30 Days

Swooobp POP!!!! sounds of a baseball being thrown from 66'6" from a mound to home plate right past the hulking presence of man with 33 ounce bat. Strike.... One!!! cried out the Umpire eyeing the strike zone from behind the Catcher in all his pads for protection. These are the pure sounds of my sport, The sport I love, The first American sport. Our National Pastime, Baseball.

Here we are March 1st and just 30 Days away from breaking camp from spring training. Cutting down the rosters to 25. There are tough decisions this spring with bunch of clubs, Who to keep and who to send down to the minors. Who has options who are out of them. These are tough times in Baseball trying to figure out the right formula that will win the World Series. The moves that are made can make or break a club from the start. I have seen clubs go 16 loses and can not get out of the cellar. That club still hasn't recovered from it till this day. So you see making the right moves and getting these ball players ready for the season opener is quit a big deal.

Just 30 Days it comes fast. The Pitchers need to have there timing ready to make their pitch and movement count. Arm speed is a big factor also. This is what the best Pitchers are building up in these past weeks.Speaking of the best as of Today we have seen only one Pitcher who is totally ready and that one is probably the best in the game in Roy Halladay.

30 Days left till bat speed needs to be to hit all them fastballs coming at them. We see timing to be everything in baseball, with a game of just inches that can determine a stolen base or an infield out at first (that robbed Gallaraga a perfect game) game of inches. As just few games played now we see not many hitters having their timing to really get behind the ball and drive it. Yes even Albert Pujols is out of sorts now. Alex Rodriguez needs more work. This is also the time for adjustments to a hitters swing that has been tweeked in the winter to take affect. Derek Jeter made adjustments to pull the ball this season instead of shooting it into right field as he has done in many years past. Jeter is a few hits shy of 3000 and he wants to get every chance and every pitch to reach it this season.

30 days till Opening Day.. I can not wait to see it, the excitement, the popcorn and peanuts and crackerjacks and good old American Baseball. Crack!!! with a big swing of the bat and the ball flying so high and out of reach of the Left Fielder. "Home Run!!" cries out the Umpire. Oh yes Baseball is coming.

That is my take on spring training and the wait till we take the field and here "Play Ball!!". What are your thoughts?