With spring training games starting today, it's worth noting the subtle but significant changes in baseball's 2009 spring training schedule. Most of the changes would appear to benefit fans. The first three changes listed below are basically in response to the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The WBC runs March 5 through March 23 and clubs decided they needed sufficient time after the tournament to have their full squads in camp. So it's reasonable to expect a return to the norm in 2010. But who knows? Maybe the powers that be will like the new schedule.
The fourth change -- the decreasing number of split-squad games -- is a trend and will likely continue in future springs. But for 2009 at least, here's the new regimen.
All Clubs Start Play on February 25: In 2009, Major League Baseball has opted for a uniform opening day for spring training. All teams play their first spring training game on Wednesday, February 25. (And the Red Sox play twice, picking up an exhibition game against Boston College).
This is a first for spring training. In years past, each team would schedule its first game as best suited the club's needs. In 2008, for instance, only four clubs played on the opening day of spring training games. Five, ten and 15 years ago it was just one club playing on the first day (against college teams). But in 2003, 13 clubs took the field on opening day. So in the past there was no uniformity to spring training's opening day for games. But for 2009, MLB has standardized the first day for exhibition play.
More Spring Training Game Days: This year, spring training games will be played on 39 consecutive days--almost a week longer than ever before. In 2008 the games went on for 34 days, same as in 2004. The 2003 schedule had MLB teams playing for just 32 days.
While the talk in recent years has been about the spring training season contracting, for 2009 it's going in the other direction. This would seem to benefit to fans, allowing them more days to enjoy spring training games in Florida and Arizona. It is also an acknowledgement that today's players arrive in camp ready to play baseball. And the additional game days will most certainly benefit the Grapefruit and Cactus League towns and parks, which are geared up to serve the influx of baseball fans.
More Off Days: The obvious adjustment to the lengthier schedule is an increase in days off for the players and that's in place this spring. The norm in recent years has been a single official off day while in camp (and occasionally none). This year, every team has two or three off days before breaking camp.
Split squad games: The days of split squad games appear to be coming to an end. Like double-headers during the regular season, SS games are drifting into disuse. For 2009, MLB clubs will take the field 54 times with a split squad--about half the team playing at one venue which allows the other half to play elsewhere or at a different time. Just last year that number was 90 and in 2004 it was 125.
Long a staple of spring training scheduling, split squad games simply allowed management to get more players on the field on a given day. In particular, the games provided more opportunities for the pitchers to log necessary innings.
Increasingly, however, clubs have opted out of scheduling split squad games. With so many players in the team camps, clubs can get extra game-situation work in for their players through intra-squad games. With controlled bullpen sessions and simulated games, pitchers are not completely dependent on actual games to build up their arms and stamina. Also, split squad games always presented an issue for the club's staff since each coach often could only see one of the two games.
What's good for the club would appear to be good for the fan in this case. Split squad games often proved an irritant to the ticket-purchasing public. That only half of one or both teams would be available to play definitely made those games less attractive to many fans.
So for spring training 2009, don't expect lower ticket prices, smaller crowds or less sunshine. But with the season extended a bit, fans should have more opportunities to watch the players get ready for the regular season.
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