From the pitch clock to bigger bases, Spring Training is already showing how different MLB games will be this season compared to previous seasons. The pitch clock has made games much faster than they previously were and they are down to well under 3 hours which is very appealing to fans.
The main argument of a basic sports fan when discussing baseball is that the games are too long and boring. Now with the pitch clock, everything is being sped up and becoming more interesting to watch for a non-baseball fan. In my opinion, not only is it speeding up the games, but another one of its goals is to attract more fans to the sport.
Aside from the rule changes, this season will see a ton of stars in different locations. Examples include Trea Turner in Philly, Justin Verlander in New York, Jacob DeGrom in Texas, and many more different looks as well. A lot of teams have gotten better and I can't wait to see these players' impacts on their new teams.
Not only is the MLB season close but the World Baseball Classic is kicking off this upcoming week. As baseball fans, we get to see the best of the best compete for their home countries and see which country will take home the championship in Miami in late March.
To me, the US and Dominican Republic look like the best teams out there but there are definitely some other teams that could come out and surprise some people. The WBC hasn't happened since 2017 so it is definitely a long-time coming and I can't wait to see which country comes out on top.
Going back to the MLB, the stardom throughout the league has only expanded throughout the years and it has made the game so much better. There are also lots of headlines surrounding these teams filled with stardom. Can the Padres finally breakthrough to the World Series with all of the stars they have acquired?
It is definitely going to be an uphill battle for them with how good the National League has gotten. There are five teams alone in the National League that to me are capable of making the World Series along with the Padres. Those teams being the Braves, Mets, Phillies, Dodgers, and Padres. I'm getting the sense that we might have another Padres-Phillies series rematch for the NL like this previous year. To me out of those five teams the Phillies and Padres are the best.
To the American League, it seems like every year we are talking about the same couple of teams as the last year. The two most common teams as of late that we are always talking about is the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. The AL West has certainly gotten more competitive for the Astros as the Rangers, Angels, and Mariners are all young teams looking for something to play for.
The AL East for the Yankees is always competitive and this year all five teams look like they can certainly compete at somewhat high levels. It is rare that you can say that about a division, but all five teams showed last year some glimpses of really good baseball. In previous years, the Orioles have been at the bottom of the division but with how good their farm system is, it is hard for them to continue to remain at the bottom of the division any longer.
It should be another great season on the way and I cannot wait for the non-stop action everyday this season. For baseball fans, it is a great time with spring training currently ongoing, the WBC on the verge, and the regular season just around the corner as well.
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