What to Watch For in Spring Training
During the Washington Nationals’ World Series run in 2019, one factoid imprinted permanently on our brains. They were just 19-31 through the first 50 games of the regular season! Their awful start and legendary finish are immortalized as one of the greatest turnarounds in baseball history…
… But did you know they went 17-12-2 in Spring Training? Of course not! Their strong Grapefruit League performance gets erased from the narrative not because it weakens the retelling, but because it literally doesn’t matter whatsoever. There are lots of reasons to watch Spring Training baseball, but wins and losses aren’t among them. Instead, attune your viewing experience to the following:
Don’t Get Hurt!
This is Rule Number One in Spring Training. Whatever you do, superstar athletes, don’t get hurt. In spite of all the standing around, baseball is a strenuous physical endeavor. The risk of bodily wear-and-tear is exacerbated by several months off. Every year, there’s a spate of strained hamstrings, pulled groins, and worst of all, torn UCLs.
2020’s aborted Spring Training lasted just long enough for the Yankees to fill their Injured List. Aaron Judge hurt his shoulder and reaggravated a rib fracture, Giancarlo Stanton strained his calf, and Luis Severino succumbed to the dreaded Tommy John surgery. So this year, maybe… don’t do that? Easier said than done, of course, but seriously, guys. Don’t get hurt.
Velocity
In the interest of Don’t Get Hurt (really, don’t!), velocity is more of a mid-to-late March what-to-watch-for. If your team’s setup man throws 88 mph on March 3, it’s not necessarily a huge concern. If he can’t crack 90 mph on March 22, we have a problem. His stats don’t even matter that much unless they are a symptom of a larger issue, but if he strikes out a few 20-year-old minor leaguers with a junk fastball, he’s not going to get away with it once the calendar turns to April. Similarly, if an established veteran gets hammered but his stuff looks good, who cares?
Did you know Max Scherzer’s 2019 Spring Training ERA was 8.53? Is that even true? No, it’s not! But did you believe it for half a second? Probably! Great players have bad springs all the time, and it means nothing. However, if he loses a few ticks off his fastball at 36-years-old, we have cause for alarm.
Who and When, Not How
Other than the intrinsic joy of watching Mike Trout be Mike Trout, there is no reason to pay attention to Mike Trout in March. Whether he bats .100 or .500, we have a pretty good idea of what he’ll do in the regular season. Rather, keep an eye on the rookies and fringe players. Which up-and-down middle reliever stands out? Who’s the young shortstop making highlight-reel plays in the third base hole? Even if these players don’t crack the initial 26-man roster when the club heads north, there’s a good chance you’ll see them again at some point down the line. It’s a long season, after all, and someone is going to break Rule Number One.
You can also gauge how the manager feels about a player based on when they play. If they’re mostly getting time in the seventh inning or later against other minor leaguers, they might not have much of an immediate future on the big league roster. If they play in the early and middle innings against established veterans, expect them to become a contributor at some point.
I’m Funny How, I Mean Funny Like a Clown? I Amuse You?
Isn’t it amazing how seriously we take baseball? It’s a game. It’s meant to be fun. Despite the everpresent storm clouds of drama swirling on the horizon, the sun is always visible– even if you must squint to see it sometimes.
Who brings the sunshine to your favorite team? Which new player is the most entertaining in interviews or on Twitter? Who’s smiling and laughing in the dugout, inventing secret handshakes with teammates? Who’s going to entertain you this year and make you feel connected– even proud of your team, regardless of how many games they win? Spring Training is often when each club develops its personality.
Seriously, It’s Spring Training!
As they used to say on ESPN’s SportsCenter:
Florida’s Grapefruit
Arizona’s Cactus
They play these games
Just for practice
The wins and losses don’t matter. Just get in shape for April, have some fun, and above all, DON’T GET HURT!!!
