It's That Time of the Year… Again!
Baseball fans are a unique group. Every February, somewhere in Arizona or Florida, a perfectly rational adult watches a 32 year old utility infielder line a double off a pitcher who will be selling insurance by July… and immediately declares, with the confidence of a Supreme…
Baseball fans are a unique group. Every February, somewhere in Arizona or Florida, a perfectly rational adult watches a 32 year old utility infielder line a double off a pitcher who will be selling insurance by July… and immediately declares, with the confidence of a Supreme Court justice, “He has to make the team.”
Spring Training turns baseball fans into gold prospectors panning a river of box scores. They swirl the stats, squint at a .417 average in 12 at-bats, and shout “Eureka” as if they’ve discovered the next Hall of Famer hiding behind Field 6 next to the nacho stand.
It does not matter that the home run came off a reliever wearing number 98 who was optioned three times before breakfast. It does not matter that the pitcher’s fastball registered 89, and hope. What matters is that our Guy is hot.
And once a Guy is hot, he becomes inevitable.
“He just has that look,” someone says.
The look, of course, is batting practice confidence against a split-squad lineup featuring three catchers and a second baseman learning left field through interpretive dance.
Spring Training fandom operates on a beautiful and fragile ecosystem:
- Small sample sizes bloom like desert wildflowers.
- Context is gently set aside.
- A roster spot must be claimed in the name of justice.
Managers preach patience. Front offices whisper about options, service time, and 162-game marathons. Fans hear only destiny. Why carry the veteran with a decade of track record when you have Chad McLaunchAngle hitting .364 in the Cactus League?
By mid-March, social media becomes a courtroom.
Exhibit A: three opposite field singles.
Exhibit B: a hustle double when the left fielder tripped over the bullpen mound.
Exhibit C: “You can’t teach this.”
The fact that you absolutely can teach this, and have, for 120 years, is beside the point.
Baseball fans are not foolish. They are romantics disguised as statisticians. They track exit velocity and spin rate, yes. But deep down, they crave the surprise hero. They want the roster to bend toward the Cinderella story. They want the kid with the pine tar grin to shove aside projections and announce himself with a spring OPS that looks like a typo.
And when the inevitable happens, when the hot hitter cools and is optioned to Triple A after going 1 for 19 against pitchers who actually own furniture, fans pivot with astonishing agility.
“He just needs everyday at-bats.”
“He’ll be back.”
“We always knew he was a long-term piece.”
Spring Training is not about accuracy. It is about possibility. It is the annual festival of overreaction, where every bloop single whispers prophecy and every box score becomes scripture.
It is fickle. It is irrational. It is glorious.
And next February, when a non-roster invitee hits .438 in 16 at-bats against a parade of hopefuls throwing experimental changeups, we will do it all again.
Because baseball fans do not simply watch Spring Training.
They fall in love with it, one meaningless double at a time.
Dodger Rants & Raves
- Gavin Stone‘s soreness in his shoulder is as predictable as the Bazooka’s soreness and failure to thrive. I think Bobby Miller has a case of it, too. There is no roadmap for this. They could be back in May, or they MAY never be back. That’s why you buy ’em cheap and stack ’em deep!
- Why on earth would the Red Sox trade Dustin May for Zach Ehrhard and James Tibbs III? They did it because they had a veritable glut of outfielders. They could afford to take a risk. The Dodgers are approaching a “glut of outfielders.” Let’s hope they don’t trade the wrong ones away.
- The development of the minor league rosters will be fun to watch.
- The Dodgers used eight pitchers on Monday, and it’s possible that none (or maybe one) could make the Opening Day Roster.
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Discussion (58)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Mark on a heater! Maybe we’re playing Tibbs/Ehrhard to light a fire under JDP.
All are prospects. Good ones! … although JDP is doing just fine. He’s much younger!
The Sporting News has the following proposed trade: Dodgers get: RHP Joe Ryan, OF Byron Buxton Twins get: OF Andy Pages, L.A. No. 1 prospect OF Josue De Paula, RHP Emmet Sheehan, L.A. No. 9 prospect RHP River Ryan, RHP Gavin Stone, C Dalton Rushing, L.A. No. 4 prospect INF Alex Freeland I wouldn’t take this deal even if the Twins agreed to trade their entire 26 man roster.
Enjoyable perspective piece Mark. Well written!
