Photo taken by George Campbell who also wrote this article

In Monday’s Red Sox / Orioles game, Darnell McDonald kicked off the Red Sox ninth inning rally with a double. It brought the crowd to their feet as they appreciated what Darnell does for this team. He came into the game as a substitute and delivered when his name was called. The Sox would win the game 6-5 after being down a run in the eighth inning.

After bouncing around with ten different minor league teams since 1998, McDonald has found a home with the Red Sox. He had brief major league stints with the Orioles, Twins and Reds over the years before finally landing with the Sox in 2010. He certainly made the best of his opportunity in 2010, and became a fan favorite as a back-up player in Boston.

Darnell hit a surprising .412 in his first spring training with the Sox last year, eventually earning the fourth outfielder role for the team, behind Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron and JD Drew. As it turned out, Ellsbury and Cameron spent much of the year on the DL, opening a spot for McDonald to play 117 games, more than twice what he had played in the majors before 2010. He was versatile in the outfield, playing 69 games in center, 34 in right and 30 in left. He was versatile at the plate too. In his 363 plate appearances he batted .270 with 18 doubles, nine homeruns and nine stolen bases.

With the addition of Carl Crawford to the Red Sox already potent outfield this year, Darnell appears to be Boston’s fifth outfielder. He is embracing this role, but he doesn’t refer to it as the fifth outfielder, his role is really just to be ready for anything.

“My role is to be ready when my name is called,” Darnell said.  “Basically that’s what I did last year, stay ready, you never know when your name’s gonna be called. The main thing for me is to stay ready, that’s pretty much what my role is.”

He has appeared in six of the team’s first nine spring training games and is batting .286.

“It’s going well, I’m just trying to get in the swing of things, stay healthy and get ready for the season,” McDonald explained. “As a hitter, we’re all just trying to work on the same thing, getting used to seeing live pitching again, working on our timing and putting some good swings on the ball.”

He is happy to be a part of this team, one that is favored by many to have a great year.

“Everyone feels like we have the opportunity to do something special this year. Everyone is focused and ready to start the season.”

Nobody can predict how many games Darnell will appear in this year, but whatever the number, he plans to be ready.

With Spring Training now upon us, I recently recalled a VIP trip to Florida for Spring Training in 2003 while working as Marketing Director with Sporting News. As done by many media properties, for many years Sporting News hosted key clients – advertisers, from both agencies and brands – annually at a special 3-day trip to Tampa. While there, the group would enjoy a few Spring Training ballgames, a round of golf, attend presentations from Sporting News’ management, play softball with former players, and dine with former and current MLB ballplayers, often including the coaching staff and front office management from a specific team.

The dinners were often a somewhat casual affair, where a local restaurant would serve as host for the 40 or 50 people in attendance. A cocktail hour, where Sporting News’ VIP guests would have the opportunity to mingle with the “celebrity guests,” often included the likes of Joe Torre, Buck Martinez, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, and others. This was followed by a brief presentation by a Sporting News representative, and a “keynote” address from one of the celebrities on-hand.

During a 2003 Spring Training dinner with members of the NY Yankees coaching staff and front office, Joe Torre was the main speaker for the evening. Within his speech, he introduced his boss, Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman and members of the coaching staff, including Willie Randolph and Luis Sojo. It was the first year that Don Mattingly was a member of the Yankees’ coaching staff, providing Joe with an opportunity to “roast” Mattingly, teasing him about being a “rookie” again in the Yankees organization. After a few light-hearted jokes at Mattingly’s expense, dinner was served.

Sitting next to Luis Sojo, I enjoyed hearing his stories and his take on the season ahead. He was cheerful, open and gracious in his sharing of thoughts on certain players, the coming season, and his own career with the Mariners and Yankees. He smiled warmly, shared jokes with the other diners at the table, and played the role of “celebrity guest” perfectly.

