Saturday, March 29, 2008 20:48
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 fromĀ 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.
* * *

And 11 degrees Celsius here in the UK…ugh….
Comment by TheUmpire — March 29, 2008 @ 9:19 pm