Spring Training – 2008

Reasons why I love Spring Training Games:

• You are this close to the field – in the two games I attended this Spring, I was no further than 8 rows from the field
  
• Day Games – All of them in the bright sunshine.
• Old folks – I talked with the gentleman in front of me — a Sawx fan. After I told him that I was a Cards fan and went to game 4 of the 2004 WS, he told me he was still bitter about the World Series against the Cards. I asked, “1967?” He said, “no, 1946.”
• Play Ball! – I was pleasantly surprised to see the players on the field in Clearwater for the singing of the national anthem. And disappointed that they didn’t do the same in Sarasota
  
• Weather reports – “In Minnesota, it’s 34 degrees, in Cincinnati, it’s 53 degrees. Here in Sarasota….”
• Spring Training Numbers – The Twins had players wearing numbers from 91 to 95 on the field at one time.
• Not playing to win – I love the lack of pressure.
• You can leave early – and we did leave.
• Kids – the kids who are into the game really make me think that baseball has a future
  

I love Spring Training games so much that I put ketchup on my niece’s hot dog.