Visions of spring training

I love, love, love this time of year. Why? Because today is the day sore muscles start on a group of people in Florida and Arizona — pitchers and catchers had their first day of practice and baseball is officially under way.

Hope springs eternal in every corner of the country for baseball fans. Even teams with no chance of winning have optimistic fans all over the place, hoping and praying that their team becomes the dark horse winner this year.

In Michigan, Detroit Tigers fans are more than optimistic, they are almost expecting a World Series trip as the bar has been raised with the signing of Prince Fielder. There are issues, just like every team, but it's just the first day of spring training, so for now let's just enjoy that baseball is back.

(And a note to Christy Andrzejewski, I haven't forgotten that you owe me a photo in Tigers sportswear. It's coming soon enough.)

In the meantime, here are a few photos from the first day of practice in Lakeland.