Today is a feast day of an entirely different sort. It is not a High Holy Day in the religious
calendar. But it is a great day for some
of us, nonetheless. “I love you” are
undoubtedly the most beautiful three words in our language. But today is a day for celebrating a most
wonderful four-word phrase:
Pitchers and catchers report.
It is the official opening day of Spring Training Camp (or
spring training camp, depending on how you feel about it) in Jupiter, Florida
for the St. Louis Cardinals. Other clubs
have their opening within three or four days either way of the Cardinals
date. The pitchers (needing a few days
to get limber before even soft-tossing to hitters) show up first. And, because they need someone to throw to,
the catchers report early as well. Before
long, position players will check in.
Then, exhibition games and before long – Opening Day.
The thing is, every year along about the end of the season,
I say, “I really invest too much emotion in this stuff. I need to back off. Next year, I will be much more the casual
fan.” And I convince myself of this through
about the middle of December. Then,
every year without fail, the fires start to burn again. This is especially true if my team has had a
good Hot Stove Season (making trades and signing contracts with
free-agents). So, once Groundhog Day
passes, I find myself waiting anxiously once again. Today is the day.
Pitchers and catchers report!
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