However, once dinner was served, Sojo’s expression and demeanor turned sour. “I can’t eat that one, and I won’t eat that other one” he shared, eyeing the two large family-style entrées served by the restaurant wait staff. “Do you have other options?” Hearing that there were no meal options that appealed to him, Sojo looked at me and quipped, “Aren’t you in charge here? The person in charge of these dinners should really know about your guests’ food allergies, likes and dislikes.” He wasn’t wrong.

While I wasn’t necessarily “in charge” of the dinner event, I did have a hand in the planning, monitoring and management of the overall trip to Spring Training. This included the scheduling, booking of venues, travel coordination, and monitoring of all guest invitations, registrations and their confirmation. All of this – and more – was done either by hand, or by using a large excel spreadsheet. At the time, this seemed the most efficient and seamless “system” for managing and monitoring the logistics of the trip, even though it had many “moving parts.” Unfortunately, hindsight is always 20/20, and I see now that in planning, managing and executing such a high-end VIP hospitality event, there are better, more effective and efficient – and budget-conscious – tools readily available. For starters, our “system” for securing guest details (using an excel file) didn’t even take into account the food likes, dislikes or allergies of Sporting News’ client guests, or “celebrity guests.”

Search the Internet for “corporate event guest management” (and variations thereof, using related terms), and Sports Systems’ GuestPass system comes up. As described on the SportsSystems.com site, GuestPass is a fully comprehensive online hospitality tool that streamlines guest nomination, invitation, registration and data collection to help event organizers and planners improve the guest experience, save time and effort in the planning, and enable greater overall efficiency. As well, the system helps improve communications and data exchange internally, with guests, and with vendors and entertainment service providers. From branded digital invitations, a customized site specific to the event itself, guest registration and confirmation, travel schedule coordination information, and even the ability to gather data often looked at as the “minutia” of events, such as food allergies, Sports Systems’ GuestPass presents as the perfect solution.

Within the Sports Systems media kit, Kathryn Poe Switzer from the Southeastern Conference praises GuestPass, sharing this: “Coordinating the official party for the SEC Football Championship Game and managing the logistics of our annual meeting have been part of what I do for as long as I have been at the SEC. As with most things each has grown in scope and complexity each year and the system that Sports Systems has built for us has made the whole process much less stressful. I spend a lot less time worrying that something might have been “missed” and a lot more time interacting with our guests and trying to improve their experience. I can’t imagine having one of these events without this.”

Sports Systems boasts an impressive roster of clients who turn to GuestPass for their events: This includes the NFL, MLS, Bowl Championship Series, along with corporate clients such as Intel, CA, Vodafone, Merrill Lynch, MillerCoors and Verizon.

Bill Hancock, the Executive Director of the Bowl Championship Series shares this within the Sports Systems’ media kit: “Sports Systems electronic registration is an efficient time-saving system. The guests enjoy it because it is simple, accurate, secure and easy to use. We meeting planners (and also the hotel) enjoy it for the same reasons – and it provides instant and complete data. Everything we need is available in one package. It’s great.”

Having planned, organized and executed small, medium and large-scale corporate hospitality events within sports, it’s hard to imagine the prospect of going forward with an event without the use of Sports Systems’ offering. The idea of receiving a full suite of services for the event – from identification and nomination of invitees, personalized digital invitations, a custom designed and branded site with registration for activities during a trip, to the ability to capture guests’ personal needs (e.g. food allergies!), and even a post-event branded e-mail notice, complete with photos from the shared experience – makes the decision to use Sports Systems an easy one.

Tracy Snyder at the NFL agrees, as she’s also quoted within the Sports Systems’ media kit: “I honestly cannot imagine keeping track of everything without [Sports Systems].”

Photo taken by Peter Schiller 1/29/11

February in Pittsburgh was never good. I only marginally followed the Pirates, and generally was a sport-hater, as my brother and father were sports-obsessed, and screaming at the television and listening to sports radio made me want to scream. Then I moved to New England.

