Do you dream about baseball during the middle of winter? When it is grey and cold, chunks of ice on sidewalk, banks of snow against the buildings, do you picture long summer days, green grass, men spitting and laughing, the smell of beer and urine, the humidity, and the tension of even the most routine ball game? I can’t imagine what it must be like to live in a different part of the country, where it is warm and you can have a catch at any time of the year.
Here in the northeast, baseball is sleeping unless you go to an indoor hitting cage. The game seems distant now but thoughts of summer are never far away. I covet my fantasies and protect them as if wrapped in a blanket to protect them from the elements. I daydream about Mariano entering a game to his theme song and picture the grace and precision of Alex Rodriguez’s swing. I take comfort in knowing that Derek Jeter will bust ass down the first base line every chance he gets. Yet I am most excited about the unknown–which young player will make an impression, what will we see–even a minor detail–that we’ve never seen before?
I usually keep these thoughts to myself but figured I’d share them with you since you might be dreaming too.
There are twenty days left before pitchers and catchers report to spring training for the Yankees.
[Photo Credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images]
I haven't had any baseball dreams yet this winter, but a couple of years ago I had three in quick succession. There's more detail in this post, but the basics: two dreams involved Cardinals world championships--in one of which Darth Vader was on the opposing team--and the other involved Jason LaRue's contract situation.
It's a sad statement about winter when you're dreaming about the signing status of backup catchers.
Burlington had below zero temps. Down near the Lake temp hovered around -20. It was so cold my fingers went numb in my gloves. Needed a hat over my balaclava and a hoody over the hat. My ears stayed warm, but no sounds entered. I walked past the Lake Monsters office near the Ferry slip. Sign read, "only professional baseball team in Vermont." Champ, their erstwhile mascot who looks like a cross between the Loch Ness Monster and Ernie, sat half covered by snow, shivering.
sometimes a baseball .... is just a baseball :-)
"I can’t imagine what it must be like to live in a different part of the country, where it is warm and you can have a catch at any time of the year."
The best part (well, second best as warm weather & girls wearing warm weather clothing starts early) of having lived in Columbia, SC was that college baseball games started mid February. Sure the early games were cold, and the bats aluminum. but it's baseball.
And yes, I think baseball every day.
Whatever the first day you could go outside w/o those big, stupid winter jackets and have a catch was one of the best days of the year. Maybe even a random warm day in late January or something.
I don't dream of electric sheep, but candid answers from Brian Cashman on a cold and snowy MA morning? You bet!
I've been dreaming of baseball since the last out of the World Series. I've already been to the batting cage a few times, but nothing is like picking up a bat or glove out doors.
Shoveling snow yet again, but my mind wanders to (please, God) warm, sunny days in Florida -- my daughter and I are heading to spring training in early March. First time for both of us. Already got tickets for 4 games lined up, and there's room for a fifth. We plan on getting to the park early every day to watch practice and drills. Can't wait!