Spring Training

This past weekend I attended 4 games in 3 days at MLB spring training in the Phoenix area. Some observations:

Apparently spring training is a big deal; the rental car agency had a map of all the Cactus League baseball stadiums in the area for visitors to use.
Each stadium we went to was pretty full; almost reaching the capacity of 16,000 or so.
Most of the stadiums look the same; a mini-version of the MLB baseball stadiums with the large expanse of Arizona desert in the background.
Star players sit out liberally; it's somewhat disappointing when they are not in the lineup.
It's easier (and less taxing to the wallet) to see the players in person. We sat on the right-field line for a Seattle-Padres game on a Friday night and apparently the managers decided to send their star players home early, almost in order of seniority on the ballclub. Former Yankees legend Robbie Cano smacked a double in the 2nd inning and promptly left the game and the stadium, leaving down the right field line and 10 feet from us. I definitely used the opportunity to shout out encouragements to favorite players like Cano and Andrew Cashner (had his head down, didn't acknowledge anyone) and heckle players I've been angry with (Ian Kennedy) as well as encourage players who I currently own on my fantasy baseball teams (Huston Street). It's a pretty interesting contrast between those players who don't acknowledge anyone from the crowd even though it's positive and those who give a head nod or wave or even shake someone's hand. It seems to be an inverse correlation between how successful/famous a player is with how much acknowledgement they give out. (The more famous they are, the less friendly they seemed).



What would happen if every job had a spring training? Moving to a remote location for a week/ a month to work out the kinks of a job, sit out on certain days if you have job security. It could also be a chance for some companies to get a "on-the-job" look at prospective employees, so that candidates who are rejected normally have a chance to show off their skills and "make the team." I know some companies have this already, but I think it'd be pretty tough in today's economy, where there are so many contract attorneys, freelancers, people moving from job to job, that the investment of setting up this kind of facility would not pay off. People are just not loyal. Even in baseball, you set up spring training for a month, but the players who attend can be traded, can be released and picked up to another team, have their contract end at the end of the year and move on. I really don't think it's worth it in a vacuum. Obviously the teams are charging poor saps like me to watch the games, so as long as they keep coming the teams will keep putting on spring training.

Really, though why do people go to these spring training games? Think about it, if you're a fan of a baseball team living in that city, there are 82 games during the regular season that one can go to, games that actually count for something, not to mention possible playoff games. Why go all the way to Arizona thousands of miles away to watch games that might end in a tie, where the stars might not play if they don't feel like it? I don't get it. The answer probably has something to do with loyalty (don't know much about), the American baseball way, and cities other than LA/San Diego/ South being cold all winter. People in cold cities want to got to the Grapefruit League in Florida or the Cactus League in Arizona to get away from it all, for the guaranteed 70+ degree temps, to summon some hope that summer and baseball is coming, even though it just added 5 months ago. Or maybe they just want to sit on a lawn in Scottsdale, Arizona, and be able to watch a baseball game and vacation. Whatever the case, Spring Training 2014 will always be a fascinating memory and embodiment of the American baseball spirit for me.


Fantasize on,

Robert Yan