The nominal importance of the date pitchers and catchers are due to report to Spring Training has always far outweighed the actual importance. It’s the end of the offseason. It’s the beginning of Spring Training. It’s the time we can finally stop thinking almost exclusively about transactions, and think more earnestly about baseball decisions and baseball performance.
Chicago Cubs pitchers and catchers are due to report by tomorrow, which is all kinds of awesome.
But, in the spirit of that date having more emotional significance than physical, there are already a ton of Cubs players at the team’s facilities in Mesa, Arizona getting to work.
Enter your visuals (and your reminder to follow these folks on Twitter) …
CJ Edwards gets work in. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/3f90tzh5jf
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) February 18, 2015
And let's not forget the catchers. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/2g3I4OY9BW
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) February 18, 2015
Quality assurance coach Henry Blanco throwing BP: pic.twitter.com/66oZXHC4sO
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) February 18, 2015
Kyle Schwarber taking care of his catching gear: pic.twitter.com/N2UnAwCWCH
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) February 18, 2015
#Cubs Joe Maddon and staff on field. 1st workout Friday pic.twitter.com/A0uixjY4Xo
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) February 18, 2015
Getting in his work. #Ace @JLester34 pic.twitter.com/4UBCKl5UDk
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 18, 2015
Bard, Schlitter and Motte. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/yVkG9QczX6
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) February 18, 2015
Montero and Cubs new special assistant Kevin Youkilis: pic.twitter.com/WpxQ4IOAYY
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) February 18, 2015
And, there’s no visual on this yet, but I approve:
Kris Bryant In the batting cage has gone the beard route .
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 18, 2015
Oh-so-completely-necessary UPDATE:
#Cubs prospect Kris Bryant gets ready to take some hacks today in the cage. Photo from John Antonoff pic.twitter.com/7BtYabEr63
— Chris De Luca (@ChrisDeLuca) February 18, 2015