Some here wanted to trade our excess of pitchers this offseason for this player or that player and as I have stated so many times,you DON’T trade controllable pitchers. The way the Dodger pitchers hit the IL,you’ll need everyone of them at some point in the regular season. The Dodgers have the best roster and best depth in baseball. There is NO need to make any changes till the trading deadline. This trading deadline could be different where HOF AF is having teams coming to us for our surplus of outfielders. Patience Gentlemen and Ladies if any are reading, the best trade right now is NO trade. Let the roster and season develop.
Yes, let them come to us. Hell, throw a AA arm if you need to.
That’s why TSN is out of the Rag business. 😉 They are crazier than a Loon.
Ok. Also no one should be posting our Spring Won/loss record and discussing that
The Sporting News must have NOTHING important to write about,then make up this garbage nonsensical trade.. We DON’T need either player. I’d rather sign a quality free agent player like HOF AF does and give up draft picks than to trade controllable players from our roster . Remember draft picks are suspects not prospects until they prove themselves at the Major League level.
As predicted he is only a depth piece and would NOT make the 26 man roster: 03/02/26 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RF Jack Suwinski outright to Oklahoma City Comets.
Graterol news was not unexpected. I didn’t understand projecting him into the bullpen coming off a lost year. Stone news was disappointing. People remember he was our best pitcher in 2024 and a super individual to boot. Edman rehab is fine. As someone with a bum ankle, I understand the need for taking it slow and making sure you’re ready. We have all these slots covered. Extra arm for the pen is no prob and might open opportunity for Hurt, etc. Rotation has depth and Stone was part of it. Opens up chance for Wrobleski, Ryan, etc. Espinal mihht benefit from Edman. To me he’s a little redundant with Rojas but together they can cover the IF. Freeland vs Kim vs Call seems like the main battle. Hard to imagine Call not making the team. Ditto Kim. Freeland might be the odd one out but he’d be up soon. This year’s Feduccia: ready with no place to play.
One of your best, Mark. So true and funny as hell. But we “Spring training lovers” are having the time of our life with the 1500 OPS and .500 BAs, at least for another week when our instant heros get sent down. But then we get to argue the last 3 guys to make the 26 man roster before they break camp. But you have to admit, most of the diehard Dodger fans who comment are fairly sane, with occasional bouts of stupidity.
Is SN working with the bottom tier teams to dismantle the Dodgers future? That trade is beyond stupid .
3:05 PM ET Dodgers (93-69) Guardians (88-74) SP Roki Sasaki R 0-0 .00 ERA SP Joey Cantillo L 0-0 .00 ERA Confirmed Lineup DH Miguel Rojas R LF T. Hernandez R CF Andy Pages R 2B A. Freeland S 3B Nick Senzel R RF Zach Ehrhard R 1B Ryan Ward L SS Noah Miller S C E. Alfonzo S 82° Wind 3 mph L-R
Go Freeland Go! Ehrhard trying for Branch Ricky award.
Jurickson Profar To Receive 162-Game PED Suspension “Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar is being hit with a second PED suspension and will face a 162-game ban, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. Profar’s first PED suspension came early last season, and he was banned for 80 games. He’ll miss the entire 162-game season in 2026 following his second failed test and would receive a lifetime ban if he incurs a third positive test in the future. Profar will not be paid his $15MM salary this season, and he’s now ineligible for both postseason play in 2026 and for the upcoming World Baseball Classic”.
“Now, Suwinski remains in the organization as outfield depth, and leaves 39 players on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster. There’s no real urgency yet to fill that spot, but it removes an extra burden should an opportunity arise. Like if Rortvedt inevitably becomes available yet again, or if someone like non-roster invitees Santiago Espinal or Cole Irvin play their way onto the roster over the next three weeks”.
“March 3: Roberts told the Dodgers beat this morning that the team “dodged a bullet” with regard to Stone (link via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic). Imaging revealed inflammation in Stone’s surgically repaired shoulder but no structural damage. He’ll be shut down from throwing for a couple of weeks but for now does not appear to be facing a monthslong absence”.
The dumb ones went away.
Thats good news and perfectly understandable.
Take your time
Big blow to Braves season. Hey Ward, have you ever been to Atlanta? Just Kidding, Atlanta has a pretty good farm system
Funny that the biggest challenge making a random lineup is we have too many middle of the lineup hitters. Not enough spots!
1. Jurikson Profar has 66 career stolen bases, which coincidentally is his I.Q. 2. Roki Sasaki may very well start the season in OKC. 3. I think James Tibbs III is in the mix to make the team. Of course that would mean that Call has to be traded and Ward DFA’ed.
Oh shit, Tibbs winning final roster spot is galaxy mind.