I worked at a company where I bought cheap tickets to the Sox, and the world changed. Fenway was amazing…you could actually SEE the field, and the players. We had always taken binoculars when we went to Three Rivers Stadium, and once you were there, you might’ve just as well stayed home and watched it on your TV because you still couldn’t see the players.

Also, the Red Sox were good. Yes, the Pirates have had times when they were good, but it didn’t mean anything real to me. As much as Pittsburgh is a sports city (and the fans are definitely obsessed—I can still hear my dad and brother screaming from Tucson and Indiana), the Sox fans were different. It felt different at a Sox game. They were part of the game. They loved it…the wins and losses, the rivalry with the Yanks, the seats that didn’t quite face the field. I was a part of the action, and I reveled in it. And in direct opposition to everything I was in Pittsburgh, I became a Sox fan.

Over the ensuing nineteen years since my move to New England, my life has changed, but my love of the Sox has only increased. I watch the games as much as I can. I know stats and personal information about the players. I try to follow the games that occur when I’m at work. I shush my kids when there’s a good play, and I talk about the ones I like and why, to get them interested as well.

I “talk Sox” with lots of people…sometimes even strangers in line at the grocery store. I actually own videos about the 2004 and 2007 World Series seasons that I willing purchased and watch in the depths of winter. I wear a Red Sox shirt and I mourn player injuries and trades. I still miss Johnny Damon, “Flash” Gordon, and Trot Nixon. I worry about what will happen when Jason Varitek retires.

I print the schedule and mark the days when the Sox are on the west coast, and think evil thoughts about the idiots who schedule the games at 7:10pm PDT, and I wonder who to contact to complain about blocking out a chunk of the population for weekend games at that time (since all weekend games should be played when I can watch them). I share the joy and despair with fans local and afar. And my dad and I watch the games on television when he visits (and he shakes his head that I’ve finally become sports-obsessed…at least for the Sox); we connect on another level.

And during the long, gloomy, miserable New England winters, I longingly think of February… and spring training. I contemplate moving to a warmer climate, where the arrival of the Sox won’t be as monumental to me. But I’m still in New England where it is dark, cold, and snowy. I curse the dark, cold, and snow, but there will be an end to the misery. When the Sox show up in Ft. Myers, spring is near. I can begin to see light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope…there is baseball to come.

Ah…February in New England. It’s the harbinger of the best time of year.

Friday Afternoon Edition

@PeteAbe: In today’s Globe: Red Sox notebook: No room for Lowell in Texas – http://b.globe.com/bB7m9e &   Atchison, Schoeneweis get the bullpen call – http://su.pr/1OTcQS
@MLB_Monster: Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte makes his big-league spring debut (source: About): At this point, he’s a curiosity. Bu… http://bit.ly/aFPBze &   KC’s Gordon, Fields likely to open on DL (AP): The Kansas City Royals are running out of third basemen. Alex Gordo… http://bit.ly/btPyPV &   Marte could miss opener (source: CBS News): Newsday reports that Yankees RP Damaso Marte may not be available to p… http://bit.ly/9CClAs
@mlbtraderumors: Latin Links: Martinez, Maya, Ramirez, Escobar http://bit.ly/aw9TTw #mlb &   Odds & Ends: Robertson, Werth, Posey, Cubs http://bit.ly/cB3VcP #mlb &   Derek Jeter‘s Position http://bit.ly/9YgMkP #mlb &   Rays Acquire Virgil Vasquez http://bit.ly/dqbSfD #mlb &   Pedro Martinez In 2010 http://bit.ly/atNdRz #mlb &   10 Worst Free Agent Signings Of The Offseason http://bit.ly/dib7SB #mlb &  Orioles Release Mike Costanzo http://bit.ly/drjziC #mlb
@SoxProspects: 4/2 Prospect Preview: @ChrisMellen looks at 1Bs Lars Anderson and Anthony Rizzo http://bit.ly/aAishV #redsox
@MLBNetwork: If you missed your team’s episode of “30 Clubs in 30 Days,” go to MLBNetwork.com and search our video library for clips.
@insidethepark: ESPN Insider: Buster Posey, other rookies should remain on fantasy watch lists after being sent down http://bit.ly/bDJxaV &   CrawfishBoxes.com: Wall Street Journal on baseball’s new emphasis on defense http://bit.ly/abFdC7 …
@prorumors: Mike Lowell Trade Rumors: Trade with Rangers remains possible http://goo.gl/fb/guqQu (Really??)   &   Andy Pettitte Retire Rumors: Done after 2010? http://goo.gl/fb/S6AxN &  Pirates trade RHP Virgil Vasquez to Rays http://goo.gl/fb/ohpsu
@orioleswire: Millwood ready to lead staff by example http://bit.ly/bpp3tp &   Jones excited about O’s chances in 2010 http://bit.ly/dlx4au

