Last season may not have turned out the way [Team] wanted, but as pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training yesterday, excitement was in the air.
“It’s just great to be back, great to see the guys,” said [Player]. “Obviously, we didn’t get to where we wanted to last year, but we’ve made some big additions, and some of our young guys are ready to take the next step, so I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”
While fans are excited for baseball season to start, there’s a lot of work to get through before Opening Day. Modern athletes stay in shape year-round, but there’s a difference between general health and ability to play a 9-inning baseball game.
“One of our big focuses in the early going is going to be getting guys extended, getting their legs under them, and preparing them for the rigors of a 162-game season,” said manager [Manager]. “Some of that’s going to be on the field in our workouts and games, and some of it will be off-field programs to ensure our guys are at their peak performance.”
Those off-field programs include advice on lifestyle and nutrition, and a workout program personalized for every player on the roster by the team’s conditioning staff. This will hopefully allow the team to avoid the plague of injuries that deviled them last year.
“Yeah, last season was tough,” said [Pitcher], who spent several months on the IL with on-again, off-again [Body Part] injuries. “But our trainers have a plan to build up the muscle strength and do our best to keep it healthy for the whole year.
Of course, some players don’t get injured as the season progresses; they came into camp still recovering from surgery and are trying to get back as soon as possible. They’re spending most of their days with the training staff, working diligently to get on the field.
“Yeah, the prognosis is that I’ll be back around the All-Star Break, but I’m hoping to beat that timetable,” said [Pitcher], out since late last year with [Injury] that eventually required surgery, despite the team’s hopes. “I’ve always been a quick healer, so if I put my mind to it and work, I think I can be back on the field in early June.”
But there are plenty of guys already in camp who will be on the Opening Day roster, including some you might not have expected yet. In early was position player [Position Player]. While technically hitters don’t technically have to report for a few days, [Position Player] wanted to get a jump on his Spring Training, getting some extra work in in the cage in order to work on his mechanics and round into form a bit early.
[Picture of Position Player, in the batting cage]
“Yeah, it’s nice to see,” said [Manager]. “He wanted to be here early, get more time in with the guys, and start grinding. It’s a tribute to his work ethic and tells you a lot about the kind of character he brings to a team.”
But these first few days of camp belong to the pitchers and catchers, and the catchers in particular are feeling the brunt of it. There are a lot more guys throwing the ball than ones receiving it, so [Team] is pulling in every catcher they have to handle all the pitchers.
“It’s a fun time of year,” said [Minor League Catcher]. “I’m getting to work with a lot of guys I’ve only really seen on TV, learn their stuff, their styles. It’s a great chance to gain some experience and learn a lot from the guys who’ve made it to the majors.”
But of course, the start of full camp is just around the corner. In the early going, [Manager]’s coaching staff will focus on fundamentals and doing the little things right.
“Looking back on last year, there were a few mistakes out on the field, some lapses in concentration that just shouldn’t happen in a major league game,” [Manager} said. “The time to address all that is now.”
The players already in camp are working hard and doing everything possible to prepare for the year. It’s impossible to say how the season will turn out, but in the early going, [Team] looks prepared, focused, and ready to show the world they’re better than the disappointing season they had last year.
But one thing’s for sure: this Spring Training and this season will be an utterly unique story, unlike any others you’ve ever seen.
There's no way [Established Starter] will be back before the All-Star break, much less June - that's a load of [expletive]. It seems that the bullpen will have to carry the load again, and that will lead to overuse, tired arms, and breakdowns like we saw last year with [Relief Pitcher] and {Other Relief Pitcher]. Just signing [Free Agent Hitter] isn't enough to overcome the offensive shortcomings, although I think [Young Position Player] is going to open some eyes this year. But since the team plays in a really competitive division with the [Good Team] and the [Really Good Team], once it becomes clear that this squad isn't going anywhere this season, I think [General Manager] will probably get fired. That's just my [small amount of money].
I can't believe you got the team to open up to you like that. Great job!