The Rites of Spring

Last year it was Albert Pujols. This year it’s Josh Hamilton. Spring training has become less about baseball, getting into shape and who is the latest phenom and more about contract extensions. I’m not a fan of public negotiations or players handing out what they think are tantalizing tidbits about home town discounts and how “I’d love to stay with the Texas Two Steps my whole career.” Sorry. Until you sign the contract, I’m not buying.

Signing the contract is exactly what Ryan Zimmerman did yesterday, agreeing to a six year $100 million deal with the Nationals. No drama, no “I’d love to stay here if they show me that they want me” malarkey. In fact, Ryan Zimmerman didn’t say anything. One day the Nats G.M., Mike Rizzo, said they were close to signing a contract and the next day they did. Just a few “face of the franchises” and they were done.

So Josh, spare us the “my family loves it here”, put on your glove and get ready to play baseball. The rest is just blather.

Spring 2012

It’s insidious this start of baseball every February. It starts with the rumblings of pitchers and catchers report in a week. Next thing you know there’s actually baseball news in the sports pages every day. Soon, you’re checking to see whose elbow is sore after throwing and who strained his left oblique. Then it’s who signed a contract extension and who’s still waiting for a visa in the D.R.

And before you know it, baseball is back. You’re filling out your brackets and watching the crocus’ poke out of the soil but what you’re really thinking is: when’s the first spring training game and which free agent signing is going to be the biggest bust this year.


Can Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols possibly be worth what they’ll be paid? Will the Washington Nationals actually be good? Can Manny be Manny in Oakland? Is a new home, a new manager and a new shortstop the winning formula in Miami? Will Buster Posey really not block the plate? Don’t know. Batter up!