It has been an utterly fantastic nine days down here in Arizona, but alas, it is time for me to head back to the Great Midwest. But before I let that big ol’ jet airliner take me far away, let’s take a look back at what we learned during this little odyssey through the Cactus League:
- While I’d say that the Cactus League is better than the Grapefruit League in terms of convenience and baseball-bang-for-your-buck, it does lack a bit of that event feel you get in Florida. Although, really, that doesn’t come close to outweighing Arizona’s advantages. If your team is in Florida, sure, you’re going to want to go there. But if the point is to simply consume a metric-crap-ton of baseball, you want to come to Arizona.
- Though we may never learn if it is possible for spring training facilities to be too cushy, the Diamondbacks and Rockies are pushing he envelope.
- Kirk Gibson expects you to Deal With It.
- Henry Blanco is slow, but he’s faster than you.
- Between TT Roadhouse and the place where the Giants train, there is just enough in Scottsdale to spare it from being thrown up against the wall when the revolution comes.
- But no matter what happens, this dude is gonna be up against that wall.
- Brian Wilson: corporate shill? Tim Lincecum: buying pre-weathered iPad holders? Miguel Tejada: comedian?
- Urge … to be … a fanboy … rising!
- Mike Trout is humble, Vernon Wells is Fonzie and Matt Kemp looks like a new man.
- People freak out about clouds here in Arizona.
- My lawsuit against Ryan Hanigan and the Reds over my getting hit by a baseball is in the planning stages. Hanigan said sorry, but he can stuff his sorries in a sack!
- I still have this feeling that my educating a South Korean journalist about footlong chili dogs may set back international relations decades, but if I had to do it over again I wouldn’t change a thing.
- FYI: Marty Brennaman is not Bob Uecker.
- I like Mike Quade. But seriously dude: try to keep your players from fighting, OK?
- If Zelous Wheeler gets a start, it must be spring training.
- Hey Ladies!
- A picture of a chili dog with crushed up Fritos and topped off with jalapeño peppers that was damn nigh the death of me.
- Jeff Francoeur may have been my white whale, but he ended up being pretty benign. And this caused me some consternation.
- In which I invent an imaginary conversation between George Brett and Kevin Seitzer.
- Patience, Royals fans: the future is bright.
- The place the A’s train may have been built by Communists 50 years ago, but I kind of like it.
- There is nothing quite like the brigade of Japanese reporters who cover Hideki Matsui. But at least they’re fun.
- I’m glad cooler heads prevailed, but getting my ass kicked in what would have almost certainly been portrayed in the media as a racial incident would have made for great blogging.
- Don’t look now, but I think gophers have infested the field at Camelback Ranch.
- Which, strangely enough, may actually have helped Adam Dunn’s defense at first.
- Ozzie Guillen is a cool customer and Dan Haren is a model of … well, he’s just a model.
With that I gotta catch the Super Chief back east to home and hearth. It’s been real, folks. Next time you hear from me I’ll be back in my fortified compound on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio speaking truth to power or whatever it is I like to pretend that I do around here.
See you next year, Spring Training.
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- yankeesfanlen - Mar 4, 2011 at 9:56 AM
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In 2001 I seriously considered vacationing in Phoenix to insure warmth as escape from the torturous northern winter. It never came about, and at the time it did not seem the baseball extravaganza that occurs there now based upon your expansive and reliable coverage. Good thing,too, because I may have become a real estate speculator, which would had led me to ill fortune.
Had also not been apprised of the effects of the dreaded horned toad, which could have led to my demise.
Subsequently national events caused considerable introspection and uphaeval to the point where even baseball crowned an ersatz champion, much to my chagrin.
Now is the time to re-think Arizona, however all external conditions prove that perhaps it is the only thing succeeding. After March, not much there, so I’ll see you in the Grapefruit League if you’re there next year.
Thanks for the insights.
2012 Spring Training tickets availale yet for 28 time World Champs?
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- BC - Mar 4, 2011 at 10:16 AM
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The real question, Craig, is whether you got over to the Heart Attack Grill.
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- Utley's Hair - Mar 4, 2011 at 11:31 AM
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I hear they’re looking for a new owner.
But since Craig said his wife would kill him for eating whatever the hell that was in the picture, methinks she wouldn’t be too enthused with the idea of going to that place.
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- Detroit Michael - Mar 4, 2011 at 2:41 PM
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or the Honey Bears Barbeque a bit west of the Oakland Athletics’ camp
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- Utley's Hair - Mar 4, 2011 at 11:34 AM
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“Next time you hear from me I’ll be back in my fortified compound on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio, speaking truth to power or whatever it is I like to pretend that I do around here.”
Dick Cheney? Is that you?
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- The Sports Minion - Mar 4, 2011 at 6:08 PM
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Thanks for providing us with a glimpse into spring training, much appreciated, you provided some fun stories. Specifically, I appreciate any comparison to the Fonze & your heart attack chili dog. I’ll be heading out to see White Sox/Dodgers next weekend, anything you recommend?
