The first signs of spring

Today is the first day for pitchers and catchers to report for Spring Training, a sure sign that winter is almost over and summer is on its way. The Springfield Cardinals open their season at home on April 6 - just 49 days away - while Opening Night (it's an event now, not just a game) for Major League Baseball is April 2.

To whet your appetite, we present some Spring Training 2006 factoids for Missouri's Major League teams:

The St. Louis Cardinals begin their ninth spring in Jupiter, Fla., at Roger Dean Stadium and enter camp with a lot of new faces on the roster, including Larry Bigbie (OF), Deivi Cruz (INF), Juan Encarnacion (OF), Braden Looper (RHP), Sidney Ponson (RHP) and Junior Spivey (INF).

The Cardinals play their first exhibition game Tuesday, Feb. 28, against Florida Atlantic at 12:05 p.m. (Springfield time).

The Kansas City Royals are in their fourth season at Surprise, Ariz. They have just as many new faces as the Cardinals as they try to improve on last year's 56-106 mark. The Royals are bringing in five new righthanded pitchers (including Elmer Dessens and Scott Elarton), as well as lefty Mark Redman. Reggie Sanders is a new addition in the outfield, while Esteban German, Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz look to strengthen the KC infield.

The Royals open the spring slate Thursday, March 2, against the Texas Rangers. First pitch is 2:05 p.m. (Springfield time).

Year two opens for the Springfield Cardinals on March 6 when all St. Louis minor leaguers report to camp. Each squad will conduct its first workout the following day.

There's still a lot of work to be done to figure out the 2006 roster, but there are several familiar faces in camp with the big league birds.

Travis Hanson is on the spring training roster after batting .284-20-97 in 137 games at third base for Springfield. He will likely open the year at Memphis (AAA). He will be joined on the infield by Brendan Ryan, a top prospect in the St. Louis organization. Ryan spent most of the year at Palm Beach (A), batting .303-1-16 in 49 games. He moved up to Springfield and played well at short, going .273-2-9 in 43 games. He will likely be back in Springfield to start the season.

In the outfield are Rick Ankiel and Reid Gorecki. Both spent time in Springfield last year and both were demoted. But while Gorecki stayed down at Palm Beam to get his swing back, Ankiel recovered and finished the year strong.

Gorecki - pegged my local media as the first Springfield star - struggled in 46 games, batting .182-3-16 and with 38 K's. He improved at Palm Beach, going .286-6-41 in 64 games.

Ankiel finished .243-10-30 in 34 games with Springfield and will likely start the year back in AA. Good for us here in Springfield.

There are several familiar names on the non-roster invitee list: Alan Benes (RHP), Andy Cavazos (RHP), Randy Leek (LHP) and Gabe Johnson (C), all of whom spent time in the Queen City last year.

The Q does it again!

Missouri State University president Mike Nietzel showed a gift for the quip when he told the crowd gathered at Hammons Student Center "This is great turnout for such a well-kept secret."

Yeah, we all knew what was going down. Back in the summer rumors surfaced on letsgobears.com that a new arena at MO State was in the works. The announcement was delayed...and delayed...and delayed. Some had lost hope until those rumors resurfaced, with all signs pointing to February.

February 10, 2006 to be exact. Today Nietzel, MSU AD Bill Rowe and hotelier John Q. Hammons announced plans for the new barn, to be located on what is now a parking lot east of Hammons Student Center. Here are the pertinent details:

Hammons is making a gift to the University - via the MSU Foundation - of $25 million dollars to go toward construction of the new arena.

Construction will begin in late fall '06, with the arena to be ready for the 2008-2009 season.

It will be named - of course - JQH Arena.

The building will have at least 12,000 chairback seats on two levels, with 20 private suites and a private club.

It will house the Missouri State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Total price tag: around $60 million. The University will contribute the initial $5 million to get the project started, along with $5 from Hammons. He'll then provide the remainder of his gift while the University sells $30 in bonds and uses private gifts, suite sales, increased ticket sales and "other sources" to pay the debt service.

JQH Arena will have entrances on the north and south ends, with the main entrance on the east side. The building "faces" east, according to Hammons. The arena and the student center will be connected by a covered walkway.

Wow.

Hammons added the name change to Missouri State hastened his decision to go through with this project. He also credited the leadership qualities of Nietzel. "When I saw that, I knew we could get this thing done."

All good news, as is the fact it doesn't look like the school will go to Jeff City to ask for money. That would be a PR nightmare. Enough animosity exists after the name change battle and MU-C's fear that MO State will demand more money. The school is wise to do this project on its own.

This is major red letter day for Missouri State athletics, the Springfield community and the Ozarks. The new arena will be the second-largest in the Missouri Valley Conference and the largest on-campus arena. It will attract concerts the city could not previously get as well as have the potential to bring an NCAA Women's regional to campus - which, despite what Lady Bears bashers say, is a good thing.

I have not seen renderings yet, but there's no reason to think the place will be anything short of spectacular. Look no further than Hammons Field for proof.

If that isn't enough, just meditate on the words of Nietzel and Hammons:

"This project is going to be a stunning one," sayeth the good doctor.

"We're gonna spend enough money to where (the arena) is comfortable," sayeth our sugar daddy.

Let the countdown to JQH Arena's opening BEGIN!