Do You Care About Spring Training?

by SodaHead Sports Posted 2012/04/04 19:00:00

Related Topics: Sports, MLB, spring training, Baseball, NBA, Quarterback, NCAA, Baltimore Ravens, National Football League, Football, Games, The Game, Phillies, Philadelphia, Final Four, Game, Bad

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	Yes	54 votes	34%
	No	106 votes	66%

Major League Baseball's spring training is an exciting time for baseball fans -- or is it? There have been a couple of big stories to come out of spring training thus far, such as Philadelphia Phillies' slugger Chase Utley injuring his knee or Cleveland Indians' pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez getting himself suspended for the first five games of the regular season.

However, outside of a couple of stories, after all the major signings have taken place during the "hot stove" period, is spring training really relevant? Not so much for players, who have to get in shape and in sync, but for fans... Are stories about a team's great chemistry or bad turmoil really relevant in April, before a regular season first pitch is even thrown?

Does spring training really overtake the NCAA Final Four, NBA regular season heading into the playoffs, and even Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco believing he is the best quarterback in the National Football League? We're sure hardcore baseball fans will say "yes" because of their love of the game, but for everyone else: Do you care about spring training? Or do you only start caring when games begin to matter?

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Mimi 2012/04/05 01:57:01

No

+4
I dont care about sports in general.
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More polls by SodaHead Sports

muzammil 2012/04/07 20:37:13

Yes

i love sports

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flrdsgns 2012/04/06 23:44:27

Yes

Yes, I love Spring Training. I have arranged vacations around them in the past. I've been to many afternoon spring training games and I really enjoy them. The player are more relaxed and will talk to fans. It is kind of a picnic atmosphere, and I've always found it relaxing and exciting at the same time.

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Chukroast 2012/04/06 07:46:51

No

Absolutely not.

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Callaway 2012/04/06 01:23:40

Yes

For the real team followers it give you an idea of what's in the feeder system and how the team will look when they head north. Maybe better in the old days when the media wasn't so involved and it was more of a discovery from the local papers.

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Anna E 2012/04/05 18:42:12

No

Not really. I care more about me playing sports than watching others practise n stuff. If I watch sports it is to see good playing, not who is playing. That other stuff is just peripheral to the playing.

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dv 2012/04/05 18:09:55

No

Can't say I do baseball is boring

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Lerro DeHazel 2012/04/05 17:30:51

Yes

It's really funny, when Jones Ramsey was the Sports Information Director at the University of Texas @ Austin, he once said, "There are two sports at The University of Texas . . . Football and Spring Football." In baseball, though, Spring Practice is really good for the new Pitchers to glow. Most mangers (Coaches) don't like to keep any of their Pitchers out there for too long. Also, when you have Spring Baseball, it gives you a chance to sort of "look-in" . . . To look-in on the Team in focus. You might see some Rookie, too; however, when the Season gets into full-swing, you may never see him again for 3-months. Just keep in mind that it's really only practice.

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Patric 2012/04/05 17:09:01

Yes

HELL YES, when does it start ??

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prosperhappily 2012/04/05 16:31:09

Yes

A little bit.

It's a little preview of the season. It's interesting to see who shows up ready to go and who doesn't.

When I lived in upstate NY, it was a sign that winter was finally nearing it's end. Thank God. Now, I live in a warmer climate that's not as important.

I don't pay real close attention because the games don't count & established players aren't in the game that much and aren't going all out. But, it is a nice warm up to get your mind back on the game.

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wolf 2012/04/05 15:17:15

No

Give me sandlot game any day of the week.

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jacktown kid 2012/04/05 14:45:24

Yes

got to get playing shape to be ready for the season

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Splinter76 2012/04/05 14:39:36

No

I couldn't possibly care any less about baseball in general. LOVE football. Enjoy basketball. But baseball puts me to sleep.

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Hannah 2012/04/05 14:37:02

No

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santa6642 2012/04/05 13:46:51

Yes

baseball is the best.

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Somkey the Hores 2012/04/05 05:57:53

Yes

It gets the players ready for the season. Anything else is media BS.

