It may not look like spring outside... by Jared Carrabis
A few thoughts as winter winds down, including Red Sox spring training broadcast schedule


It may not look like baseball season when you look outside, but it's coming.

Rogers Hornsby once said, "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."

I can say without any reservation that I live by that quote each and every winter here in Boston. At the time that I write this (3:09 AM ET), 16 days, 5 hours, 51 minutes and 13 seconds are all that separate Red Sox Nation from the start of spring training.

When the San Francisco Giants' Brian Wilson struck out the Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz to clinch the 2010 World Series in Arlington, Texas, I was there. At the moment of the final out, a number of thoughts had entered my head. I was psyched to be a part of history, witnessing the final out of a World Series and all, but a number of things bothered me as I was watched the Giants pour out of their dugout, and onto the field to celebrate.

First, I wanted it to be the Red Sox that was celebrating a World Series title. Second, and this didn’t hit me until I was walking down the ramp and heading down to field level, I couldn't believe that baseball season was over. I wanted nothing to do with the offseason. I wasn’t ready to let go of baseball season. I never am, really, but this time was different.

As exciting as the offseason can be here in Boston, I’d rather be watching the action on the field than pounding the keyboard about the action over at 4 Yawkey Way.

With just over two weeks and counting until the popping of the leather, the cracking of the bat, and the smell of fresh cut grass down in Fort Myers, I must say that this offseason flew by. I guess that’s what happens when you have one of the most monumental winters in team history. There’s always plenty to talk about with just about anyone, strangers included, because chances are, if you live in Boston, you have baseball in common.

But thanks in part to things like doing my webcast every Wednesday night, keeping my TV locked on MLB Network, keeping a closer eye on Twitter than I used to keep an eye on Kelly Barons back in the day, morphing my iPad that I got for Christmas into the ultimate baseball information machine, and by keeping up with the many great baseball blogs out there, I kept a steady diet of daily baseball to make time fly by in the winter months of New England.

This morning, when I went outside to shovel my driveway after the nine inches of snow that fell on top of the sixteen feet that was already there, my neighbor across the street noticed me shoveling and came over. What do you think the conversation was about? Where else in the country are two neighbors talking about baseball when there are mounds of snow all around them?

After the offseason that the Yankees are having, I know it’s not New York. Maybe Philly? But they have the Flyers going for them. I'm gonna have to say that nobody else is in baseball mode like Boston is right now. No chance.

Anyway, I broke out Microsoft Excel to make a spreadsheet for Red Sox spring training games, what day and time they'll be on, what network is carrying the game, and the team that is about to feel the wrath of Tito's clan. You can check that out by clicking here.

Note: the MLB Network will be carrying several spring training games, but have not yet announced their broadcast schedule. I’ll repost the Red Sox spring training broadcast schedule with NESN, ESPN and MLB Network games as soon as MLB Network gets with the program.

-Jared Carrabis



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Published on January 28, 2011

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