@StatsGuru: New post: Catcher on the Rise? http://bit.ly/bBRlrI #franciscocervelli #jesusmontero #jorgeposada #newyorkyankees &   Giles Pleads Guilty http://bit.ly/b6rrfb #marcusgiles
@AstrosCounty: Tim McCarver: Move the #Astros to the AL http://bit.ly/d2oZb9 (I’m all for this! There’s no reason for the unbalanced divisions in the NL Central & AL West. But what do you think?)

@cogz4Christ I know we don’t play u this year, but I think “hero” by skillet is a good walkout song for a hitter…i’m using skillet this yr

Thursday Afternoon Edition

@IanMBrowne: Morning Red Sox news. Atchison makes team; Schoeneweis, Nelson fight for final spot. Tazawa to undergo Tommy John. http://bit.ly/cwKmf3
@mlbtraderumors: 2010 NL Rookie Of The Year Predictions http://bit.ly/bsV5t2 #mlb &  I agree with Schilling…Phils trading Lee was a really bad move. I don’t think Amaro did it to cover himself though. http://bit.ly/beLvs2
@MLBHomeRun: Lugo dealt from Cardinals to Orioles http://bit.ly/bQawc1 #MLB #Baseball &  Joe Blanton on DL, Out 3-6 Weeks http://bit.ly/99LarR #MLB &  Taveras to platoon with Harris http://bit.ly/cBHAYH #MLB &  Yanks will start Granderson in CF, Gardner in LF http://bit.ly/c1FOsg #MLB &  Reyes destined for DL http://bit.ly/cxBAhj #MLB
@philliesnation: Joe Blanton Hits the DL http://bit.ly/cEeEUn
@GrillCheese49: So proud of this kid! Missing my season, but grateful of such inspiration from an 11 year old who gets it! http://bit.ly/Elliot11 &  Definitly going to see this movie – http://www.letterstogodthemovie.com/the-movie
@PeteAbe: Is money slowing a Lowell deal with the Rangers? http://ow.ly/16X8YI
@prorumors: Cardinals Rumors: Could Hank Blalock fit in St. Louis? http://goo.gl/fb/7Fhxr &  Mike Lowell Trade Rumors: Not going to the Mets http://goo.gl/fb/cx5cK
@insidethepark: CamdenChat.com: Source: Ripken to Join Orioles Front Office http://bit.ly/c5fX2j &  ESPN Insider: Troy Glaus has re-emerged as a fantasy option with strong spring http://bit.ly/bDJxaV &  OverTheMonster.com: Scott Atchison Makes Opening Day Roster; Alan Embree Does Not http://bit.ly/dvP2qm &   ESPN Insider: Mike Jacobs gets opportunity to shine with New York Mets http://bit.ly/bDJxaV
@sbnbaseball: Cody Ross and Brett Carroll DL bound?: It seems that Cody Ross and Brett Carroll may start the season on the DL. C… http://bit.ly/9nnuF8 &  Braves Heyward to Start in the Minors: Because of the worsening condition with Jason Heyward’s shin splints, the B… http://bit.ly/amDNoQ
@ducksnorts: New at Ducksnorts: Latos Makes Rotation, Geoff Makes a List http://bit.ly/cDYP96 #padres #mlb #in
@StatsGuru: New post: Red Sox Renovations http://bit.ly/bvQUgw #bostonredsox
@WriteField: Metsgrrl: BOOK REVIEW: MAPLE STREET PRESS METS ANNUAL 2010. http://bit.ly/bbmlgy

