spring training

this was a little more poignant when i typed this up on monday with snow still on the ground. now it's in the 50's and i think winter may actually be pretty much over. wild! here goes:

"spring is near. not because the groundhog told me that spring would come sooner rather than later. not because I stepped out into single digit temperatures this morning. no, it's because spring training has begun. pitchers and catchers are working together. position players are rolling into town. the manager and coaches have begun barking orders. yes, spring is near.

as the new manager of the washington nationals, manny acta begins spring training with the enthusiasm and vigor that makes him so likeable. acta also begins spring training with a morass of over 70 players. the players will work out and attempt to gain his favor as the organization whittles the number down to the opening day 25. you know that saying from the first day of engineering (or law or graduate) school: "look at the person on your left and the person on your right - only one of you three will be graduating with an engineering degree in 4 years." well, the same could be said to all those invited to spring training."

and yes, i'm going back to spring training this year, but for an entire long weekend with only that on the agenda. 8 days til florida. viera here i come!