Deadspin: spring training

A Lot Of Old, Unemployed Ballplayers

Leitch — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:35:31 EST

The question's all over spring training this year (trust us, it is): Why are there so many veteran free agents remaining? For some reason, this is a mystery to people. To solve the mystery, let's take a look at the big names left:

• Barry Bonds.
• Tony Graffanino.
• Ryan Klesko.
• Mike Piazza.
• Kyle Lohse.
• Jeff Weaver.
• David Wells.

Well, jeez, who wouldn't want those guys? (We Cardinals fans are partial to Weaver, and someone really should take a flier on Bonds — come on, Tampa Bay! — but other than that, slim pickings all around.) UmpBump says it's the plethora of young talent in the bigs right now, but, honestly, who does want those guys?

We spent our vacation reading Baseball Prospectus 2008, and the cumulative effect was to convince us that everyone in baseball over the age of 28 is doomed. Nothing makes us feel older than Baseball Prospectus; everyone freaking peaks at 28 in that book. How depressing.

Why So Many Out Of Work Free Agents? [UmpBump]

Oh, By The Way, Pitchers And Catchers Reported Today

Leitch — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:45:34 EST

With all the mess of this steroid Congress business (hopefully) behind us, perhaps we look to the land of happy: Pitchers and catchers reported today!

Well, for a few teams anyway, including the Cubs, Orioles, Phillies, Mariners and Giants, they showed up. We're sure every single person there desperately flushed their HGH stash right before reporting — why WOULDN'T we think that? You have left us no choice! — but that's fine: It's still pretty, with sunshine, and people playing catch. Welcome back. You can't get here fast enough.

Pitchers And Catchers Will Report Sooner Than We Think

Leitch — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:15:26 EST

OK, so now football is over. We can all move in with our lives, with a newfound focus on the America East conference and the MEAC. But don't worry: Spring Training is so freaking close now.

Yep, the delay is shorter than you think, or than we realized. Eight teams are requiring pitchers and catchers to report on February 13: The Orioles, Cubs, Astros, Royals, A's, Phillies, Giants and Mariners. (Most of those teams look like they could use the extra day.) And then there are spring training games, and then there are real games, and this whole football season will be long past us, and we'll be back to a sense of normalcy.

February's a long month, kids. Let's try to hang in the best we can.

Reporting Dates [Spring Training Online]

"Please, Sir, May I Have Another?!"

Leitch — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:00:10 EDT

Ah, spring training. A time to work all the kinks out, ease one's self into the rigors of a long baseball season, iron out all the soft spots in your game. And for Red Sox prospect Jacoby Ellsbury, it's when you learn how to handle a thrown baseball hitting you in the head from two inches away. All told, kid, we think you handled it rather well. Better than we would have, anyway; we'd still be crying.

Bloopers From Florida [Red Sox Monster]