The Least Wonderful Time of the Year

As I was walking to work this morning, on a rainy and windy 50 degree day in Boston, I couldn’t help but think of the weather as a metaphor for this time of year. The Sox are preparing for Truck Day in a few weeks and then Spring Training workouts will begin a few weeks after that, but what to do until then?

Normally, I would suggest watching other Boston sports, like the Bruins. However, like the rain coming down outside, the Bruins are falling right into the drain. Then I might suggest watching the Celtics, but the real season doesn’t start until playoff time for the NBA and since the C’s are in first place in their division by 7 games, there isn’t much to watch at this point. So, let’s turn to other things going on in the baseball world.

Transactions and rumors are still flying around as we approach the end of January, but little to do with the Red Sox. Many teams are signing arbitration eligible players to deals or extending contracts, but the Sox appear to be stagnant. Every hour I search for news or rumors, and there is little to be found, even in the vast wasteland we call cyberspace. So what do I do instead? Dream of 72 degrees, a light breeze, and the Sox red practice jerseys.

I can almost smell the hot dogs cooking and see the mustard stain on my shirt. I can hear the crack of a fastball hitting a catcher’s mitt and the sound of coaches yelling in the distance. I can feel the cool breeze across my face and the smell of fresh pine tar. As I become completely engrossed in the sounds and smells of the game, I get jolted back to reality by a co-worker asking me an endless question.

It’s so close I can feel it, but yet still weeks away. I guess all we can do is wait with anticipation, knowing that soon enough baseball will be back again.