Tuesday Afternoon Edition

@espn_durrett: A look at long tossing: Baseball Prospectus has an article out on long tossing, asking if it’s a cure to pitching … http://bit.ly/9XMwiE

@mlbtraderumors: Dodgers Sell Stults To Hiroshima Carp http://bit.ly/cmNlFE #mlb &  Red Sox Make Four-Year Offer To Beckett http://bit.ly/bkxRLQ #mlb &  Orioles Sign Joey Gathright http://bit.ly/dtuc8G #mlb

@MLBHomeRun: Pirates’ Manager John Russell to Bat Pitcher Eighth http://bit.ly/bMdah0 #MLB (what do you think? Is this a good move or just plain dumb?)

@sbnbaseball: Junichi Tazawa Has Ligament Damage, Could Need Surgery: More photos » … http://bit.ly/cbb59t &  Pirates Cut Seven: The Pirates have cut catcher Luke Carlin and pitchers Jeff Karstens, Steven Jackson, Vinnie Chu… http://bit.ly/cLTy41 &  Game Today: The Marlins are home today at RDS to take on the Nationals. Chris Volstad is making the start against … http://bit.ly/bpA49h

@SI_JonHeyman: hurting #royals will join bidding for free agent lhp jarrod washburn. #mariners already in mix.

@PeteAbe: New blog post: Tazawa could need elbow surgery – Junichi Tazawa spoke to the media this morning. The young righthan… http://ow.ly/16VJYz

@insidethepark: BlessYouBoys.com: Avila makes Tigers roster, team down to 27 players http://bit.ly/c9WnqW …

@PatGallen_PN: Exclusive video of Jayson Werth shaving “the beard”!!! – - http://bit.ly/djo8ux

@JCRMarlinsbeat: Florida Marlins: McClung released; last bullpen job down to VandenHurk, Wood http://goo.gl/fb/ACccB

@alysonfooter: So, what does everyone think of JR Towles winning the Opening Day catcher job? (For the record, Astros are saying it’s between JR and Q).

@SlidingIntoHome: Switch-Pitcher To Make Debut Today! http://bit.ly/bHPhTU &  Verducci’s Top 10 Teams of All Time http://bit.ly/b6MLrU

@tribeinsider: Good read from Peter Gammons on MLB.com – http://bit.ly/bV9zWX #indians #mlb #opening day

@orioleswire: Rangers scouting Lowell (Yahoo! Sports) http://bit.ly/atkl6D (But why are these guys reporting this?)

@BleacherNation: #cubs: Are the Chicago Cubs Shopping Kosuke Fukudome? http://bit.ly/bkjJuq

@royals_fan752: Improved defense is priority for Royals: No AL team coughed up more unearned runs last year than the Royals’ 77, s… http://bit.ly/aQnLOU

@GaryArmidaFCP: RT @fullcountpitch: Cueto Must Lead the Way for Reds’ Success http://bit.ly/d5zrIB #reds #MLB

@philliesnation: Good article by Bob Brookover in the Inky about the Phillies scouting dept. — http://bit.ly/byF1e6

@sabermetricsman: Clutch Monsters http://bit.ly/djWQ8k

@JimmyScott: Big-ish announcement today on Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight – I’m writing a book: http://www.jimmyscottshighandtight.com/node/1074

@prorumors: Teixeira elbow, Todd Wellemery, Jonathan Sanchez, Nate Schierholtz, Strasburg… http://goo.gl/fb/1gBrJ

@MattinglySports: Check out http://www.vforcecommunity.com for great videos by Don about hitting, exclusive promotions, cool stories, and exciting contests!

