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.