Spring Training Begins In Exactly One Week!

Yes! It's true! Pitchers and catchers report to spring training camps in Florida and Arizona on February 12th, one week from today, with the rest of the players reporting 5 days later. The first spring training game is Thursday, February 20th, when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs in Glendale, Arizona. It has been a long time since I have attended a spring training game, and now that I do have a chance to finally see some games in Florida again, I checked on the internet and found out that seats run about $50 each, unless you want to sit in the bleachers for $25. That is way more than I spend when I go to Coors Field to watch a game that actually counts. And keep in mind, spring training is all about trying out players who might help the team win during the regular season, and so most of the games will feature unknown players who play only a few innings each. Forget about watching top players for more than an inning or so. And unlike the good old days, when you would watch spring training games in old fashioned parks where players and fans used the same entrances and exits, these days baseball teams train in mini-Coors Fields to extract the most revenue. Does anyone else think rip-off? The photograph above, by the way, was taken back in March of 1996 at a spring training contest at Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach, Florida. That ballpark was, of course, torn down and replaced, too. Figures. I think I'll probably just wait and attend a few Florida State League games, sitting in the first row for $15, with entertaining promotions every half inning. Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals, here I come!