For many, this baseball off-season has flown by … unless you’re a Dodger fan, that is.

Let’s be honest here, losing Game-7 of their first World Series appearance since 1988 ripped the hearts out of every Dodger fan on the planet; many of whom weren’t even born for that last one. As a result, this baseball off-season feels like the longest one the game has ever seen.

Brutally long.

But today – Tuesday, February 13, 2018 – we begin anew. Today Dodgers pitchers and catchers report for spring training, with their first official workout scheduled for tomorrow, February 14 – Valentine’s Day; the perfect day to mend our broken hearts.

I say official because what generally happens – or at least has happened in past years – is that once their required physicals are completed on Tuesday morning, many (most) of them will throw on a T-shirt, some workout shorts or sweats, lace up their spikes, grab their gloves, and hit one of the practice fields for some stretching, running and throwing; not in an official bullpen kind of way, but in a ‘we’re baaaaack, let’s get this party started’ kind of way to pop the cork on a brand new season.

Even though the first official workout for pitchers and catchers is Wednesday morning, don’t be surprised to see many (most) of them working out after their physicals on Tuesday. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although the first spring training game will not occur until Friday, February 23, the next couple of days are, hands down, THE best possible time for fans to get autographs from or take selfies with their favorite Dodger players. With no games on tap, the crowds at Camelback Ranch are generally a little smaller than they will be once the games begin … albeit only slightly.

You’ll note that I said ‘favorite Dodger players’ and not ‘favorite Dodger pitchers’ – this because even though position players are not scheduled to officially report until Sunday, February 18, most of them are already in camp. As such, they are not yet burned out on signing autographs and, in fact, love interacting with fans … when their workouts are completed (a clue).

You just never know who might show up at Camelback Ranch during spring training.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But no matter how you slice it … It’s Tiiiime for Dodger Baseball!

Finally.