Not only is spring training two weeks longer because of this year's World Baseball Classic, but the Schepperses added a second dog two weeks ago when they adopted a Boston terrier.

Scheppers' dog food, as well as a few teammates' Pack 'n Play children playpens and three motorcycles, were among the many items aboard the Texas Rangers' moving truck that departed Friday afternoon from Rangers Ballpark en route to the team's facility in Surprise, Ariz.

For Scheppers, seeing the 18-wheeler loaded up signaled how close spring training is; pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12.

"It's exciting, you get that baseball itch where you want to get back on the field," Scheppers said.

Said pitching coach Mike Maddux: "It's time to start that grind. It's always fun to pack the bags because it lets you know we'll be smelling leather and baseball bats pretty shortly. That's what we live for."

The Rangers' equipment crew, headed by Richard "Hoggy" Price and his nine assistants, has been prepping for spring training ever since the season ended, and it intensified in January. The past two weeks, Price said, has been crossing the t's and dotting the i's to make sure nothing is left behind.

The Rangers are taking 125 cases of baseballs to Arizona. There are six dozen baseballs in every case, which means there are 9,000 baseballs in all. How many will come back?