Spring Is In Our Hearts: Detroit Tigers Begin Grapefruit League Play Today

February 12, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello (21) works out during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

There’s a raging snowstorm that’s attacking the Midwest today – it’s still February after all – but it almost feels like 70 degrees and sunny. Detroit Tigers baseball won’t really start until April 1 when the Tigers take on the Minnesota Twins to open the regular season, but Detroit Tigers baseball does begin for fake today. And, for now, that’s nearly as good.

It’s hasn’t even been four full months since the Tigers walked off the field for the last time following their disappointing World Series sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants but it has felt like much longer than that. The winter means short days, being cooped up inside, and it means no baseball. And no baseball is quite a bit less fun than baseball — and baseball is what we get starting today.

Temperatures across Michigan today are below freezing and our calendars say we have to deal with “winter” for another month, but spring – quite unofficially – begins today.

The Tigers will take the field against the Atlanta Braves 1:05 PM, and we’ll all remember Erie Harwell’s famous recitation of Song of Solomon 2:11-12. It will still be frigid here in the north for a good number of days, but from today onward, spring will exist in our hearts.