Pitchers and catchers report today!
In addition to the Cubs, pitchers and catchers for the Angels, Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, Mets, Orioles, Rangers and Tigers start camp today, with the remaining teams reporting within the next couple of days, and full squads within about five days after pitchers and catchers.
Derrek Lee and Michael Barrett, who were chosen for the USA's WBC team, will be in camp for a couple of weeks before
So if you're going to be in Arizona early in the spring, you'll still be able to see Lee and Barrett play, just not in Cubs camp. The USA's first WBC game is March 7 at 2 pm MST vs Mexico, at Chase Field; they'll play the next day vs. Canada at 2 pm MST also at the former BOB, and then on March 10 at 1:00 MST against South Africa.
I'm still puzzled as to why the WBC scheduled these games at the same times as most spring training games -- I realize they have to do that at Scottsdale Stadium, a spring training venue, but why not play all night games at Chase Field? That way anyone who wanted to, could take in a daytime exhibition, and still see the WBC at night.
Regardless, baseball is here!
And let's start right up with the rumor mill -- Barry Rozner's column today, in which he relates hearing from the DC-area press corps while there covering the White Sox ceremony the other day, that the Orioles may still be interested in dealing Miguel Tejada, and perhaps sooner rather than later.
And Rozner goes on to rip Tejada for multiple reasons and says the Cubs ought to steer clear; you can read the article for the details, but I thought this part was particularly noteworthy:
?I am not asking for a team of superstars, I only want a good group that helps me to win."
A good group that helps me to win.
If that doesn?t reek of Sammy Sosa disease, what does?