March 03--For some of us, the best part about the start of the Cactus and Grapefruit League Games is the return of box scores.
No, they're not as detailed as the ones you see during the regular season. Yes, they're harder to find since most newspapers no longer have the space to print all of the spring training box scores.
But they can always be found somewhere online, and whether you're looking for your favorite team, familiar players or attendance figures, it's a daily ritual you miss during those agonizing four months when no games are played.
Just glancing through Wednesday's box scores was a treat, bringing up so many questions. Players you lost track of appear in new places, and some you've never heard of scream for attention, making you google baseballreference.com to check out their careers.
--Is that really Tony Campana, the beloved ex-Cub speedster who couldn't learn to get on base, playing center field with the Dusty Baker's Nationals? "Dusty and Campy" would be a perfect name for a CBS sitcom.
--Only 4,432 for the Rays-Nats game in Port Charlotte, Fla.? Don't the Cubs bring in more fans for live batting practice at Sloan Park?
--Braves rookie Mallex Smith got six at-bats leading off against the Orioles, going 4-for-6 with two triples, a home run and a double? Why would any player get six at-bats this early, or was it just a freaky occurrence?
--Hector Santiago and Jeff Samardzija facing off in Scottsdale in a battle of White Sox castoffs?
--Nomar Mazara with a three-run homer and four RBIs for Texas? Could the 20-year-old be named after Nomar Garciaparra? (Am I that old already?)
--Starlin Castro going 2-for-3 in his first game with the Yankees? Are they playing his catchy walk-up song at Legends Park?
No doubt some will glance at Thursday's box scores and wonder why Kyle Schwarber is batting leadoff for the Cubs.
In spring, anything is possible.
As the spring games wear on, the novelty of glancing at the daily box scores may wear off for some. After all, the games really are meaningless.
But it's just great to have them back again, giving us something to think about as we count down to opening day.
Box scores may have drastically changed over the last century, but they remain the preferred appetizer for every serious baseball fan.
