The day has finally arrived. Tonight, I depart for my first baseball road trip of the year to the state of Arizona and the Cactus League. In what is sure to be a whirlwind tour of the greater Phoenix area, I plan on seeing seven games in the stretch of four days all the while scouting thirteen separate big-league clubs. This is the most intensely packed baseball road trip I have ever done and will, most definitely, exhaust me throuroughly.
Here is the planned itinerary for the Cactus League: I fly out tonight arriving in Phoenix around 2230. I will wake up tomorrow morning and make my way to Hohokam Park in Mesa to see the subway series between the White Sox and Cubs. That game will be televised live on ESPN2, so if you get a chance you should watch it. After Hohkam Park, I'll hustle on up to Surprise to see the Padres and Rangers tilt in the evening. On Friday, I'll wake up and go to Phoenix to see the Angels and A's play. Once that is done, I'll hustle up to Peoria to see the Dodgers and Mariners. On Saturday, I'll go to the brand-new Salt River Fields at Talking Stick to see the Royals and Diamondbacks. The evening game will be in Goodyear seeing the Giants and Indians. Finally, on Sunday, I'll catch the White Sox and Brewers at Maryvale Ballpark. I'll stay the night in Phoenix before coming back to Eugene on Monday afternoon. Before each of the morning games, I will arrive at the facilities early so that I can view the practices and training as well as some of the accompanying Minor League action, i.e. games and workouts.
As you can see, it should be an incredible trip with a TON of baseball. Hopefully, after the Sunday game at Maryvale, I will get the opportunity to do a little sightseeing around Phoenix. I hear the trip up to South Mountain Park is well worth the trip. It all depends on how much energy I have left!
This road trip has been planned for months. The idea for it was concocted in October when the initial schedules came out. There is almost a sense of relief to know that all of the planning, anticipation and excitement will finally come. But there is something about this trip that really means so much more to me than just baseball. A sense of distraction and hope is accompanying me as I depart for the Grand Canyon State.
The last few months have been kind of depressing in our world. Revolutions, natural disasters, economic crisis, bickering in government and general anxiety have seemed to dominate the headlines lately, and I feel like I am scrambling around to make sense of it all. It's almost a feeling of "what will happen next?" But the arrival of spring and the beginning of baseball season can represent a glimmer of hope when the world seems to be dark and bleak. For the first time in a very long time, the sport of baseball has the opportunity to lift up the spirits of the world and offer up an event which can bind the world together and create the commonality which we so need right now. As the home-run-chase of 1998 did, it can unite the populous around an ideal and event. Can baseball grab this mantle and run with it? We shall see.
I will be updating the blog constantly throughout my trip. It is my goal to update after every game, but that all depends on my access to wireless internet. I will, however, be bringing along my cell phone, so look for more frequent updates on Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare.
Thanks so much for reading and I'll talk to all of you tomorrow from Arizona!
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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