Written by Tony Lastoria

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It's official!  Pitchers and catchers have reported to Winterhaven, Florida ... and another season of Cleveland Indians baseball is now underway.  And who else but Tony to chime in and let us all know everything we need to know about Spring Training.  Key dates, offseason transactions, the spring training invites, and a full schedule.  It's all in here.  Baseball is back!

Today marks the official start of the Indians season as pitchers and catchers will report to Winter Haven.  And with that, as I have done the two previous years, it is time to kick things off with a little Fogerty: 
 
Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today! 
We're born again, there's new grass on the field. 
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man; 
Anyone can understand the way I feel. 
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today; 
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today; 
Look at me, I can be Centerfield. 
 
Yep, pitchers and catchers report today, which is the official start to the new season, and means the fans will soon finally get some new topics to debate and talk about over the airwaves and in the cyberworld.  No more beating to death of the same three to four topics from the past four months of the offseason, as at least these guys are practicing and finally throwing the ball around.  Now instead of tearing apart Casey Blake's batting average with runners in scoring position and two out, we can talk about all the guys who came to camp fat and out of shape.  Hooray!

There is nothing like the start of the baseball season.  While Opening Day is like a national holiday to baseball enthusiasts, the actual start of spring training signifies the official start of the new baseball season.  Also, for those of us unfortunate enough to be in a cold weather climate such as Cleveland, it means that warm summer nights watching the Tribe are not too far away.

With the kickoff of spring training, we will enter our third season of Indians coverage here at TheClevelandFan.com.  As in the past, we will continue to put forth the best Indians coverage on the web.  You'll continue to get site staples such as "The B-List", "Minor Happenings", series previews, weekly roundups, draft talk, and excellent analysis and op-ed pieces from the writers on this site.  From the games, to the minors, to the MLB draft, it will all be covered. 
 
Over the course of the next six weeks during spring training here at TheClevelandFan.com there will be many preview and analysis pieces on the Indians, and we will also preview the four full-season minor league affiliates at Buffalo, Akron, Kinston and Lake County at the end of camp.  There will also be a weekly recap every weekend highlighting and discussing all the Indians and minor league news in camp from the previous week, firsthand reports from spring training, and more.  By the way, you can also check out our payroll chart to view all the vital information regarding the Indians team payroll breakdown, player control for the next several years, options and service time, and contract info.

Also, we will be a part of a cool new feature that will debut this year on www.sportstimeohio.com.  This new feature is a live game page where fans can make nightly prop bets for the game.  Things are still being worked out, but there will be a listing of prop bets like "first Indians player to get a hit", "first Indians player to score a run", "first Indians player to hit a home run", "total strikeouts - Indians pitchers", etc.  There will be ten prop bets worth ten points each for a maximum total of 100 on the night.  The site will keep track of the results as they happen instantly, standings will be shown, and there will be nightly, monthly, and season ending prizes for the top scorers.  STO is also going to give out an HD TV to a random person every time an Indians player hits a home run in April.  The page will also serve as a home for those that like to be on-line chatting during the game, and all the Indians writers here at TheClevelandFan.com will be actively involved and moderating it.  This should be a lot of fun.  More on this in our message boards forum as the season gets closer, and you will likely start to see some commercials about it as well on STO as the season draws near. 
 
We have all the bases covered once again this year, so enjoy another roller coaster ride of a baseball season with us as the Indians begin their journey to what we all hope is a World Series championship this year. 
 
For now, here is a quick primer with some of the key information as Spring Training opens: 
 
Key Dates 
 
Feb. 14:  Pitchers, catchers and injured players report 
Feb. 15:  Pitchers, catchers and injured players take physicals 
Feb. 16:  Pitchers, catchers and injured players hold first workout 
Feb. 19:  Position players and rest of team report 
Feb. 20:  Positions players take physicals 
Feb. 21:  First full team workout 
Feb. 28:  First game, vs. Houston Astros 1:05 at Chain of Lakes Park 
Mar. 27:  Final game in Winter Haven vs Tampa Rays 1:05 
Mar. 27:  Indians pack and leave Winter Haven and say good-bye 
Mar. 30:  Baseball opening day, active rosters reduced to 25 players 
Mar. 31:  Indians opening day, vs. Chicago White Sox 3:05 at Progressive Field 
 
