“Don’t tell me about the world. Not today. It’s springtime and they’re knocking a baseball around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball.” ~ Pete Hamill, Long-time columnist for the New York Daily News.
How I love these four magic words, “Pitchers and Catchers Report”. Does it get any better than that? I think not.
(Found on the internet. Assuming Public Domain.)
I’m sitting in Lockport, Illinois. It’s unseasonably warm for February in the Midwest. A balmy 56 degrees (but with an 18-mph wind that chills it a bit), and I know this won’t last. But I also know that once the Dodgers’ pitchers and catchers take the field at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona a chain of events begin, and nothing can stop them. Baseball will be BACK.
The 9th of February is a little earlier than reporting normally would start, but the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres will play a two-game series to open the 2024 MLB season with the “Seoul Series” in South Korea. (Not a fan of these type “starts”). The games are scheduled for Wednesday, March 20th, and Thursday, the 21st, afterwards the teams will travel back to Arizona to finish their camps; so, these two teams are beginning their spring training early. The rest of the teams open their regular season on Thursday, March 28th, and with that, the joyous journey of the 162-game season unfolds.
The reporting schedule looks like this.
Arizona Cactus League:
Arizona Diamondbacks:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Chicago Cubs:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Chicago White Sox:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Cincinnati Reds:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Cleveland Guardians:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Colorado Rockies:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Kansas City Royals:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Los Angeles Angels:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Los Angeles Dodgers:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Friday, February 9th
Position players report date: Wednesday, February 14th
Milwaukee Brewers:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Oakland Athletics:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
San Diego Padres:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Sunday, February 11th
Position players report date: Friday, February 16th
San Francisco Giants:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Seattle Mariners:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Texas Rangers:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Florida Grapefruit League:
Atlanta Braves:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Baltimore Orioles:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Boston Red Sox:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Detroit Tigers:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Houston Astros:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Miami Marlins:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Minnesota Twins:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
New York Mets:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
New York Yankees:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Philadelphia Phillies:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Pittsburgh Pirates:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Saint Louis Cardinals:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Tampa Bay Rays:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Toronto Blue Jays:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 15th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 20th
Washington Nationals:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 14th
Position players report date: Monday, February 19th
Players may downplay the “rites of spring”, but even though they now (mostly) report to camp in great shape, they still need to go through the drills. Fielding, throwing, hitting, baserunning, interacting with each other, just preparing. And we, the fans, need this “rite” as well. We need to let the warmth of the reporting of baseball enter our minds again. We need to hear, see, and let baseball come alive again. We need to experience the magic which will occur.
There is no doubt in my mind that there are still single-digit temperatures and wind chills in my near future. Spring in the Midwest is a few weeks off yet, that’s a reality. But my heart is warmed, my enthusiasm high, my anticipation has peaked, and all is right in my world. Baseball Spring Training has begun.
Spring is the time that the weather gets warmer, we gradually have more daylight, flowers bloom, the grass grows, and life begins again. Spring is also the time that baseball begins. A coincidence, not in my mind.
Enjoy…
~ Coach Mike
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Hallelujah! And thanks for including the listing of teams who train in Florida and Arizona. I don’t think I’ve seen that listing recently.
Love spring and your warm sunshine thoughts☀️ Your enthusiasm and love of baseball makes for a feel good wonderful outlook🤩