And Now Begins A Long, Cold Winter

[soxfan121]

Every year it happens - the World Series crowns a new champion, the luster of the green grass begins to fade, the wind turns and comes from the north, and baseball goes into its winter hibernation.

I can't help but feel down this morning. The Giants and Angels provided a memorable and entertaining World Series. Today, the managerial carousel begins in earnest. Free agents file their paperwork. And Bud will say something dumb. But in my heart, a little shadow has crept in...it's hard to live and die with every pitch for 8 months a year and then have it all STOP.

Ah, I'm just rambling. For me, there is no sadder day all year than the day after the World Series ends. I will spend the next 4 months dreaming of green fields, warm summer breezes, the 6-4-3 double-play. I will dream of a new season, a new set of contenders, a new beginning to the game that I love (and most of the time, doesn't love me back).

Sleep well baseball. You will never be far from my mind.

[VNV Nation]

*play computer baseball

[CpUltravox]

You sound like you're in the beginning stages of my crusade for astroturf, sf.

Remember - green plastic doesn't turn brown.

Say whatyou want about George Will - but he's right. There is Baseball Season - and there is "The Void."

The void has begun. However.. free agency begins in 15 days!

[pathogan]

...trees are at peak[late this year], the switch to DST happened the morning before the last night of baseball this season, so it was suddely apropos. I need a break, great season,[every season , even those when the yankees win, are great seasons} real fun playoffs....somehow, and this is just a hunch, we wont run out of things to talk about all winter long...:D :D :D

[JamesI]

Its only a few months until spring training when at least 7-8 teams will have a shot at winning the next world series ;)

[TimmyB]

Agree with SF. In the memories of my collective summers, the sun shines a little brighter, the breeze blows out to left, the grass shimmers in the daylight, and the home whites are crisp and clean. I'll spend the winter dreaming of seasons gone by and hoping for a little more pitching and some production at first base next year...

Thank goodness for the Seasons' Past essay contest!

[poorme]

can't have the yin without the yang!

[rcartman28]

Ah, the rites of autumn.....baseball season ends, daylight savings time ends, snow in the forecast for tomorrow (I'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim dreamin.....of a whiiiiiiiiiiiiite Halloween), hoping my week for the essay thing for Seasons Past doesn't occur while I'm in San Francisco in December......

[KCBOOMER]

I can usually make it until the end of the football season before real gloom sets in, but when it does it's real gloomy.

[pwdennis]

If it's a long cold winter I'm stuck. I can't move too much further south without running into areas where English is not spoken !

[soxfan121]

Originally posted by pwdennis
If it's a long cold winter I'm stuck. I can't move too much further south without running into areas where English is not spoken !

Lucky you pw, it has already snowed here (although it's all melted off since). For the residents of the northeast (transplanted or not) that first day where the snow flies always puts a little chill into the heart. Soon, the Fabulous Fens will be covered in white, not green.

[hmrsf]

SF we agree on this.:(



BUT PITCHERS and CATCHERS REPORT TO ST in 110 days :)

and only 154 more days until opening day :bounce: Hang in there SF.........the Sox are so close.

[soxfan121]

Originally posted by hmrsf
SF we agree on this.:(



BUT PITCHERS and CATCHERS REPORT TO ST in 110 days :)

and only 154 more days until opening day :bounce: Hang in there SF.........the Sox are so close.

hm, you never fail to bring a smile to my face. Thanks for the positive optimism. :D

[pwdennis]

Because I really like college football, I usually don't start getting antsy until after the bowl games are over. Once the the real bowls are over (Blue-Gray, East-West and other "All-Star" games don't count), I start counting the days to spring training. Last year some foot surgery precluded me from attending any spring training games but this year I'll hit several.

[soxfan121]

Originally posted by pwdennis
Because I really like college football, I usually don't start getting antsy until after the bowl games are over. Once the the real bowls are over (Blue-Gray, East-West and other "All-Star" games don't count), I start counting the days to spring training. Last year some foot surgery precluded me from attending any spring training games but this year I'll hit several.

If you're near Ft. Myers around St. Patty's Day weekend, I'll be in the stands at City of Palms Park. I always book my trip to Ft. Myers on this day every year - gives me something to look forward to - and it eases the pain of withdrawl.

