“SMAACK!”

It’s one of the most glorious sounds in sports.

Yep, a 97 mile per hour fastball slamming into a catcher’s glove.

And now it’s time.

Mariners pitchers and catchers already have reported to spring training in Peoria (Arizona, not Illinois), and their first official workout comes on Thursday.

There’s a full squad practice next Tuesday, and then the spring exhibition schedule begins on the 24th against the Padres.

Wham, bam!

Baseball is off and rocking.

Fans throughout the Northwest (and M’s loyalists everywhere) have countless reasons to be excited heading into the 2023 season.

A team loaded with young talent and sprinkled with some valuable vets is coming off a 90-win season that saw the blessed end of that two-decade playoff drought, a wild-card series win over Toronto and — even in a dogfight division loss to the eventual World Series champion Astros — countless reasons to be optimistic going forward.

Just as a bonus, the MLB All-Star Game is coming to T-Mobile Park this summer.

If you care to view that as an omen regarding the Mariners’ goals in ’23 …

Go for it.

IF YOU’RE thinking of a trip to Arizona for the spring festivities, however, or even if you plan to follow along from a distance …

Prepare yourself.

This year’s training regimen will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

Hell, it’ll be unlike anything that ANYONE has ever seen.

For starters, a huge group of players — major leaguers and even kids from the minors — will heading off to play in the World Baseball Classic.

The WBC occurs smack in the middle of spring training (March 7-21) in four far-flung locations — Phoenix, Miami, Tokyo and Taichung (Taiwan).

The Mariners have 10 players planning to participate, including everyone from star center fielder Julio Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) to the organization's top prospect, young catcher Harry Ford (Great Britain).

No one wants to complain out loud about the WBC — Major League Baseball is hugely invested in growing the game globally — but having so many players disappear right in the middle of spring training is not exactly ideal.

Remember, the regular season starts March 30, with the Mariners hosting Cleveland.

Now, having explained those WBC complications, consider …

That interruption is nothing compared to the chaos that will be overwhelming teams and players in Arizona and Florida.

This is the season that MLB has chosen to implement a raft of dramatic rules changes, and they will be enforced throughout spring training to give everyone a shot at feeling comfortable.

Younger players may have some experience with things like the pitch clock and the no-shift infield, since they’ve been tested in the minor leagues — but a majority of big leaguers will be learning all these things on the fly.

Imagine a 14-year veteran reliever who suddenly has to adjust his career-long, pitch-to-pitch routine.

Hitters will have time limits to get in the box and prepare to swing, too.

Then there are cut-down attempted pick-off throws, and larger bases to encourage more of a running game.

BEAR IN mind, all these things will come into play simultaneously.

Spring training may start out like a bit of a circus, for players, managers, umpires and everyone associated with the game.

We know, from minor league testing, that the changes will speed up play and ultimately shorten games — which is one of MLB’s top-of-the-list goals.

But exactly how some of the tactical differences will impact play, who knows?

Jeff Passan, ESPN’s baseball guru, has predicted that banning the shift should be a huge boon to hitters, and says he believes overall league batting averages will rise at least 10 points.

“Left-handed hitters, especially, are going to see hard-hit ground balls going past infielders for base hits,” Passan said.

“They’ve been living with the frustration of stinging a ball into right field and finding the second baseman there to field it and throw them out.”

Meanwhile, Mariners boss Jerry Dipoto suspects things may work the other way.

“I think the clock will really help pitchers,” he said. “The guys I’ve seen who work quickly are almost all more effective.

“They don’t give hitters as much of a chance to have a plan up there, and you get the best defense behind you by throwing the ball quickly.”

Passan and Dipoto are people who REALLY know baseball.

Yet they’re zeroing in on two different rule changes, and suggesting they’ll impact overall play in diametrically opposite ways.

That ought to give you a clue about the 2023 season, and baseball’s venture into The Great Unknown.

It all starts with spring training, and what is bound to be some madness at the start.

I wonder …

Can they restore sanity by March 30.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”