The Yankees and Tigers help us welcome baseball back with a pair of games on Tuesday afternoon.
After a long, cold winter, baseball is finally back, as major league teams open their spring training schedules beneath the sunshine in Florida and Arizona.
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The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees open Grapefruit League action Tuesday hosting a pair of games against local college squads. The Cactus League will open up in Arizona on Wednesday, and by the end of the week, all 30 MLB teams will be in action.
The Tigers begin their 2014 season with a game against Florida Southern College at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. After sending Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers this winter, the Tigers will have some new faces in their lineup and a brand new infield. Ian Kinsler will man second base, while two-time reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera moves across the diamond to first and rookie Nick Castellanos is expected to debut at third. Joe Nathan is primed to hold down the back of Detroit's bullpen, as new manager Brad Ausmus looks to keep the Tigers' postseason streak alive.
Just west of Lakeland, the Yankees will be hosting Florida State University at their spring training home in Tampa. The Bronx Bombers also have their fair share of new faces this season, with former nemesis Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, and Carlos Beltran all donning pinstripes for the first time. In addition, the Yankees come into spring with a clean bill of health and a potential new ace in Japanese import Masahiro Tanaka. There is nothing quite so uplifting and revitalizing as spring.