The Sox will start the season with Beckett facing the Yankees on opening day, followed by Jon Lester in game two and John Lackey in game three. Tim Wakefield will get the nod in game four, against the Royals, with Beckett returning on five days rest to pitch the seasons fifth game, the second against the Royals.

Photo by George Campbell

Clay Buchholz will then become the team’s fifth starter when he makes his 2010 debut in game six, against the Royals. Lester will then return followed by Lackey.

It could be awhile before Matsuzaka is ready to start a game for the Red Sox, so Wakefield and Buchholz will each have time to impress Francona and keep their spots in the rotation.

Barring injuries, the top three of Beckett, Lester, and Lackey are locked in, but if either Wakefield or Buchholtz struggle, they will likely be headed for the bullpen when Dice K is ready to return. However, strong performances to start the season could delay Matsuzaka’s return.

Francona will likely feel a bit of pressure to get Matsuzaka in the mix, since he is one of the higher paid guys on the pitching staff. Plus Buchholz can still be an option to return to the minors and Wakefield has experience in the bullpen.

Wakefield is currently leading the Sox with three spring training wins. He is also leading the club with 19.2 innings pitched this Spring.

Buchholz, who added some weight to his thin frame during the offseason, has struggled a bit this Spring. He had an ERA over 10 with more walks than strikeouts before his recent game against the Twins on March 28. He allowed four runs in 4.2 innings during that game, but he did strike out seven without walking any Twins batters.

Photo by Icon SMI

Matsuzaka just recently made his spring training debut, pitching in relief of Tim Wakefield.

Lester and Lackey could easily be number one starters for many teams, but with Beckett’s leadership and history, Francona paid him the respect of anointing him the staff ace.

Lackey has been the Angels top pitcher for the past few years, but left to sign a five year deal with Boston when he became a free agent last winter.

Monday Afternoon Edition

@ mlbtraderumors: Chris Coste Placed On Waivers http://bit.ly/9F4KyP #mlb &  Phillies Release Brad Wilkerson http://bit.ly/94L2PC #mlb

@ JCRMarlinsbeat: Florida #Marlins: Logan Morrison sent down, giving Gaby Sanchez first base job – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com http://shar.es/mpUs2 &  RT @MarlinsMedia: #Marlins 3/29 move: Hayden Penn claimed off waivers by PIT

@ Ken_Rosenthal: High praise from Bobby Cox on Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen: Calls him “the game’s next great (defensive) center fielder.” #Pirates #MLB

@ IanMBrowne: Reading between the lines, it seems that Boof Bonser likely to start season on DL. Next game wll be Minors on Saturday.

@ keithlaw: New Rumor Central note on Yu Darvish’s potential MLB ETA – includes my scouting take from March of ’09: http://klaw.me/bAXDLY

@ alysonfooter: Oswalt received an injection in his back by Dr. McCann in Houston. He’ll make his scheduled start Wednesday and he WILL start opening day.

@ NYBD: New blog post: More on Arroyo & Mets http://b75he.th8.us

@ federalbaseball: RT Booo!@washingnats: I was told that RHP Stephen Strasburg will not pitch against the Red Sox on April 3. #Nats, #MLB.com and #National …  http://twitpic.com/1brmba – Obama to throw out First Pitch for Nationals…Like President Reagan!!!  &  RT @NatsTownNews: The Nationals will announce soon that they have claimed veteran catcher Chris Coste off waivers from the Mets.  &  federalbaseball.com. Washington Nationals: 2010 Draft Watch: Anthony Ranaudo Returns, Bryce Harper Hits 4 HR’s… http://bit.ly/cy9IPH

@ insidethepark: OverTheMonster.com: Beckett, Lackey, and the “Bridge Year” http://bit.ly/bm9OuE &  CrawfishBoxes.com: Ten prospects who could see MLB action in 2010 http://bit.ly/c41f0N

