PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — While the winter chill remains in the Delaware Valley, the sounds of baseball are filling the air in Clearwater.
Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Wednesday as the Phillies opened up workouts for the 2021 season. They went through their workouts despite some rain in Florida as the Phillies began their quest to end their long playoff drought.
Last year, the Phillies fell one game shy of the postseason.
Pitcher Aaron Nola was on the mound for the season-ending loss in 2020, and Nola said the frustration of how the season ended is serving as motivation for this year.
"We missed it by a game," said Nola. "It does sting a little bit and I think, like you said, we carry that into this year and we learned from what we did."
The Phillies do appear to be an improved team this season.
The team resigned J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius and added depth to the bench and the pitching staff. Even with a tougher division, the Phillies are hoping to be better, but manager Joe Girardi said it's all about the results and not what looks strong on paper.
"This paper doesn’t mean a lot," Girardi said. "We have to go out and prove it, and guys have to play up to their potential. That’s what spring training is all about."
Spring training is also going to be different for pitchers this season. After a shortened 2020 campaign, Nola and the rest of the staff will have to make adjustments to their strength and conditioning.
Despite throwing less innings last year, Nola said the reduced workload will force a different approach to spring training.
"It’s going to be a big jump from guys who are throwing 150 to 200 innings down to 50 to 70 innings back up to what we want to pitch," said Nola. "That's 200 innings."
There is also the issue of the pandemic, which remains despite a return to spring training. Last season, baseball was delayed until July and there were issues with outbreaks in Miami and St. Louis.
However, Girardi and his players were happy to be able to start spring training on time, and the manager is confident everyone will stay as safe as possible.
"We’re pretty familiar with what we’ve had to do," Girardi said. "I think since that time of last year, I think Major League Baseball and the trainers and health officials have even made it safer."