Play Ball

I barely survived February (from the Latin meaning "month in which there are no good sports.") But now they're playing televised spring training games in Florida and Arizona, and baseball's regular season is less than a month away. Best of all, this year, the national pastime is on schedule to open in DC:

The turf is growing, all the seats are nearly in and the high-definition scoreboard is lighted. The lights are glowing, and the water is flowing, with four weeks left to go before the opening of Nationals Park.

On March 30, before an expected packed house of 41,000 fans, the Washington Nationals will take the field for their regular-season opener against the Atlanta Braves. With visions of cherry trees blooming beyond the outfield and the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop, the team is right on target to open the $611 million ballpark off South Capitol Street. In fact, construction executives say they might even clear inspections and get a certificate of occupancy within a week.

Workers have been racing to complete the ballpark since construction began nearly two years ago. Such an accomplishment would be a remarkable feat for a project that has kept to one of the tightest schedules ever for a stadium, officials said.

For a real-time stadium cam, click here. For a WaPo photo essay tracking the construction, click here.

I've got my tickets--and can't wait.