@ SlidingIntoHome: Looking Way Ahead: Crawford or Werth? http://bit.ly/dBHMzM

@ sonsofsamhorn: #RedSox Post: Farrell: Sox could use 6-man rotation when Daisuke returns http://bit.ly/aeRHyS &  #RedSox Post: Will The 2010 Boston Red Sox Win 100 Games? http://bit.ly/apXKsj

@ thebaseballpage: Graig Nettles was traded on this date in 1984 from the Yankee’s, read about why, along with other stories http://ping.fm/sCgTG &  If today is your birthday you share it with Cy Young! Read about him at www.thebaseballpage.com

@ MLBHomeRun: McCutchen to hit second, Iwamura will lead off http://bit.ly/bZHFHe #MLB &  Giants reach with deals with Cain, Wilson, Affeldt http://bit.ly/boQNkj #MLB

@ soxanddawgs: Red Sox Announce 2010 Improvements To Fenway Park http://shar.es/mpQkp #redsox

@ sbnbaseball: Rangers still pursuing Mike Lowell: More photos » … http://bit.ly/aS9wKc &  Maury Brown with the latest on the Rangers sale: More photos » … http://bit.ly/diPV0r

@ redreporter: Red Reposter – Is This the Best #Reds Pitching Staff You Have Ever Seen? http://sbnation.com/e/1159201

@ orioleswire: Starting trio ready to take O’s to next level http://bit.ly/aFvEeO &  Orioles’ 10 prospects to watch in 2010 http://bit.ly/btghVk

@ gaslampball: Jon Garland is the Opening Day Starter, but Chris Young’s really the Opening Day Starter http://sbnation.com/e/1158575

@ prorumors: David Ross Trade Rumors: Braves shopping backup catcher? http://goo.gl/fb/p7YyK &  Yu Darvish Rumors: Japanese pitching star to make jump to MLB? http://goo.gl/fb/MU6Ik &  Catcher Chris Coste claimed by Washington Nationals http://goo.gl/fb/Y60k
@ TheCCO: #Cubs According to the Tribune, Silva will be the Cubs number 4 starter … Gorzelanny will be the team’s fifth starter

@ babeslovebball: Target Field blew my mind. http://bit.ly/9Kq8Kj #Twins #MLB #StribTwins

With Spring Training officially underway and the regular season of baseball right around the corner, I thought this was the perfect time to discuss one of the best games in the entire world: Wiffle ball. It has been a long, long winter for most of us, but just thinking about Wiffle ball gets me ready for the spring.

Wiffle ball has been around since 1953, and many of us will find it hard to believe life existed without it. Wiffle ball takes us back to a simpler time as children when we played for the love of the game and didn’t take score. It reminds us of what it is like to have pure, childish fun and one of the very few things in this world that unites us all.

I can still remember the very first time I picked up a Wiffle bat. I was six years old when my father first placed the plastic bat and ball in my hands. Barely able to hold the bat, my father taught me how to swing and I instantly fell in love with the game of baseball.

Few things have brought a smile to my face quicker than when I watched a child playing wiffle ball with his grandparents on the beach. This little guy was full of energy and didn’t have a care in the world. And to see his grandmother chasing down balls like she was in her 30′s and grabbing her grandson as he ran the bases was quite a site to see. It was a small reminder about what life is all about.

Wiffle ball has created many stories and images just like that one for over 50 years. One of the beauties of Wiffle ball is that it excludes no one. Anyone can play it, from age 5 to 105, black or white, male or female, no matter how athletic or skilled you are. Most of our best memories of Wiffle ball occurred when we were kids, but kids aren’t the only ones who enjoy the game. You can find adult Wiffle ball leagues and tournaments in towns all across America. Whether in a competitive league or a friendly game in the backyard with friends, nobody outgrows Wiffle Ball.

