Gateway Grizzlies Countdown Continues

With Major League Baseball in full swing, Gateway Grizzlies baseball is quickly approaching.  It will be here before you know it!

According to my countdown, 25 days until the Exhibition Opener, 29 days until the first broadcast on the Grizzlies Radio Network (May 13th EXH game) and just 34 days until Opening Day.  I wish it was here tomorrow!

I had the pleasure of speaking at the Belleville Men's Sports Group yesterday and really enjoyed it.  I had the chance to chat with fans about the upcoming Grizzlies season and fill them in on what they can expect when they come to GCS Ballpark.  An offseason full of exciting signings makes for an exciting spring training and that's what we are gearing up for in a couple of weeks.  Now that it's mid-April, players will start trickling in to GCS Ballpark this coming week.  Spring Training begins May 3rd and Phil Warren (Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon) has said this is going to be the most competitive Spring Training he has has had during his time here.  That includes his first season with the Grizzlies in '07 when his squad won 60-plus games, which is still a franchise record.

All in all, it's going to be an exciting Spring Training and hopefully an exciting season.  I feel like Phil will put together a great ballclub and we'll be in for a fun 2012 summer.  The offensive philosophy of the Grizzlies has changed, there is depth at nearly every position and the pitching staff is looking as solid as ever.  That's a recipe for success.

There are numerous questions people ask heading into Spring Training.  Here's a few:

• How will local products Aaron Conway (pictured right), Tim Brown and Cale Johnson  perform close to home?
• Phil Warren has more speed than ever on his ballclub..just how many bases will the Grizzlies steal in '12?
• Who will close games for the Grizzlies in '12..will it be Chris Enourato (11 saves in '11), Richard Barrett, Maurice Bankston or someone else in the 'pen?
• Will John Shelby put up historic #'s in his first season with the Grizzlies?
• Can the Grizzlies reach the playoffs for the first since 2008?  

Those questions and many more will be answered throughout the 2012 season.

I mentioned that our first broadcast will be on May 13th.  We are excited to be bringing you that exhibition game and all 96 regular season games on the Grizzlies Radio Network once again in 2012.  I will be joined in the booth at home games by Alex Wilson this season.  He's graduating from Greenville College in May and will be joining the broadcast team as the No. 2 broadcaster.  I'm excited to have Alex with us and confident he will do an outstanding job.

It's my pleasure to bring you Gateway Grizzlies baseball on the radio and I can't wait for the season to start up in May.  Go Grizzlies!

       -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young