Since former Cubs president Albert Spalding and manager Cap Anson hatched the idea of preparing for the 1896 baseball season in the Arkansas resort town of Hot Springs, no team has won a pennant in spring training.
A cruel correlation to the axiom is that it is possible to lose a pennant in spring training. This happened to the Mariners last year, when projected No. 3 starter Drew Smyly felt discomfort in his left elbow during a March 29 bullpen session. What first was described as a “soggy arm” led to season-ending Tommy John surgery for Smyly, who came to Seattle and left Seattle without delivering a pitch in Seattle.