A nice perk to Wiffle ball is that it can literally be played anywhere. In fact, the instructions on the box actually tell you it is “safe anywhere.” That means you can play it on a field, you can play it at the beach, you can play it in the street, and heck, you can even play it indoors. And Wiffle balls and bats are designed so that people are unable to hit them very far, so there is little chasing and even a Major League hitter does not stand at too much of an advantage.

There are no official rules to playing Wiffle ball, and there are an infinite number of ways you can play it. Slow pitch, fast pitch, calling balls and strikes, foul limit or unlimited fouls, one strike and you’re out, home run derby, the list goes on and on. Part of what makes it fun is that the rules in your backyard are almost certainly different from the ones next door.

And don’t overlook another important aspect of Wiffle ball, at least for cheapskates like myself, is that it costs next to nothing to play. The standard Wiffle ball bat costs around five bucks and you can buy wiffle balls for around a dollar each. So for ten bucks you can buy a bat and enough balls to last you for years.

As childish as it might sound, one of the things I look forward to the most when Spring approaches is having the chance to play Wiffle Ball. And I’m not alone. Millions of Wiffle balls are sold every year for a reason. I haven’t met a single person yet who does not enjoy Wiffle ball, and I don’t expect that to change in the near future. Wiffle ball might just be our national pastime.

You can read a nice article here on the evolution of Wiffle Ball.Then here’s a link to another article on the sport called Playmakers Part III: Wiffle Ball.

Editor’s Note: For a great book on the game of Whiffle Ball, please check out Backyard Ball By Thomas P. Hannon, Jr.

Friday Afternoon Edition

This does NOT bode well for George’s boys…@MLB_Monster: Jeter aspires to be a baseball owner http://bit.ly/aTFmER & An easy decision: Heyward makes the cut http://bit.ly/cH0szM
@keithlaw: If Strasburg debuts in game 3 for Harrisburg at Altoona on 4/10, he’d pitch the Senators’ home debut 4/15 and again at home on 4/20.
@SI_JonHeyman: everything you wanted to know about the washington nationals but were afraid to ask. on si.com: http://tinyurl.com/ydlyjjh
@JCRMarlinsbeat: Has Andrew Miller been optioned? Walked out of minor league clubhouse and headed toward back field wearing a different number. #marlins … RT @MarlinsMedia: #Marlins 3/26 moves: Andrew Miller, Chris Leroux and Brett Hayes optioned to NOLA. & Looks like Clay Hensley is the #marlins No. 5 starter. & Florida Marlins: Closer Leo Nunez correcting tip pitching problem http://goo.gl/fb/Hzg0
@alexspeier: #redsox release Brian Shouse. He was signed to a minor-lg deal, but given that his opt-out was thought to be for April 15 (same date as Alan Embree), and given the early returns on Embree, a release seemed in order despite Shouse’s 0.96 spring ERA. http://bit.ly/cuHLfY
@robneyer: What makes @bradziegler a good MLB pitcher? In 133 innings, he’s given up four home runs. #keeneye4obvious
@NYBD: Joba Can Be the Next Goose…If He Wants It http://ddxez.th8.us … Getting to Know David Wright http://ra3f7.th8.us
@SlidingIntoHome: Wow, I actually agree with Papelbon http://bit.ly/bqSVGu … Girardi Defends Yanks (mis)Handling Of Joba http://bit.ly/a0IFZX
@MLBHomeRun: Jason Heyward to Start for Braves http://bit.ly/aOTmIr #MLB
@insidethepark: AthleticsNation.com Beyond the Box Score Umpire Data and AN’s CBSSports.com Draft http://bit.ly/a4NOrJ
@FB101: Jason Heyward is on the Braves’ roster – so where do you draft him for Fantasy Baseball??? http://bit.ly/bWkM1I
@BleacherNation: #cubs: It’s Silva and Gorzelanny http://www.bleachernation.com/2010/03/26/its-silva-and-gorzelanny/