Most of the
romance is gone from pro sports. The holdout is baseball Spring Training,
conducted in Florida and Arizona, 15 teams in each state. Optimism is high,
because everybody’s record is 0-0. Rookies get to move up in their
organization’s plans. Established veterans, long-term contracts in hand, polish
parts of their game. Reporters arrive hours before each exhibition contest,
eating up every tidbit.
But there are sad
stories, and one of them is the Atlanta Braves, who have traded off talent for
prospects, gambling they can be better in 2017 and beyond at their new stadium
in Cobb County. Sample interview:
Reporter: Could this team lose 100 games?
Braves official: No way. We are confident that will not happen.
Reporter: Could this team lose 95 games?
Braves official: I’d rather not comment.
The saddest
stories of all involve players at or near the end of their careers. Consider
35-year-old Nick Swisher, a first baseman/outfielder with surgically repaired
knees (both, in 2014). Wearing bulky braces, he appeared in 76 games last
season with Cleveland and then Atlanta, hitting .196.
Whether he sticks
with the Braves or not, he’ll make $15 million. That money is guaranteed. Of
course, the Braves would like to trade him and dump part of that salary, but
that isn’t going to happen, so he likely will be released. If you see Nick in
an exhibition game, expect swings for the fences.
Note the
optimism. Outcomes of Spring Training can vary. That’s why fans love it.
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