Without Football, We Await Spring Training

Author: Zachary Patlin

Editor: Fran Attie

After the seamless victory by the Buccaneers over the Chiefs, football season has come to an end. And that, of course, means one thing to us baseball fans: spring training is right around the corner!

For a majority of teams the report date for pitchers and catchers is February 17, just a few days away, so most of the notable free agents have found homes for the season—most recently, Trevor Bauer, signing a massive AAV deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Once pitchers and catchers report to camp, the position players will follow shortly after, as the season is set to kick off on April 1. According to Vegas, the Dodgers are the favorites to come out of the National League, and the Yankees to come out of the American League. Both teams were able to keep their rosters intact while also making key additions that could propel the Yankees over the top and put the Dodgers back in the World Series.

Many underdogs and sleeper teams have a legitimate shot to make some noise this year. In what looks to be another fan limited season, the element of surprise is what makes baseball so exciting, as we wait to see which teams can put it all together and win a championship. The White Sox in the AL come to mind, as a young team that is looking to win now. The Padres. likewise, in the National League.

With the anticipation for next season and the need for baseball to come back into our lives, we also pray that the season will run smoothly and that COVID-19 won’t have a huge effect on its outcome. We can only wait and hope that the players stay safe and are able to travel more than they did last year to play teams from outside of their geographic region.

This season is looking to be a very good one, and I, for one, cannot wait for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training!

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE