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Nationals: Moving trucks en route means our fresh start is near

By James Simmons

Grounds crew workers clean up the field after the Grapefruit League spring training game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on March 12, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The MLB suspended the remaining spring training games due to the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Grounds crew workers clean up the field after the Grapefruit League spring training game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on March 12, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The MLB suspended the remaining spring training games due to the ongoing threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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With the reporting date for pitchers and catchers on the horizon, we can finally focus on a fresh season of Nationals baseball.

When the calendar turned from 2020 to 2021 I told myself I was no longer going to write about the pandemic shortened season. Whether good or bad, I wasn’t going to shine the light on the sixty game season any more. As much as we like to revisit the prior season (or the one before that, for that matter) we as fans should have a closer’s mentality. Blow the save, forget about it and move on. Baseball, like other sports, is a what have you done for me lately game, and I am ready to see what the 2021 Washington Nationals can do for me.

For those of you in the Northeast, the signs of spring could not be farther from you at the moment. Snow glistens on the ground, camouflaging the bases of any baseball field. If you are looking out the window and seeing this now, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you spring training was just around the corner. Well, spring training is just around the corner.

The equipment is on the way to Florida from Washington; and soon behind these trucks, pitchers and catchers will be heading south, much like the Canadian Geese before them. Not long after the arms and gloves arrive, position players will find their way to the Sunshine State. Then the dominoes begin to fall. Spring training games, reassigning players to minor league camps, final roster cuts, then a final 26-man roster and head north for Opening Day.

As we sit right now, all of these boxes will be checked, possibly not at the appropriate times as the MLB Players Association and MLB try to reach an agreement on a few of the particulars. While the bickering happens over the designated hitter and expanded postseason, spring training games and Opening Day remains somewhat in limbo.

Regardless of when the games begin or when we get to see baseball again, the first domino has fallen for the 2021 season. The equipment trucks are making their way to their spring training destination as we speak. Rosin bags which will be gripped by Jon Lester and Brad Hand, on their way. Baseballs to be launched into orbit by Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber, on their way. Catching equipment to be sized to fit Alex Avila, on its way.

Next. Juan Soto gets some warranted recognition. dark

This may be something small, however with moving trucks in motion, means baseball is on its way.

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