The journey from the end of the World Series to the start of the next MLB season is a long one.
On dark, bitterly cold winter nights, you can’t help but think ahead to the joys of spring. Waking to the sound of birds tweeting and twittering, walking home from work while it’s still light and without being swamped by a thick coat, hat, gloves and scarf. And baseball. Glorious baseball.
The first two months are the hardest. April seems a mile away and the withdrawal symptoms from the recently-concluded season are in full effect.
The mood changes when the calendar flips over to the new year. Spring training games in March might not count for much, but they are eagerly devoured (for the first week or two, at least) by the baseball-hungry masses. So you really have a four-month gap to deal with and once you make it to January you know that half the wait is over. If the non-baseball months are like a mountain to be conquered, November and December represent the long walk up to the summit. January and February are the gleeful descent.
As with any journey, there are markers along the way telling you that the end is approaching. MLB.com’s ‘Around the Horn’ feature has become one of those much-anticipated moments for me. From the start of January up to mid-way through February (when the spring training camps open), the MLB.com beat writers are assigned to write about a specific position for their team. Starting with catchers and finishing with the bench/DH, they make for an excellent overview of a team’s roster when combined (subject to the inevitable trades/free agent signings that can leave some of them slightly out of date).
This year’s schedule:
• Fri., Jan 4: Catchers
• Wed., Jan. 9: Corner infielders
• Wed., Jan. 16: Middle infielders
• Wed., Jan. 23: Outfielders
• Wed., Jan. 30: Rotation
• Wed., Feb. 6: Bullpen
• Wed., Feb. 13: Bench/DH
Delving into the articles is a great way to get to know the teams if you are a newcomer. They’re useful for established fans as well, not least because it’s amazing how many minor deals can slip from your memory. The overall articles they publish for each position, bringing together each of the team reports, are also well worth reading.
So, as we count down the remaining weeks before the spring training camps open, each Wednesday will bring us a bundle of position reports to enjoy. They might not make the weeks fly by, but they will help.
I guess that depends on which team you support though. As an A’s fan I can’t say I’m particularly excited about reading a break down of our current roster. These reports are going to be a slow, painful reminder that 2008 is not going to be a vintage year in Oakland. First Haren, now Swisher, with Joe Blanton possibly the next one out of the door. When Billy Beane decides the time is right to rebuild, he doesn’t mess about. I guess that’s better than simply shuffling the pack and settling for comfy .500 seasons though.
And, if I’m being honest, I’m very much a baseball fan first and foremost. So there will still be plenty to look forward to and, even though it will be a long one in Oakland, the new season cannot come quickly enough.
