The groundhog was wrong

Kate Upton is the cover model for
this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.

A couple of weeks ago, Punxsatawney Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter. I beg to differ, and it has nothing to do with the warm winter temperatures and lack of snow we've experienced.

There are 2 reasons for me to be thinking spring.

First, the Phillies loaded a tractor-trailer with equipment on Sunday that was heading to Clearwater, Fla., for spring training. The 5-time National League East champions open camp this Sunday when pitchers and catchers report for their first workout.

And this week, another sure sign of spring bloomed again: the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. Model Kate Upton graces this year's cover.

Spring is in the air

After this nasty winter of seemingly endless snow and ice and colder-than-normal


AP Photo
Phillies starting pitcher delivers a
pitch during a workout
Monday in Clearwater, Fla.

 temperatures, any thoughts of spring are welcome.

This week, there are three.

First, there's the weather, which later this week will see forecast highs near 60 or above.


AP Photo
Russian model Irina Shayk
graces the cover of the
2011 Sports Illustrated
swimsuit edition.

On Monday, the Phillies pitchers and catchers held their first workout of spring traning in Clearwater, Fla.

Then on Tuesday, Sports Illustrated released its annual swimsuit edition. The coveted spot on the cover went to Russian model Irina Shayk, girlfriend of soccer star Ronaldo.


Who cares what that groundhog thinks? Every year, these are the signs that spring is in the air.

Spring is here!!

Yes, the calendar says it's only Feb. 14. Yes, we just saw a storm drop a few inches of snow, ice and rain on the area. But today is the first day of spring.

Phillies' pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater, Fla., this morning for the start of spring training -- the unofficial start of spring.

Watching the television reports from Phillies' camp in sunny Florida and seeing photos of the team working out -- like the one from the Associated Press, above -- gets me thinking about spring and the excitement of the upcoming baseball season.

So while we may get a few more snowstorms and several cold and cloudy days in dreary southeastern Pennsylvania, it's already spring in my mind.