It is 113 days since that horrific, error-strewn five-run inning that will haunt Yankees fans for years to come.
Which means it is 113 days since the Dodgers clinched the World Series.
And, with the greatest respect to the Arizona Fall League, LIDOM, other winter leagues, and College Baseball, it has been 113 days since I last watched baseball in which I was invested.
This week sees a double whammy of baseball action, with the WBC qualifiers and the first game in spring training. We covered the WBC qualifiers the other day, so my attention turns to the Cactus League and the Grapefruit League.
The basics: What is spring training?
It is five weeks of “friendly” games to help teams prepare for the season. Half of the 30 MLB teams relocated to the Phoenix area of Arizona, with the other 15 teams based in Florida.
The leagues are called “Cactus League” (Arizona) and “Grapefruit League” (Florida), and the games are usually referred to as “exhibition” games.
Cactus League teams: Brewers, Cubs, Reds, Guardians, Royals, White Sox, Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks, Giants, Rockies, Mariners, Rangers, Athletics and Angels
Grapefruit League teams: Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays, Phillies, Braves, Mets, Nationals, Marlins, Cardinals, Pirates, Tigers, Twins and Astros
Spring training games serve multiple purposes, including,
- Veteran players: gives them the opportunity to get their eye in, get their pitching arms warmed up, and generally to get up to match speed ahead of Opening Day.
- Prospects: gives them experience to train with and play alongside (and against) superstars ahead of breaking into the major league lineup.
- Fringe players: gives them the chance to impress and grab a valuable roster spot
When do Spring Training games start?
As we have the Toyko Series this season, the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers arrived earlier than usual and will play in the first spring training game on Thursday 20 February at 8pm GMT.
On Friday 21 February, the Tampa Bay Rays face the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field, which will become the Rays’ home field for the 2025 season since the Tropicana Field catastrophe.
Do the results of Spring Training games matter?
It is certainly not a great predictor for results in the regular season, although in the Cactus League last year, the Dodgers had the best win percentage and the Chicago White Sox had the worst.
However, the Colorado Rockies (17-12 win-loss record) finished with the most Cactus League wins, yet bizarrely, they allowed more runs than they scored.
In the Grapefruit League, the Baltimore Orioles were the dominant team with a 23-6 record and a +58 run differential.
So, results are not that important, but you certainly don’t want your team starting the season under a cloud of depression and fan discontentment.
How can we watch Spring Training games?
MLB.tv will show most of the games. It still feels incredible that I can watch almost every spring training, regular season, and postseason game LIVE for less than a tenner a month.
If you don’t want to commit to a full year of coverage, you can purchase a monthly pass for around £ 24.00 or just watch the daily “MLB.TV Free Game of the Day”
Which games are shown free on MLB?
There are lots of spring training games aired free without subscription on MLB.tv, and almost all of them are at UK-friendly times.
There are 16 free games over the first five days – the times listed below are GMT. Get yourself the MLB At-Bat app – it’s invaluable.
- FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY
- SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY
- Guardians v Reds (8pm)
- D-backs v Rockies (8pm)
- Athletics v Padres (8pm)
- SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY
- Twins v Pirates (6pm)
- Rays v Braves (6pm)
- Angels v Guardians (8pm)
- Padres v Dodgers (8pm)
- D-backs v Mariners (8pm)
- Brewers v Rockies (8pm)
- MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY
- Twins v Rays (6pm)
- Cubs v Padres (8pm)
- TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY
- Red Sox v Braves (6pm)
- D-backs v Cubs (8pm)
- Brewers v Guardians (8pm)
- Angels v Padres (8pm)
Three players to watch
Roki Sasaki
One of the most talented young pitchers in the game, Roki Sasaki did not shock the world when he decided to sign with the Dodgers. As we saw in the World Baseball Classic, his stuff is electric, so it’s a mouthwatering prospect to see his first taste of MLB spring training action.
Juan Soto
When a 26-year-old signs a $765 million contract, you have to question your life choices. The one-two-three punch of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso will make the Mets must-watch TV for the first time in many years.
James Wood
Star of 2024 spring training, James Wood slashed .364/.509/.705 with four home runs and almost as many walks as strikeouts. Wood played 79 games in the majors last season with a 122 OPS+ (22% better than league average) as a 21-year-old, so I’m watching out for him destroying spring training pitching.
When is the Toyko Series?
Get your sickness notes ready or arrange to work from home on Tuesday 18 March, when the Cubs take on the Dodgers in the Toyko Dome at the UK-friendly time of 10:10am GMT.
Currently, the starting pitcher matchup will be Shota Imanaga against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The atmosphere will be wild.
Although starters have not yet been confirmed for Game 2 on Wednesday 19 March, it feels likely that rookie phenom Roki Sasaki will feature at some time during the game.
With Seiya Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani also playing in front of the fanatical Japanese crowd, this could be the greatest Opening Series we have ever witnessed.
When is Opening Day?
Thursday 27 March is the first game of the regular season for 26 teams, and the third game for the Cubs and Dodgers. The Rockies and Rays must wait until Friday 28 March for their first game of the season.
Featured image of Max Muncy and Michael Busch by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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