Spring

Winter is over, and baseball is here. Tigers pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training today in Lakeland, FL. The rest of the team will be there by Friday. I love this time of the baseball year, before things have really started, when anything is possible and every fan is convinced that this is the year his team will finally win the World Series (knock on wood -- now that baseball is back, so are the superstitions). The Tigers have a lot to look forward to in 2012, especially their impressive roster of new and returning players, and with a great 2011 season still fresh in my memory, I don't think my high hopes for the upcoming season are unfounded. Whatever happens, though, I'm just glad baseball is starting again, and that the part of my life that was put on hold in late October can start again, too. It's still cold here in Michigan, but the sun in out today, as if even the weather knows that baseball is finally back.

Waiting.

Now that all the snow has melted and the sun is up almost until 6pm, it seems like baseball season is finally on the horizon. There were so many dreary days these past 3 months where I just thought about how far away the season was and how it seems like it would never come. Now, the light at the end of the snow-filled tunnel is in sight, and spring training is right around the corner. After last season's amazing run, it seems like this off-season was longer than others. I can't wait to see what this season brings, with Prince and JV and even Boesch coming back in the lineup, and of course all of the other Tigers. At this point, everything is up in the air, the season full of promise, and I just can't wait to get back to the D, sit in the park with my dad and the lights shining on the diamond. Until then, I guess reminiscing about  the ALDS game in New York will have to do.

-M