Are Spring Training Records Meaningless, Or An Indication?

[Mitchell]

What does everyone think about Spring Training as an indication of how good, or bad, a team is going to be? Is Spring Training meaningless as far as wins and losses, or is it an indication of things to come?
The reason for my question is this. My Braves are having a terrible spring. They are currently at five wins, eleven losses, after today's blowout loss. Should I be concerned at this, feeling it is an omen that they may not have a good season, or is it the type of thing that can be brushed off, as saying:""Oh, spring training is meaningless anyway".
In the 1980's, when the Braves were losing 90 to 100 games a year, and finishing in last or next to last every year, they always seemed to do very well in spring training, and then once the season started, played poorly. Perhaps if they were at or near 500 for the spring, I wouldn't even question this, but, with opening day a bit over two weeks away, and at Five and Eleven, I will admit I am a bit concerned.
So, what do people think, Spring Training, meaningless, or an indication?

Mitch

 

[leafstk]

Interesting. I always noticed that in the Jays best years, they always tanked in the spring training games. Really, its only exhibition so it is meaningless... no one's truly concerned about the outcome as they are merely honing their skills and trying to gel as a unit/team. I don't put much stock in pre-season success, but its always nice to go into the season on a high. Much like the post-season, you want to go in on a roll.....

 

[RobAce]

I think it goes both ways. Fans will read into it too much and sometimes some of the divas on the teams will use it for fuel also.
Spring Training to me is just that IMHO. Training. Honestly even the first month of the season teams are still feeling themselves out.
By May you can tell usually whos gonna contend and who should be in the stands selling popcorn.

Rob

 

[Mitchell]

I agree with you, rob. What you said can be true, but not always, as there have been times, such as in 1991 and again in 1993, when my Braves were as much as ten games out of first, and under 500, in July, and rebounded to win the division. My feeling is that if a team can stay close the first half of the season, say within five or six games of first, they have a chance, especially if they are strong.

Mitch

 

[RobAce]

I can agree Mitch. There are those teams that will stay close and make a good run in July. By the way...do you get to Atlanta to watch Braves games often?
Im close to Atlanta and I might get over there a few times this year.

Rob

 

[Knox The Hatter]

I figure it really doesn't work well as a solid indicator. When they compete against each other, they're really not in prime playing shape, even if they are physically (and today, they are physically fit 24/7/365). I don't think anyone really gets into gear until May, at the very least.

Spring training, for me, was sitting in the stands at Jack Russell, swatting endless swarms of flies, roasting in the sun, and watching Von Hayes scratch his rear end. Mentally, I don't think the players on the field were much more psychologically advanced than that. It's actually a party.

 

[Mitchell]

Unfortunately, rob, I don't get to Atlanta. I went there once, in 1987 with my father, when they were a lousy team. I do usually get to one game a year in Philly to see them, and will be going this year on Sunday, July 23rd. They have a tour group running from Lancaster, so I don't have to drive, as it is more than 70 miles from here.

Mitch

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Records in Spring training are meaningless. Some of the Mets best years have been when they have had crummy springs. Some of the Yankees World Series Championship years have been when they have bad springs. They use springs as tune-ups for the regular season. So it means nothing. I will say that it is more about individuals performances. Individuals can make teams based on performances. But as a team over all it means nothing.

 

[rajee]

I just hope the Jays do better this year than last year, regardless of how they do in the grapefruit league/games.

 

[milagros317]

Records in Spring training are meaningless. Some of the Mets best years have been when they have had crummy springs. Some of the Yankees World Series Championship years have been when they have bad springs. They use springs as tune-ups for the regular season. So it means nothing. I will say that it is more about individuals performances. Individuals can make teams based on performances. But as a team over all it means nothing.

I agree with TF4F. If a player bats .400 in the spring, that does mean something, but the teams' records mean very little. Just consider a 5-4 loss where the 5 runs were given up in the late innings by pitchers destined for AA or by non-roster invitees who didn't impress and weren't offered a contract.

 

[unclebill]

Milagros and ticklingfeet4fun, you both are smart baseball fans. Spring Training records mean nothing. Otherwise, the Cubs would be champs. And we all know that hasn`t happened since 1908.