Offseason Transactions 
 
Acquired INF Jamey Carroll from Colorado for a player to be named later. 
Re-signed RHP Rafael Betancourt:  2 year/$5.4 million contract with a club option for 2010 at $5 million. 
Re-signed INF Casey Blake:  1 year/$6.1 million contract. 
Re-signed C Armando Camacaro:  Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Re-signed RHP Jeff Harris:  Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Re-signed C Yamid:  Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Signed free agent RHP Masahide Kobayashi:  2 year/$6 million contract with a 2010 club option for $5 million. 
Signed free agent RHP Scott Elarton (RHP):  Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Signed free agent RHP Brendan Donnelly:  Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Signed free agent RHP Jorge Julio:  Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Signed free agent RHP Rick Bauer:  Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Signed free agent INF Andy Gonzalez:  Minor League contracts with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Signed free agent RHP Matt Ginter:  Minor League contracts with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Signed free agent INF Aaron Herr:  Minor League contracts with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Signed free agent INF Danny Sandoval:  Minor League contracts with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Designated RHP J.D. Martin for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo with an invitation to Spring Training. 
Added LHP Scott Lewis, RHP Adam Miller, LHP Reid Santos, C Wyatt Toregas and LHP Tony Sipp to the 40-man roster. 
 
Spring Training Roster 
 
Pitchers:  Rafael Betancourt, Joe Borowski, Paul Byrd, Fausto Carmona, Aaron Fultz, Masahide Kobayashi, Aaron Laffey, Juan Lara, Cliff Lee, Jensen Lewis, Scott Lewis, Tom Mastny, Adam Miller, Eddie Mujica, Rafael Perez, C.C. Sabathia, Reid Santos, Tony Sipp, Brian Slocum, Jeremy Sowers, and Jake Westbrook. 
 
Catchers:  Victor Martinez, Kelly Shoppach, and Wyatt Toregas. 
 
Infielders:  Michael Aubrey, Josh Barfield, Casey Blake, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jamey Carroll, Ryan Garko, Travis Hafner, Andy Marte, and Jhonny Peralta. 
 
Outfielders:  Shin-Soo Choo, David Dellucci, Ben Francisco, Franklin Gutierrez, Jason Michaels, Grady Sizemore, and Brad Snyder. 
 
Prospect invites:  LHP Chuck Lofgren, RHP J.D. Martin, LHP Rich Rundles, RHP Jeff Stevens, C Armando Camacaro, C Chris Gimenez, C Dave Wallace, INF Jordan Brown, INF Beau Mills, and OF Trevor Crowe. 
 
Non-Roster Invites (NRIs):  RHP Rick Bauer, RHP Brandan Donnelly, RHP Scott Elarton, RHP Matt Giner, RHP Jeff Harris, RHP Jorge Julio,  C Yamid Haad, INF Andy Gonzalez, INF Aaron Herr, and INF Danny Sandoval. 
 
Indians Spring Training Game Schedule 

Date	Time	Opponent	Location
February 28	1:05 p.m.	Houston Astros	Chain of Lakes Park
February 29	1:05 p.m.	Houston Astros	Osceola County Stadium
March 1	1:05 p.m.	Detroit Tigers	Joker Marchant Stadium
March 2	1:05 p.m.	Detroit Tigers	Chain of Lakes Park
March 3	1:05 p.m.	Toronto Blue Jays	Knology Park
March 4	1:05 p.m.	Cincinnati Reds	Ed Smith Stadium
March 5	1:05 p.m.	Atlanta Braves	Chain of Lakes Park
March 6	1:05 p.m.	Houston Astros	Osceola County Stadium
March 7	1:05 p.m.	New York Mets	Chain of Lakes Park
March 8	1:05 p.m.	Philadelphia Phillies	Chain of Lakes Park
March 9	1:05 p.m.	Washington Nationals (ss)	Chain of Lakes Park
March 9	1:05 p.m.	Washington Nationals (ss)	Space Coast Stadium
March 10	1:05 p.m.	Tampa Bay Rays	Al Lang Field
March 11	1:05 p.m.	Detroit Tigers	Chain of Lakes Park
March 12	7:05 p.m.	Atlanta Braves	Champion Stadium
March 13	1:05 p.m.	Toronto Blue Jays	Chain of Lakes Park
March 14	1:05 p.m.	Washington Nationals (ss)	Space Coast Stadium
March 14	7:05 p.m.	Washington Nationals (ss)	Chain of Lakes Park
March 15	1:05 p.m.	Houston Astros	Chain of Lakes Park
March 16	1:15 p.m.	New York Yankees	Legends Field
March 17	1:05 p.m.	Philadelphia Phillies	Bright House Networks Field
March 18		OFF DAY
March 19	7:10 p.m.	New York Mets	Tradition Field
March 20	1:05 p.m.	Tampa Bay Rays	Chain of Lakes Park
March 21	1:05 p.m.	Atlanta Braves	Champion Stadium
March 22	1:05 p.m.	New York Mets	Chain of Lakes Park
March 23	1:05 p.m.	Detroit Tigers	Joker Marchant Stadium
March 24	1:05 p.m.	Atlanta Braves	Chain of Lakes Park
March 25	1:05 p.m.	New York Yankees	Chain of Lakes Park
March 26	1:05 p.m.	Houston Astros	Osceola County Stadium
March 27	1:05 p.m.	Tampa Bay Rays	Chain of Lakes Park
March 28	TBA	Atlanta Braves	Turner Field
March 29	TBA	Atlanta Braves	Turner Field

