Rockies pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 21

Just 43 days remain until Colorado Rockies pitchers and catchers report to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick for spring training.

Major League Baseball on Thursday announced the reporting dates this spring for all 30 clubs. The Rockies will begin working out their hurlers and backstops on Feb. 21. Full squad workouts will start six days later, on Feb. 27.

Colorado starts a bit late compared to, say, the World Series-champion Giants, whose pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 19. Perhaps the Rockies will take a few extra days in order to lessen the work on their pitchers' arms, though most likely a matter of a couple of days doesn't make a difference. If it did, maybe the team would wait until Feb. 23, when several teams will begin their workouts.

The Rockies will have their photo day on March 1 at 7 a.m. Arizona time, for those interested in attending (credentials likely required, of course). I'm glad we won't have to wait too long for cheesy head shots of prospects and other less notable players who otherwise don't have photos in our database.

Colorado begins its Cactus League schedule against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields on March 4 and will finish up on April 4 against the Seattle Mariners.