it.
CapSea - February 12, 2012
Holy crap how did I not see the above comment,
I swear it was not there when I typed it. Sorry
CapSea - February 12, 2012
...and then it was
cwel87 - February 12, 2012
"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.
Eyebrows - February 13, 2012 via mobile
It's not the end of your career
Think of it as developing your key stroke.
datboyeddiep - February 14, 2012
As long as you report to camp in the best shape of your life and give 110% you'll be fine
Go get ’em, kid
pdb - February 14, 2012
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