Baseball has a funny habit of providing unexpected and miraculous moments. It also has a habit of providing moments that we wouldn't expect in a billion years. But, then again that is the beauty of baseball. There have been five moments this Spring Training in particular that have felt weirder than usual.
No. 5: Robinson Cano in a Seattle Mariners Uniform
If someone from the future were to travel one year in the past and tell me Robinson Cano signed a 10-year $240 million contract with the Mariners, I'd laugh in their faces. Cano, 31, played nine season with the Yankees, batting .309 and collecting 1649 hits. He never had a season where he hit less than 34 doubles. In fact Cano has five straight seasons of 40+ doubles.
I never thought Cano would leave the Yankees and sign with the Mariners. If Cano was to leave, I thought he'd sign with the Dodgers, a prominent big market team in need of a second baseman. It's weird to see Cano in another uniform and it's even weirder to know that he may never put on the Pinstripes again.
No. 4: Jake Peavy and the Knife
OK, how do you want to explain this X-File?
Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young award winner with the Padres, was at home when he accidentally cut his finger with a knife. Red Sox manager John Farrell said the injury could've been much worse, hinting that Peavy's entire left index finger could've been cut off.
Believe it or not; this isn't the first finger injury Peavy suffered this Spring Training. He suffered an irritation to his right ring finger after being hit by a line drive in batting practice. Peavy recovered quickly from that affair and the Red Sox expect him to resume throwing in a matter of days.
I hope this is the end of Peavy's finger injuries in Spring Training, but you know what they say; third times the charm!
No. 3: The Return of Mike Piazza
October 2nd, 2005 is forever known as the last day Mike Piazza appeared in a Mets' uniform as a player. He went hitless in three at bats, doing nothing special other than saying goodbye. It was the end of an era for New York Mets' Baseball. But now Piazza has returned to the Mets as a guest coach for Spring Training, bringing the knowledge and skill that made him an all-star catcher.
"It's fun to get back in the uniform and be around the clubhouse,” said Piazza. And I feel like I have a lot to teach. Obviously I feel like I got a lot out of my ability when I played. If I could just talk to some young guys and maybe help them advance their careers, it's very rewarding."
There's something fulfilling about seeing a player return to the uniform that made him a legend. Piazza hasn't been a part of the Mets' organization since he left the team on that mid October afternoon. In a way, it's weird to see him back with the Mets. At the same time, it's rewarding and puts a smile on your face as a baseball fan.
No. 2: The last Spring Training for Derek Jeter
It's hard to believe this is the last season (and therefore the last Spring Training) where Derek Jeter will wear the Pinstripes. Watching Jeter age has made the rest of us age along with him. Didn't it seem like yesterday when Jeter was the young shortstop in the Yankees' minor league system who made 56 errors in a season?
Well yesterday has become today. Today we had better enjoy watching the captain grace the fields in Florida for Spring Training. Time moves fast and Jeter (while slower than he once was) is moving along with it. The Captain is no longer a kid.
No. 1: We have a Challenge on the Field
Umpires are going to be challenged more than ever this season. Spring Training will see managers invoking their new found abilities to challenge calls by the use of Instant Replay. Monday was the first time challenges were allowed in games, including the Cubs-Brewers game.
When the rule came out that Managers would be allowed to challenge calls with Instant Replay, I imagined Joe Girardi throwing a yellow (maybe pinstriped) flag on the field. If Major League Baseball is trying to steal some popularity from the National Football League, then they've failed. I don't think fans wanted the game delayed any longer than it will be. MLB should've just assigned one central umpire to work each game in Broadcast booths. If a key/questionable call took place, he would radio the home plate umpire. Then the call would be changed.
I'm not sure if I'll like the new challenge system. I just hope the umpires will do a better job managing it than some of the referees in the NFL.
What do you think of these weird moments? Are there any other moments you want to suggest? Put them in the comments section below.
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