Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch

Finally, Opening Day is here and Spring is upon us. Today we see the return of baseball, our America's Pastime. Everything the game stands for will come to light, from the yelling of "Play Ball" to the crack of the bat. Now we will embrace those late Summer nights listening to the game on the radio to cheering on our favorite team and player. To the announcers calling the play-by-play and the beat writers pounding their story out to appear on,one and in print with their byline. This is what baseball is all about. Baseball is back! As the saying goes: "I live for this!" Today we all live again: the baseball fan, scribe, player and the kids.  Baseball returns! Hallelujah! Until then see you at the park! — Joe Boesch 

Here's a reprint of the "Shot Heard Around the World" story by Red Smith ("Miracle of Coogan's Bluff published in the New York Herald Tribune, October 4, 1951). By Red Smith Now it is done. Now the story ends. And there is no way to tell it. The art of fiction is dead. Reality has strangled invention. Only the utterly impossible, the inexpressibly fantastic, can ever be plausible again. Down on the green and white and earth-brown geometry of the playing field, a drunk tries to break through the ranks of ushers marshalled along the foul lines to keep profane feet off the diamond. The ushers thrust him back and he lunges at them, struggling in the clutch of two or three men. He breaks free and four or five tackle him. He shakes them off, bursts through the line, runs head on into a special park cop who brings him down with a flying tackle. Here comes a whole platoon of ushers. They lift the man and haul him, twisting and kicking, back across the first-base line. Ag...

Now that Blake Snell signed with the Giants, it leaves Jordan Montgomery as the last viable pitcher to remain unsigned. Montgomery, from various reports, is still demanding a seven-year contract which most teams are balking on. The Red Sox were into talks with him, but are not in agreement on a seven-year deal. Other teams also interested are the Yankees, Astros and the Rangers. With Spring Training nearing an end, the wait and see approach is over and teams interested are only looking at one to two-year deals and nothing more. If Montgomery wants to sign soon with a team he may have to rethink his contract demands and look at smaller deals as the market demands. Until then see you at the park. — Joe Boesch 

"CHARLIE HUSTLE: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball" by Keith O'Brien Pete Rose bounded out of the dugout like a hurricane spinning unfettered through the world. He slid head-first into bases in a mist of dust and fury. He sprinted out walks like a teenager. He was loud. Brash. Supremely confident. Entirely focused. He approached every game with ferocity and raw emotion—often like he was in the middle of a bar room brawl—and endeared himself to the fans because of it. He seemed to manufacture runs out of pure will power. He racked up mind-boggling stats and awards and streaks and wins and pennants and titles with seeming ease. When his team needed clutch hits, he provided them. When glory was 90 feet away, he reached for it. He bowled over catchers at home plate, shouted at pitchers to intimidate them, and ripped through middle infielders to break up the play. He would beat them all. One way or another. Pete Rose would never back down. ...

With Gerrit Cole sidelined at least one to two months suffering from an elbow injury, the Yankees are now looking for some help to stabilize the starting rotation. With Dylan Cease being traded to the Padres, the Yankees have now turned their sights on Michael Lorenzen who split time last season between the Tigers and Phillies. Lorenzen went 9-9 with a 4.18 ERA in 153 innings pitched. If the Yankees sign Lorenzen, he will help a rotation of Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, and possibly Clarke Schmidt. The Yankees went all in this season with the addition of Juan Soto and have their sights on making it into the World Series. Will they make it? Only time will tell. With Cole the stalwart of the Yankees pitching staff, let's hope his injury is not as bad as it sounds. Fingers crossed. Until then see you at the park! — Joe Boesch 

Here's a rundown of the scheduled release dates for Topps and Bowman Baseball Cards. The cards this year look nice and offer different variations. You can also checkout the  Beckett website  for the latest card news.  The release dates: 2024 Topps Series 1 Baseball: Release Date: February 14, 2024. 2024 Topps Archives Signature Series: Baseball Active Player Edition: Release Date:  March 20, 2024 . 2024 Topps Big League Baseball: Release Date:  March 27, 2024 . 2024 Topps Tribute Baseball: Release Date:  March 27, 2024 . 2024 Bowman Baseball: Release Date:  May 8, 2024 . Until then, see you at the park! — Joe Boesch 

PROJECTED ROSTERS FOR INAUGURAL SPRING BREAKOUT ANNOUNCED 71 of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects Expected to Participate; MLB's Digital Platforms To Carry All 16 Games Live and Blackout Free; MLB Network to Air 6 Games Live, Including Paul Skenes vs. Jackson Holliday  on March 14     Spring Breakout Tickets Are Available At  MLB.com/SpringBreakout   Major League Baseball today announced the rosters for the inaugural "Spring Breakout" Prospect Games that will be part of Major League Spring Training and broadcast live on local RSNs, MLB Network, and streamed on MLB's Digital Properties from  March 14 th -17 th .   Seventy-one of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects entering the 2024 season are expected to participate, including seven of the top 10 and 15 of the top 20 overall prospects. Projected rosters for each club are attached and may be found HERE  and are subject to change.   Players in the top 10 expected to participate include: Orioles INF...

Here's a Tuesday Morning inspirational quote to get the baseball juices flowing: Honestly, as a baseball player, there's such a satisfaction in going out and trying to accomplish something with a group of guys that become your friends over the course of the year or multiple years. Whether that goal is reached or not, by the end of it, there's satisfaction in knowing that you really put everything into it. — Buster Posey Until then see you at the park! — Joe Boesch 

With Spring Training well under way, Opening Day is getting closer and the sound of "Playball" will be heard to the ears of fans of the game. Spring Training signals the beginning of what every baseball fan waits for. Next week the clocks "Spring Forward" and the countdown to Opening Day begins. Here's an inspirational quote to get the season started: It's the fans that need spring training. You gotta get 'em interested. Wake 'em up and let 'em know that their season is coming, the good times are gonna roll.    — Harry Caray Until the see ya at Spring Training — Joe Boesch