MLB training is the first sign of spring
I can feel it; spring is definitely in the air.
I don't know this because the groundhog saw his shadow last month, or because my calendar says so. I know spring is upon us because catchers and pitchers have reported to spring training.
As of late February, pitchers and catchers have checked in at various training facilities across Florida preparing for the upcoming Major League Baseball (MLB) season.
Currently, all position players have reported to their respected camps and are also getting geared for the long haul of another MLB season.
Besides the regular infield drills, wind sprints, and stretches some interesting events have occurred during MLB spring training including; Roger Clemens brushing back his son Koby Clemens while the elder Clemens was throwing batting practice to Houston Astro minor leaguers, and a bloated Barry Bonds doing an impression of Paula Abdul during an American idol skit at the San Francisco Giants camp.
One new thing this spring with MLB, besides Bonds' very disturbing appearance, is the holding of the first annual World Baseball Classic (WBC).
The WBC will include 16 teams competing in four groups from all over the world, and each squad will hope to gain world baseball supremacy by capturing the WBC crown.
With MLB being a continuously growing and global game, the WBC is an incredible tool to help further that process and expand the game of baseball around the world.
Canada will have an entry in the tournament and will compete in the same pool as the United States, Mexico, and South Africa.
Canada will be hard pressed to compete against the star studded United States team among others, however the Canadian squad will be led by some MLB players of their own including; Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis, and Kansas City Royals outfielder Matt Stairs.
Missing from the Canadian roster are former Cy Young award winner and Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, and Oakland Athletics ace Rich Harden. Both players have been recovering from injuries suffered last season, and are unable to represent Canada at the WBC.
Obviously the Canadian club would be much stronger with both Gagne and Harden on the team, but the Canadians are still looking forward to having a successful tournament, and will count on many players with previous international experience.
“Since we don't have a big pool of Canadian players to pull from they've all been involved in international play,” Canadian manager Ernie Whitt said on the WBC website.
“So we know the importance of winning one game at a time. That's the one thing you can say about the Canadian team.”
The Canadian team will feel the pressure to succeed especially after their Olympic men's hockey cousins were unable to scrape together a successful outing in Torino, Italy.
Regardless the outcome of the Canadian team during the WBC, it is still refreshing to know that the fresh smell of dandelions will soon be filling the air as spring is in the foreseeable future.
Comments? Email Aaron at llahnoraa@yahoo.ca
I don't know this because the groundhog saw his shadow last month, or because my calendar says so. I know spring is upon us because catchers and pitchers have reported to spring training.
As of late February, pitchers and catchers have checked in at various training facilities across Florida preparing for the upcoming Major League Baseball (MLB) season.
Currently, all position players have reported to their respected camps and are also getting geared for the long haul of another MLB season.
Besides the regular infield drills, wind sprints, and stretches some interesting events have occurred during MLB spring training including; Roger Clemens brushing back his son Koby Clemens while the elder Clemens was throwing batting practice to Houston Astro minor leaguers, and a bloated Barry Bonds doing an impression of Paula Abdul during an American idol skit at the San Francisco Giants camp.
One new thing this spring with MLB, besides Bonds' very disturbing appearance, is the holding of the first annual World Baseball Classic (WBC).
The WBC will include 16 teams competing in four groups from all over the world, and each squad will hope to gain world baseball supremacy by capturing the WBC crown.
With MLB being a continuously growing and global game, the WBC is an incredible tool to help further that process and expand the game of baseball around the world.
Canada will have an entry in the tournament and will compete in the same pool as the United States, Mexico, and South Africa.
Canada will be hard pressed to compete against the star studded United States team among others, however the Canadian squad will be led by some MLB players of their own including; Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis, and Kansas City Royals outfielder Matt Stairs.
Missing from the Canadian roster are former Cy Young award winner and Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, and Oakland Athletics ace Rich Harden. Both players have been recovering from injuries suffered last season, and are unable to represent Canada at the WBC.
Obviously the Canadian club would be much stronger with both Gagne and Harden on the team, but the Canadians are still looking forward to having a successful tournament, and will count on many players with previous international experience.
“Since we don't have a big pool of Canadian players to pull from they've all been involved in international play,” Canadian manager Ernie Whitt said on the WBC website.
“So we know the importance of winning one game at a time. That's the one thing you can say about the Canadian team.”
The Canadian team will feel the pressure to succeed especially after their Olympic men's hockey cousins were unable to scrape together a successful outing in Torino, Italy.
Regardless the outcome of the Canadian team during the WBC, it is still refreshing to know that the fresh smell of dandelions will soon be filling the air as spring is in the foreseeable future.
Comments? Email Aaron at llahnoraa@yahoo.ca