[pwdennis]

Originally posted by soxfan121
If you're near Ft. Myers around St. Patty's Day weekend, I'll be in the stands at City of Palms Park. I always book my trip to Ft. Myers on this day every year - gives me something to look forward to - and it eases the pain of withdrawl.

Fort Myers is a bit far - I usually hit the games between Orlando and Tampa. If I get there I'll look for you

[hmrsf]

I will be in Ft Myers this winter or next. My father is retiring this winter. I will know more in a few weeks.:D Never been to ST!:bounce:

[CpUltravox]

Originally posted by soxfan121
If you're near Ft. Myers around St. Patty's Day weekend, I'll be in the stands at City of Palms Park. I always book my trip to Ft. Myers on this day every year - gives me something to look forward to - and it eases the pain of withdrawl.

Were you last year? I was close to there! And I have my Kelly Green Twins hat to prove it!

[soxfan121]

Originally posted by hmrsf
I will be in Ft Myers this winter or next. My father is retiring this winter. I will know more in a few weeks.:D Never been to ST!:bounce:

Spring training is a blast. The crowds make it great; I recall being shocked when the opposing batter got a healthy ovation when he grounded out to 2nd, moving the runner over. The fans understand good baseball and enjoy the game, not for the competition, but for the GAME itself. I really love ST baseball.

Of course, I probably love it most because I get to go to the games with my grandmother - a woman who used sit in the RF bleachers with a "Marry Me Ted!" sign in the late 40's. Same grandmother who held my hand after the `86 Series and said "They do it to us everytime."

Also, in my experience, ST is the best way to meet players. Two years ago, I chatted with Jason Varitek for 15 minutes while he was stretching in the OF; last season I talked with John Henry and then Cliff Floyd and Ozzie Guillen (then, of the FLA Marlins). Ozzie, in particular, was a riot - giving away baseballs to kids and making fun of his "hitting ability."

[moose]

i can still golf...

[calexpat]

Winter haiku

No light
No heat
No baseball
Life sucks

[tortured angel]

We're just gearing up for winter softball season. Being league commisioner keeps me pretty involved. This season my goal is to throw nothing but first pitch strikes and not pull my hammy again. Both easier said than done.

[spitball]

Originally posted by tortured angel
We're just gearing up for winter softball season. Being league commisioner keeps me pretty involved. This season my goal is to throw nothing but first pitch strikes and not pull my hammy again. Both easier said than done.
Fastpitch??

[pwdennis]

Originally posted by soxfan121
Spring training is a blast ...Also, in my experience, ST is the best way to meet players.

You said it - baseball, fun & suds in the sun !

You get to see the rookies, prospects and suspects, banter with the players - and for relative peanuts

[hmrsf]

ST next winter.:( That is how it goes.

[tortured angel]

Originally posted by spitball
Fastpitch?? No. I'd like to play fastpitch but we're a bunch of overage, overweight wrench monkeys who can't afford to get hurt.

[hmrsf]

Originally posted by tortured angel
No. I'd like to play fastpitch but we're a bunch of overage, overweight wrench monkeys who can't afford to get hurt.

That's what I played. I was fairly good ......for a girl. I played in bar league for awhile but my true calling was being the mommy.

[pwdennis]

It's finally turning cold here, temps dipping into the high 50s. What's next ? Snow ??

[JamesI]

Originally posted by pwdennis
It's finally turning cold here, temps dipping into the high 50s. What's next ? Snow ??

Man, I've allready had to get out my heavy winter coat and walk to school in snow!

[hmrsf]

ahhhhhhhh............


I count down the days until opening day.....


137 days and 4 hours until opening day with TB

93 days until pitchers and catchers report to ST :D

[trripleplay]

My personal cure for Off-Season Baseball Deprivation Blues is my own baseball websites. My passion, as I've mentioned before, is college baseball, specifically the Universitof Missouri Tigers. Ever since I started an unofficial Tiger Baseball website, I have had plenty to keep me "in the game" during the offseason, surfing the internet and other sources for recruiting news, former players in the minors, and other stuff. Helps get through those long months.

[BigJon]

Reading gets me thru the off season. Baseball America, Baseball Weekly(at least it used to before half was cut out for football),and sites like this where everyone is a baseball fan who can't wait to talk about how their team will be better next year if only...