Is spring training too long?

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  • Drew127
    Pro
    • Aug 2002
    • 523

    #1

    Is spring training too long?

    Up until some point in the 80's, players showed up at spring training completely out of shape. The first few weeks were all about just getting everyone back into playing shape and working off the 20+ lbs gained over the winter.

    Obviously with all the advancements through the years and all the emphasis put on conditioning with today's athletes, this isn't so much the case anymore. Guys are working out all winter and taking good care of themselves.

    That being said, do you all think spring training is too long? I think 30 games is too much. It should be 20 max. The baseball season is long enough as it is, and we are seeing guys breaking down every year at the end of the season. Especially pitchers. Maybe chopping a few weeks off of spring training would be beneficial.
  • kehlis
    Moderator
    • Jul 2008
    • 27738

    #2
    Re: Is spring training too long?

    It wouldn't do anything, the team's will still report when when they do and with baseball, the best way to prepare for the season is to play games.

    If you shortened the actual spring training schedule, they would still be playing games of some sort whether it be against themselves, colleges, etc...

    And I don't think the spring training games have anything to do with players breaking down in the season (that reason being season length itself) most of the players that will be playing a majority of the time down the stretch don't play much in spring training anyway...

    Comment

    • CMH
      Making you famous
      • Oct 2002
      • 26203

      #3
      Re: Is spring training too long?

      Agreed with kehlis.

      You have two options if you cut spring training short:

      1. You start the season sooner.

      We all already know that the season probably starts too soon with the weather in April. But, if you start in March, I think it's even worse than the one time you get snow in the World Series out of 100 years.

      2. Spring Training starts later.

      Players will still work out and head to camp early - especially the serious ones. There were several guys at camp even before pitchers and catchers were set to report. And most of the guys that don't show up to camp early are at home working out.

      I think good managers and smart, veteran players know how much time a guy needs to prepare for the year. There still isn't a better time than Spring Training to see if a particular player can help you in the big leagues.

      While I agree that Spring Training stats are for the most part worthless, they are the only measure a team can use for a young player competing for a spot that has never faced major league competition.
      "It may well be that we spectators, who are not divinely gifted as athletes, are the only ones able to truly see, articulate and animate the experience of the gift we are denied. And that those who receive and act out the gift of athletic genius must, perforce, be blind and dumb about it -- and not because blindness and dumbness are the price of the gift, but because they are its essence." - David Foster Wallace

      "You'll not find more penny-wise/pound-foolish behavior than in Major League Baseball." - Rob Neyer

      Comment

      • BatsareBugs
        LVP
        • Feb 2003
        • 12553

        #4
        Re: Is spring training too long?

        Originally posted by Drew127
        That being said, do you all think spring training is too long? I think 30 games is too much. It should be 20 max. The baseball season is long enough as it is, and we are seeing guys breaking down every year at the end of the season. Especially pitchers. Maybe chopping a few weeks off of spring training would be beneficial.
        Well, I know one player isn't representative of the whole population, but I recall an interview last Friday on the radio with Tony Gwynn Jr. of the Padres saying that the length of spring training is for the pitchers to get their arms prepared (injuries happen, you can't avoid them) more than the hitters. I don't know if this is evidence enough, but I recall the two spring trainings in 06' and 09' that Jake Peavy had cut-short because of the WBC led to his two worst seasons statistically and have led to some time on the DL for both years.

        Comment

        • SPTO
          binging
          • Feb 2003
          • 68046

          #5
          Re: Is spring training too long?

          ST is more for the pitchers then anything else. Heck for about half the time the pitchers don't even work on breaking stuff at all and just throw fastballs 90% of the time. It's also a time for them to experiment on new pitches that they want to try out during the regular season.

          Roy Halladay in the past would add a pitch to his arsenal and spend an entire ST outing just throwing said new pitch and fastballs just so he can gauge how far along he is.

          As for pitchers breaking down? Well, I have my theory but that's another topic for another time.
          Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club

          "Baseball is the most important thing that doesn't matter at all" - Robert B. Parker

          Comment

          • Tomahawk
            MVP
            • Feb 2005
            • 1593

            #6
            Re: Is spring training too long?

            I think it was too long last year to due to the World Baseball Classic, but normally it is just about right to get the arms in shape for the real games and check out the young prospects.
            • LETS GO RED SOX!!!
            • LETS GO HOKIES!!!
            • GO PACK GO!!!
            • LETS GO BRUINS!!!

            Comment

            • ghm125
              john14:6
              • Jul 2002
              • 2439

              #7
              Re: Is spring training too long?

              nah its not too long,most guys workout year round,and with winter leagues being played guys get work in. ST is so pitchers can get work in,and to see how the teams Minor league players play,mixed with major leaguers.One thing I would like changed would to be is start post season sooner(snow,and cold weather) just kills Baseball,in my opinion.and have the eastern part of U.S. teams,play somewhere warm in beginning of season,until say the 2-3 week of April,I know that would mean road games ,but no more than normal,10-12 game road trip...
              VIOLATION!!!!!!!!

              Comment

              • ELDoro
                Pr*
                • Feb 2003
                • 798

                #8
                Re: Is spring training too long?

                Start the season sooner so they aren't playing the playoffs in the snow. Like someone already said, players use to show up to ST out of shape. Their idea of offseason conditioning was pickup basketball. Now most players are involved in year round conditioning.

                Comment

                • rsox
                  All Star
                  • Feb 2003
                  • 6309

                  #9
                  Re: Is spring training too long?

                  Originally posted by ELDoro
                  Start the season sooner so they aren't playing the playoffs in the snow.
                  You're right...they wil play the start of the season in the snow.

                  Go back to the old days when they actually used to schedule double headers and that would help shorten the season. And cut out all of the damn off days between playoff games for TV and they wouldn't be playing the World Series in november.

                  Comment

                  • Sportsforever
                    NL MVP
                    • Mar 2005
                    • 20368

                    #10
                    Re: Is spring training too long?

                    I think what some of you are missing though is that there is a difference in being in shape and being in baseball shape. Players continue to work out during the offseason, but they usually let their arms/legs rest and recover. Spring training is about building up some endurance in the legs (especially pitchers) and stretching out the arms. It takes a good month to be in baseball shape...
                    "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby

                    Comment

                    • Tomahawk
                      MVP
                      • Feb 2005
                      • 1593

                      #11
                      Re: Is spring training too long?

                      Originally posted by Sportsforever
                      It takes a good month to be in baseball shape...
                      It would be nice if the Virginia High School League understood that simple concept. February 22nd was the first day of practice and official games start on March 12th.
                      • LETS GO RED SOX!!!
                      • LETS GO HOKIES!!!
                      • GO PACK GO!!!
                      • LETS GO BRUINS!!!

                      Comment

                      • econoodle
                        MVP
                        • Sep 2009
                        • 4884

                        #12
                        Re: Is spring training too long?

                        blasphemy!
                        ;lol

                        but yea i understand the argument.
                        but i am gonna say, no
                        I like having March be dedicated to the warm up part of the season.
                        I know march means spring training, i dont mind the length.
                        Now the regular season??
                        hmmmm

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