Spring forward: What to know as MLB camps open Sunday

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — No more counterproposals. No quarreling over the CBT.

From Clearwater, Florida, to Goodyear, Arizona, it’s time for curveballs, Cracker Jack and the perpetually inspiring clean slate in the standings that comes at the start of each season.

It’s time to play ball — or at least practice it. After a longer, darker winter than normal, that’s reason enough to celebrate.

Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and the rest of baseball’s biggest stars are due at spring training Sunday for the first official day of preseason training following the end of Major League Baseball’s 99-day labor lockout.

Pitchers and catchers were supposed to report a month ago, but camps across the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues remained closed while players and owners squabbled over the sport’s economics.

A deal was reached Thursday, and now pitchers and hitters are ramping up for four weeks of mad-dash preparations ahead of a 162-game season that starts April 7.

Jacob deGrom’s fastball whiz-popping in the bullpen, Fernando Tatis Jr. taking aim in BP, and Yadier Molina mentoring one last pitching staff — just the sights and sounds needed for a sport stuck in neutral since December.

“Fans have been through quite a bit lately,” Texas Rangers president Jon Daniels said.

Here’s what to watch for when everyone shows up:

THE NEW GUYS

Rangers fans are getting quite the reward for their lockout patience — the spring debuts of big-money free agents Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, signed for a combined $500 million before rosters froze Dec. 2.

Might be hard to remember all that happened back then, when clubs dropped a one-day record $1.4 billion on free agents before all went quiet.

Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray left Toronto for Seattle, and the...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Spring-forward-What-to-know-as-MLB-camps-open-16997401.php