Spring training baseball results in Major League Baseball (MLB) rarely are revealing as a barometer of results later during the regular season. It seldom is an indication for teams. Managers may pull starting players in the middle of a game whether teams are ahead or behind. Teams place limits on pitches thrown by pitchers regardless of game conditions. Players need work. Players must show managers and coaches what they can do or can’t do.
Over the years there have been many teams with good won-loss ratios who have floundered early in the regular season. Still, teams are built to win games and nearly everybody would rather win games than lose them.
Through Monday, the Chicago Cubs were in third place in the 14-team National League with a 15-8 record. The Chicago White Sox were in last place in the American League with a 9-16 record. The Sox are in the Cactus League in Arizona following many years in the Florida Grapefruit League in Florida. The Cubs, at the direction of the late owner, P,K. Wrigley, was one of the first teams to take Spring Training in Arizona.
The regular season will begin in earnest, Thursday, March 28 earlier than many years ago when it was the second week in April. Rain is a consideration in April, however, many teams today play indoors, or with domes, and another item is the weather has changed in our climates to offer less rain. Does that mean we are due for three weeks of rain in early April? In any case, let’s play ball!
•The University of Illinois men’s basketball team has been playing ball and this week will begin the drive to tournament success in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) 68-team tournament. Illinois is a senior-dominant team and the best player these last two months, Terrence Shannon, Jr. in last week’s Big Ten Conference tournament went on a scoring spree to spur the Illini forward to the tournament championship and a No. 3 seed in the East Region where Northwestern University found a berth as a No. 9 seed in the 68-team field. Purdue was a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region. West and South are the other regions and Illinois and Purdue were the only Big Ten teams in each of the top four seeds in the regional tournaments. The other Big Ten teams in the NCAA meet are Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Nebraska. Big The Big Ten teams in the National Invitational (NIT) Tournament include Ohio State, Minnesota, and Iowa. Indiana turned down a bid to play in the NIT. Postseason play receives various reactions from schools. NCAA men’s championship game will be Monday, April 8.
Women’s Big Ten schools in its tournament drive: Michigan State, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio State. The women’s championship game will be Monday, April 7. Notre Dame is a part of the women’s field. We can enjoy the March Madness in both men’s and women’s. Additionally, in the men’s play is the 16-team CBI tournament without Big Ten Conference entries, however, it is tournament time. Television coverage will make the most of the games so we can enjoy!
•Sports is an ongoing process and although the tournaments and the start of Major League baseball capture our attention there are many other facets of interest.
High school baseball is warming up. See Bobby Narang’s report. College baseball has shifted into a higher gear. Not to be left behind is hockey. Even though the Blackhawks are mired in last place in the National Hockey League Western Conference Central Division, they give meaning to the phrase, wait until next year. Can the Blackhawks pull themselves up and be competitive next year? The Chicago Bulls are in ninth place and still have an eye on the postseason. The Bulls, through Monday this week were 34-35 and showing signs of playing cohesively, improved defense, and have a desire to make the playoffs.