Spring training is my favorite time of year, and not only because the undefeated Baltimore Orioles are atop the American League East standings.
It’s a time of transition for some ball clubs and one of optimism for all of them. Every team thinks they can claim the prize in October, as clearly strange things are always possible in baseball.
The optimism among the teams is only surpassed in enjoyment by the attempts made by certain players to gain notoriety, like a first baseman who has bounced around the minors and gets a chance to make a name for himself, even if it’s a long shot.
This carefree optimism drives fans to root for teams they may give up on in August. Yet the preseason for baseball is more exciting than all of the preseasons for the other sports combined.
Where else can you get story lines like a head coach talking about beer? I, for one, think it was good for the Red Sox to have alcohol in their clubhouse — as I’m sure they don’t want to remember what happened at the end of last season.
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