It's about this time of year that professional baseball players and major league-hopefuls are reporting to Arizona or Florida for MLB's annual Spring Training. It's also this time of year that the NHL is preparing for the final stretch before the playoffs. I figured there have to be some similarities and differences, and it turns out that I was right...well, sort of.
Similarity: The games are completely meaningless for teams from Washington D.C.
Difference: The Nationals could surprise everyone and compete for a playoff spot.
Similarity: Superstar players are meeting their new teams, either after free agency or trades.
Difference: Rick Nash expects to meet his very first full-time NHL team next week.
Similarity: Many teams are preparing for this season, while others are already looking towards next season.
Difference: For hockey fans in Phoenix, they are very, very afraid of next season.
Similarity: The New York teams are trying to build on the Giants' Superbowl victory by bringing the Big Apple more championships this year.
Difference: The Mets and Islanders sit off to the side awkwardly.
Similarity: Teams in both leagues are making trades to improve their team.
Difference: The Colorado Avalanche are getting manipulated miserably by Steve Yzerman.
Similarity: Architects and engineers are working to make sure everything about the team's buildings are prepared for home games.
Difference: Islanders management has failed to do that for decades now.
Similarity: Many teams, including the Yankees, are trying to find ways to cut salary.
Difference: The Rangers are deciding who to bury in the minor leagues to create more cap space next.
Similarity: In baseball, fans from New York, Chicago, Boston and other major cities, travel down to Florida and Arizona to fill up buildings to watch them play.
Difference: Actually, it's the same in hockey.
Similarity: Players from both sports are looking ahead towards April and beyond.
Difference: Unfortunately for many hockey players, it's because they'll be on the golf course.
Similarity: Both sports recently awarded a player a car (World Series MVP and last player/MVP of the All-Star draft).
Difference: World Series MVP David Freese won a new Corvette, while the last player drafted at the All-Star game won a Honda. At least the Honda gets good fuel mileage...
Similarity: Superstar players are always looking to go to Los Angeles.
Difference: Kings general manager Dean Lombardi is allergic to bringing in star players.
Similarity: Players from Ohio aren't good at getting saves.
Difference: In baseball, at least a blown save means that your team was previously leading.
Similarity: Teams focus on establishing dominance and having a good home record.
Difference: The Red Wings agree, and decide they should play better at home.
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| Alex Rodriguez isn't the only Alex who's been distracted from his sport recently. |
It's about this time of year that professional baseball players and major league-hopefuls are reporting to Arizona or Florida for MLB's annual Spring Training. It's also this time of year that the NHL is preparing for the final stretch before the playoffs. I figured there have to be some similarities and differences, and it turns out that I was right...well, sort of.
Similarity: The games are completely meaningless for teams from Washington D.C.
Difference: The Nationals could surprise everyone and compete for a playoff spot.
Similarity: Superstar players are meeting their new teams, either after free agency or trades.
Difference: Rick Nash expects to meet his very first full-time NHL team next week.
Similarity: Many teams are preparing for this season, while others are already looking towards next season.
Difference: For hockey fans in Phoenix, they are very, very afraid of next season.
Similarity: The New York teams are trying to build on the Giants' Superbowl victory by bringing the Big Apple more championships this year.
Difference: The Mets and Islanders sit off to the side awkwardly.
Similarity: Teams in both leagues are making trades to improve their team.
Difference: The Colorado Avalanche are getting manipulated miserably by Steve Yzerman.
Similarity: Architects and engineers are working to make sure everything about the team's buildings are prepared for home games.
Difference: Islanders management has failed to do that for decades now.
Similarity: Many teams, including the Yankees, are trying to find ways to cut salary.
Difference: The Rangers are deciding who to bury in the minor leagues to create more cap space next.
Similarity: In baseball, fans from New York, Chicago, Boston and other major cities, travel down to Florida and Arizona to fill up buildings to watch them play.
Difference: Actually, it's the same in hockey.
Similarity: Players from both sports are looking ahead towards April and beyond.
Difference: Unfortunately for many hockey players, it's because they'll be on the golf course.
Similarity: Both sports recently awarded a player a car (World Series MVP and last player/MVP of the All-Star draft).
Difference: World Series MVP David Freese won a new Corvette, while the last player drafted at the All-Star game won a Honda. At least the Honda gets good fuel mileage...
Similarity: Superstar players are always looking to go to Los Angeles.
Difference: Kings general manager Dean Lombardi is allergic to bringing in star players.
Similarity: Players from Ohio aren't good at getting saves.
Difference: In baseball, at least a blown save means that your team was previously leading.
Similarity: Teams focus on establishing dominance and having a good home record.
Difference: The Red Wings agree, and decide they should play better at home.
