Does anyone else feel like this has been a frickin’ long off-season? Never mind the extra week of Spring Training thanks to the WBC (which was again a very cool experience), it feels like the end of the World Series was a really long time ago.
Like Steve Sax over at SoSG (“Thoughts On The Eve of Opening Day”), I’m feeling a bit ambivalent about the beginning of the season.
Most of it is that busy off-season that Sax mentioned, as well as the economy and seemingly unending bad news.
Part of it is undoubtedly that we’ve been working on the house for a couple of weeks straight, and I’m exhausted. All of my muscles and joints hurt, so it’s hard to muster excitement about much of anything right this second. ;D
Unlike Sax, however, I don’t find myself particularly perturbed by Frank McCourt, for that matter.
Nor by the pitching staff, which will work itself out. What the fretting folks seem to miss is that the Dodgers are doing just what everybody has been demanding — putting faith in youngsters.
Certainly they are doing it out of what they perceive as necessity, but that’s as valid a reason as any. In any case, and even if the rotation struggles at times, I’ll wager there will be some name pitchers available on the trade front as the season shakes out.
It looks like my first live baseball game of the year will be the 66ers home opener this Thursday evening. Now that the big-league roster is getting set, the affiliates’ rosters will start solidifying as well, so I’ll have to see who will be on the Single-A team.
Can’t wait to get a Dodger Dog, some peanuts, and a beer, get my scorebook ready, and hear “Play Ball!” Been too long.
As a side note, there have been a number of new Dodger blogs appearing this off-season — I think I have everybody in the sidebar, but if I missed you, please leave it in the comments here or email me.