Seventy-nine degrees and sunny.
Freshly cut grass in a criss-cross pattern through the outfield.
Birds chirping. Chalk laid down the lines.
The infield dirt, groomed ever so gently. The click-clack on the pavement as the players make their way to the field. A pop in the mitt every few seconds.
The crack of the bat.
Stretch it out boys; it’s a new season.
Every year, the same sounds resonate through the states of Florida and Arizona. This is the sound of Spring Training. It’s a new year with new hopes and dreams for baseball players.
Every year, players from all 30 teams make their way to the training complexes in hopes of becoming a champion nine months later.
Every year, February becomes a symbol of the All-American game taking shape for a new season. Major League Baseball is about to begin, and with its start comes many questions about its upcoming season.
We are currently immersed in a steroids scandal that now has Washington involved. Yet, even with the negatives surrounding the game, there are still positives.
The biggest acquisition of the off-season was Johan Santana. Can he make New York forget about the epic collapse suffered in the final weeks of last season? His arrival makes the Mets a legitimate contender right away.
Will the Oakland Athletics, and their “Moneyball” philosophy, be able to tread water this season, having traded away several key assets? Nick Swisher, Dan Haren, and Mark Kotsay have all gone elsewhere, leaving the A’s short of an identity.
Can the Boston Red Sox repeat as champions? They are loaded with talent, including great youngsters like Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury. However, with arm problems surrounding Curt Schilling, are the Sox deep enough?
The Colorado Rockies had a most improbable season in 2007. Can they prepare themselves for another run at the World Series?
Will the Philadelphia Phillies use the momentum from last year’s great run in the NL East to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons? Philly hasn't seen that since the early ‘80s, so the Fightin’ Faithful sure hopes their team will come through again in 2008.
The New York Yankees have the league's highest payroll again this season. But will that mean the end of the World Series drought that has plagued George Steinbrenner and his Evil Empire since the beginning of this decade?
Or is there another team out there looking to create a story-book ending?
Perhaps a young Diamondbacks squad that made the NLCS in ’07? Maybe a Chicago Cubs franchise that has been without a title for nearly an entire century? How about a talented Cleveland Indians team that nearly shocked baseball last year, before bowing out to the eventual champion Red Sox?
The questions put forth will be followed by answers in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. This is what we look forward to as fans of a great sport. We follow our respective teams all year long, and they take us along on a journey of fun throughout the summer. We long to be part of the story of a magical season.
So as the sights and sounds begin to take shape during this spring training season, we will all be watching. Watching and waiting for one final moment.
The final pitch. The cheer of the crowd. The hugs. Screaming fans embracing each other.
The lift of the trophy.
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