On Thursday, New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez launched a home run over the left field wall at Steinbrenner Field in the first inning of an exhibition showdown against the Philadelphia Phillies.
And with that one swing, A-Rod exemplified spring training in all its meaningful meaninglessness.
On the one hand, his homer meant nothing. It doesn’t count in the record books, and few will note or long remember the outcome of that frivolous 13-4 Phillies win.
On the other hand, Yankees fans are invited to dream about another season of turn-back-the-clock production from Rodriguez, as we’ll get into shortly.
The point for now? This is spring, when hopes and questions abound like dandelions in a windswept meadow.
Speaking of questions, let’s update a few of the hottest ones from around MLB as Grapefruit and Cactus League action enters its second week.
In addition to the aforementioned polarizing Bronx basher, we’ve got a snakebitten Los Angeles Dodgers rotation, a Texas infielder-turned-outfielder, a Toronto Blue Jays slugger seeking an extension and Mike Trout doing Mike Trout things.
Slap on some pine tar, knock the doughnut off your bat and dig in when ready.