Cactus League 2015

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It's the end of March, the days are getting longer, and the blossoms are blooming, but it really means that it is time for my yearly trip to Phoenix for Spring Training! For the third time in four years, I am making the trek to the Valley of the Sun for some pre-season action on the diamond. This weekend, it's three games in three days, some bike riding, and beer tasting around town. It will be an experience unlike any other, and I'm so excited to bring all of you along.
My road trip will start Friday night with the late game at Goodyear Ballpark with the Indians hosting my hometown Angels. I'm looking forward to dressing up in my Mike Trout jersey and really being a fan of a team in Spring Training. With Spring Training winding down in just a week or so, I'm hoping that a lot of the starters for both teams will be playing longer into the game instead of the three or four innings that are customary early in the Spring. Hector Santiago will be taking the bump for the Angels while the Indians counter with Trevor Bauer. 
After spending the night in Tempe, I'll wake up and ride my bike down to Tempe Diablo Stadium. I'm incorporating something new for this trip as I am really going to be focusing on the backfields and the Minor League circuit. I want to get to the park early to see the Angels workouts, but then I'm going to stay through the afternoon to see the Brevard County Manatees, who are the High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers from the Florida State League, play my hometown Minor League team, the Inland Empire 66ers from the California League.
From what people have told me, watching the Minor League games on the backfields is a lot of fun. Spring Training has gotten so big and so popular the last couple years that it has lost a lot of its bucolic feeling. I believe I alluded to this last season. I kind of want to find that feeling again, and I'm really counting on this experience. Not only that, but it is free to attend too! 
Once the game is over, I'm going to jump on my bike and explore Tempe a little, specifically looking for breweries. I went to one brewery last October when I was in Phoenix for the Arizona Fall League championship, and I want to continue to broaden my scope and see what the town has to offer in terms of craft beer. This is a great way to really get a glimpse into what the community is all about, and by bringing my bike, I can really experience it fully.
On Sunday, I'll wake up early, check-out of the hotel, and head to South Mountain Park. This is where my bike will really shine as I'll spend the morning cycling around the park. On the fourth Sunday of the month, the park closes all the roads to cars, so the only traffic is bikers, hikers, and walkers. I cannot wait to really ride my bike around some legitimate desert landscapes. I think that after riding around the wilds of Orange County, Palm Springs, and Downtown LA, weaving around Saguaro Cactus and coyotes will really be a thrill.
I won't be riding too long as I will coast down the hill to Maryvale for the third game of my trip, which will also be a Minor League tilt. This one will feature the Low-A affiliate of the Brewers, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, play host to the Low-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Kane County Cougars. This will be a wholly Midwest League showdown. 
Yes, it is a little different, but I am so excited to do this. I have a lot of driving to do tomorrow, so I hope I can sleep, considering that anticipation of fun. While traipsing around Southern California going to games is a lot fun, and I wouldn't trade it in for anything, Spring Training in Arizona is unlike anything else.
Twitter, Facebook, and FourSquare will all be active throughout the trip. I'll update on here probably Saturday morning, Saturday evening, and Monday morning. 
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)