CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 05: Actor Bill Murray runs the bases before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago Cubs take on the Washington Nationals during the opening day game at Wrigley Field on April 5, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Nationals defeated the Cubs 2-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bill Murray
Good news, baseball fans! Punxsutawney Phil is predicting an early spring this year.
That won't affect the reporting dates for pitchers and catchers, or the first full-squad workouts in the Grapefruit League or Cactus League.
But it likely will please Phil Connors ... err, Bill Murray. Murray, who miserably lived the same day repeatedly in the classic "Groundhog Day" film, seemingly has suffered through the same baseball season his entire life as a Cubs fan.
But after a 97-win performance and a trip to the NLCS in 2015 and a stellar offseason, Murray and the millions of other Cubs fans are hoping for a happy ending this time -- perhaps an October matchup against the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals and their manager Ned "The Head" Yost.
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