Final Thoughts on Cactus League 2014

It has been two years since I first went to Arizona for Spring Training. It seems so long ago, and to think of everything that has happened to me from then until now is staggering. Back then, I was so unsure about what I would expect. It was my first time to Arizona, first time seeing many of the teams, first time experiencing the ballparks, etc. I was blown away by what I saw, and it really set the tone for that particular season. For the next two seasons, I would constantly refer back to that experience, as indicated in some of those blog posts. Fast forward to present day and my second visit, I still had a lot of firsts, but I come back with some worry. This is a first for me as I have not really had such a contrasts in Baseball Road Trips before.

To start with, being able to go on a Baseball Road Trip with another person was absolutely fantastic. Just being able to have someone to talk to on the road, over meals and at the ballpark really was a joy without comparison. It may be surprising to some of you, but the best part of traveling with someone was the challenges of the road. The hostel stunk, driving the long hours was rough and some of the fans at the ballpark were idiots. But it was easier to tolerate all of that when you had someone to share it with. It all comes back to how Baseball Road Trips are much larger than the baseball games.

The concept of Spring Training is so uniquely cool. There is no other professional sport that has this type of pre-season organization. NFL does have training camp, but can you imagine Pete Carroll or Bill Belicheck allowing the type of access to practice as fans have at Spring Training? They would never allow it. Giving the fans a first-hand look at what their professional athletes do to prepare is novel and brilliant at the same time.

When you walk around the Spring Training complex of any team, you feel reinvigorated. It's almost like the experience thaws you out from the long winter and breathes new life into you. For me, with so many new experiences and challenges of these past few months, with a new job and new location, being able to see my new hometown team at Spring Training was sublime. To be honest, I could have stayed at that complex all day and done nothing else besides watch the 66ers and all the others practice. As a hardcore baseball fan, there is nothing better. 

Salt River Fields still holds the top spot in my book of ballparks. Of the newer parks, not counting places like Wrigley Field or Nat Bailey Stadium, it has to be my favorite, Major or Minor League. It's a park that the designers just plain flat-out did right. Whether its the lawn seating, the orientation of the park, the cultural elements, reasonable affordability, it had it all. A note to all teams looking to build new parks for the future: look to Salt River Fields. 

But why my anxiety? The question nagging at me is very simple: has Spring Training gotten too big? My travel partner brought up a very good point as we were driving back. It felt, at the games we went to, people were there to hang out at a stadium where baseball just happened to be played. I like to think that Spring Training shouldn't be a hang-out spot, but rather a place where people can go to watch baseball. My partner was 100% correct in this, and, unfortunately, I have to agree with her.

Maybe it was the teams we saw. Maybe it was the weekend we went. Maybe it was the ballpark themselves. These all could have contributed to our challenges we had at the various parks over our trip. However, you can only have so many "maybes" add up before it stops being a coincidence and becomes a pattern of predictability. I'm going to remain optimistic and just hope that it was a bunch of those circumstances that lead to the unpleasantness. 

In a way, I'm partly to blame for this perceived demise. I've spent the better part of two seasons, and then some, espousing the virtues of Spring Training. I publicly stated in blogs how every baseball fan needs to see Spring Training before they die. I went on-and-on about how this was the nirvana of experiences. Maybe some people took advantage of mine and other's elaborate positive reviews. I have no regrets for saying that stuff, but it has had it's consequences. 

If I get the opportunity to do Spring Training again, I definitely would, but with a few changes. I know I hinted at it earlier, but I think it would be fun to do a Minor League junket instead of the big boys. For example, follow the Angels minor league squads as they play on the backfields at the different complexes. You would definitely see some quality baseball from individuals actually trying to climb the pro ladder, and you wouldn't have to deal with the obnoxious fans. I imagine that if I chose to do something like that, I'd be maybe just a handful of fans to watch, and they'd be almost guaranteed to be hardcore fans. All the crazy people would want to watch the big club. It's something to think about for the future, maybe. 

You know it was a good Baseball Road Trip if you're still analyzing a week after it ended. The many experiences we went through are what is quintessential about this hobby. Finally, another person shared it, and I hope very dearly that she had a good time. Baseball Road Trips offer up avenues for self-reflection and discussion, awe and inspiration, and study and contemplation. The Cactus League 2014 road trip has set me up for an incredible season. I had a great time and made some lasting memories.

I'm taking a few weeks off from the baseball circuit to focus my attention elsewhere. Professionally, my job has been exhausting and requires constant work. Personally, the NCAA Basketball Tournament has started, which I am very passionate about. My wonderful mother is coming to visit me this next week for a few days. And to cap off my break, I have finally scheduled a day to do nothing except lie on the beach. I'll pick up baseball games again the weekend of April 4 as I will travel to Visalia and Bakersfield for games. I might post an update or two before then, so check back soon!

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)