Today is the Day!

The internet is good for a lot of things. If you want the Red Sox schedule, the internet can give it to you. If you want to see the broadcast of Game Six of the World Series, the internet can do that for you. If you want to make a huge deal out of something fairly insignificant, well that might be what the internet is best at. With facebook and twitter and blogs, any excuse for a post idea is welcomed with open arms. Things like truck day, that used to be afterthoughts in newspapers and newscasts, are trumpeted like they’re royal coronations.

Today is almost one of those events.

Of course it’s a big deal in one sense. Pitchers and Catchers are reporting to spring training today! It means baseball, and summer, is almost here. It’s another milestone to reach on the way to having baseball again.

That’s pretty cool.

But, beyond that? Not all that much. As a matter of fact, lots of players have already reported. Position players even. If a player doesn’t report today, they probably have a good reason for it. Maybe it’s their father’s birthday, or something.

In honesty, for me, today marks the beginning of the most annoying stretch of the baseball calendar. Media people are flooding Fort Myers, but nothing is happening. They won’t have games for some time yet. There’s nothing to report, so everyone has to start reaching for things to write about.

Someone sat out a drill today. Are they hurt? Are they being benched? Will they be back for Opening Day? Is the season ruined? Will it become a distraction? Even if the answers to the first questions are No. No. Yes. No. That last one is still hanging out there. So, they talk about it.

All the friggin’ time.

So I have to remind myself to celebrate today as the start of something. The start of a title defense. The start of baseball once again. It’s a day to be enjoyed.

I just hate spring training