* All times local. Home games are in bold. 
 
Minor League Spring Training Game Schedules 
 
Each full-season Indians minor league affiliate will play 12 games in spring training, with the opponents being the Detroit, Houston and Atlanta farm teams.  The Triple-A and Double-A teams (Buffalo and Akron) will travel together, and the Single-A teams (Kinston and Lake County) will as well.  The two groups will always be at opposite sites, so for example if Buffalo/Akron are in Winter Haven, then Kinston/Lake County will be on the road. 
 
The makeup of each team should be an early indication of who is slated to go where when the season starts, although a lot of players who will play in short-season leagues with Mahoning Valley and the GCL will still be a part of the Single-A teams.  A camp day is a regular workout day with all teams/players in Winter Haven. 
 
Game times are at 1:00 p.m., although the start time and schedule is always subject to change.

	Buffalo	Akron	Kinston	Lake County
March 14th	vs Round Rock              in Winter Haven	vs Corpus Christi            in Winter Haven	vs Salem                      @ Kissimmee	vs. Lexington                 @ Kissimmee
March 15th	vs Toledo                       in Winter Haven	vs Erie                          in Winter Haven	vs Lakeland                  @ Lakeland	vs West Michigan          @ Lakeland
March 16th	Camp Day, all teams in Winter Haven
March 17th	vs Richmond                  in Winter Haven	vs Mississippi                in Winter Haven	vs Myrtle Beach            @ Disney World	vs Rome                       @ Disney World
March 18th	vs Round Rock              @ Kissimmee	vs Corpus Christi           @ Kissimmee	vs Salem                       in Winter Haven	vs. Lexington                 in Winter Haven
March 19th	Camp Day, all teams in Winter Haven
March 20th	vs Toledo                      @ Lakeland	vs Erie                          @ Lakeland	vs Lakeland                   in Winter Haven	vs West Michigan           in Winter Haven
March 21st	vs Round Rock              in Winter Haven	vs Corpus Christi            in Winter Haven	vs Salem                      @ Kissimmee	vs. Lexington                 @ Kissimmee
March 22nd	vs Toledo                       in Winter Haven	vs Erie                          in Winter Haven	vs Lakeland                  @ Lakeland	vs West Michigan          @ Lakeland
March 23rd	Camp Day, all teams in Winter Haven
March 24th	vs Toledo                      @ Lakeland	vs Erie                          @ Lakeland	vs Lakeland                   in Winter Haven	vs West Michigan           in Winter Haven
March 25th	vs Richmond                 @ Disney World	vs Mississippi               @ Disney World	vs Myrtle Beach             in Winter Haven	vs Rome                        in Winter Haven
March 26th	Camp Day, all teams in Winter Haven
March 27th	vs Richmond                 @ Disney World	vs Mississippi               @ Disney World	vs Myrtle Beach             in Winter Haven	vs Rome                        in Winter Haven
March 28th	vs Toledo                       in Winter Haven	vs Erie                          in Winter Haven	vs Lakeland                  @ Lakeland	vs West Michigan          @ Lakeland
March 29th	vs Toledo                      @ Lakeland	vs Erie                          @ Lakeland	vs Lakeland                   in Winter Haven	vs West Michigan           in Winter Haven