We think about it, dream about it all winter. Truck Day, pitchers and catchers reporting, Spring Training. Then it arrives and seems like it will never end. The games are beyond meaningless and the line-up cards look foreign even to the most diehard fan. Today we get to see the likes of Kroeger at DH, Repko patrolling center and Hassan in left. The start of the season seems like forever. On a day that might hit 75 degrees in Boston, it feels like there should be baseball at Fenway. I’m sure it’s just as much a drag for the players who thrive on competition.

At least, on March 18th, we’ve heard the last of the corny Irish accents for another year.