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vinone 2012/04/05 04:43:54

Yes

Wins and loses don't matter.

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NYYankees 2012/04/05 04:32:10

Yes

+1
in terms of numbers or win loss column no... but in terms of how somebody comes in to camp whether they're in shape or not or how their velocity is or how their swing is and if it doesnt translate in april its something to watch

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BigKwell 2012/04/05 03:30:07

No

The results don't count, anyway.

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Met 2012/04/05 02:59:00 (edited)

Yes

But then again i'm a baseball geek. Besides, spring training is when you get to look at the prospects for the next couple years. Unless someone goes down, it's really the only time you get to see them.

Also let's you gauge the enthusiasm for the regular season during years when your team is trying out a new skipper or bringing up the new kid who they say hits like fists.

Oh and yeah, speaking for the at least hundreds of thousands of baseball fans who care nothing about basketball, Spring Training is right on time.

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Bob DiN 2012/04/05 02:55:15

Yes

+1
Yes but nearly as much as the regular season.

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The Mosher 2012/04/05 02:07:53

Yes

+1
not to much just to get a feel of players' health

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Mimi 2012/04/05 01:57:01

No

+4
I dont care about sports in general.

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BlackwinterG36C 2012/04/05 01:47:53

No

+1
And I don't care about the rest of the season. Baseball is only fun when your either your playing or in the bleachers.

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Cal 2012/04/05 01:25:22

No

+2
Not even a little *YAWN*

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James 2012/04/05 01:12:50
kitkat42 2012/04/05 00:54:44

No

+1
Not a baseball fan. Give me some NHL playoffs, please!

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the fuze 2012/04/05 00:44:33

No

+1
When I lived in Phoenix and could actually attend games I cared about it. Not so much nowadays.

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Louis Contreras 2012/04/05 00:18:16

No

+1
I don't follow baseball that closely.

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Gracie - Proud Conservative 2012/04/04 23:57:11

Yes

+1
When my daughter was about 8, she and I went to Mesa, Arizona for Spring Training for the Cubs. The players were super nice, we talked to them and they signed all kinds of baseballs for her. It was one of the best times that we ever had together and she always talks about it still and she's 31.

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me being me 2012/04/04 23:45:41

No

+1
Not really a baseball fan.

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crewzer1 2012/04/04 23:45:39

No

+1
When they send me a paycheck for bein a FAN. Then I will give it more LOVE...

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wildcat 2012/04/04 23:41:04

Yes

+1
I love Spring Training,

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sglmom 2012/04/04 23:40:45

No

+1
NOPE ..
And .. let's go a little further here ..
These "PRO" sports .. the televised big bucks ones ..
WHO Can afford any of it anyways?
Just can't afford a ticket .. can't afford the time .. not even in the remotest interested at all ..

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Darlin' 2012/04/04 23:40:22

No

+2
but I am into Spring cleaning...

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beachbum to Darlin' 2012/04/04 23:43:06

+2
Wanna come clean my house???

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hari 2012/04/04 23:11:34

No

+1
no

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JohnT 2012/04/04 23:08:36

No

+2
Baseball at the stadium regular season is fun for a few innings, but spring training and watching it on TV is like watching paint dry. Seeing a bunch of guys standing around spitting sunflower seeds or scratching themselves is not much in the way of sports entertainment. Every now and than someone hits the ball,runs, slides in to base, and than back to looking at the smartphone apps. I guess I am just not a great sports fan anymore. I rather do something actually enjoyable.

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lorenab. 2012/04/04 21:13:22

Yes

+1
i mean for the pros no! but for schools yeah!! cause thats when my man looks the best!!:D

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wilsonmja 2012/04/04 20:51:41

No

+1
My Mariners will never win a championship in my lifetime so I'm just apathetic about baseball.

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jackolantyrn356 2012/04/04 20:33:12 (edited)

Yes

+1
New or seldom seen players get in the field so you can get staistical feel for what they are gonna be like in a real game.
Those so called fans who don't have an inmterest before the 1st game are not BaseBall Fans.

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