Phoenix is more than just a place to have surgery and recuperate. There are lots of things going on in town in the spring, especially spring training. Diana had never been to a baseball Spring Training game, so we were looking forward to catching a few while staying in the Phoenix area. While I had been to one before, I was a bit surprised to see the experience had changed since my last visit. We also got lucky enough to catch a World Baseball Classic game.
Sepia Tinted Expectations
I wasn’t really sure what to expect at my first spring training game a decade ago. Beforehand, black and white newsreels of Joe Dimaggio or Yogi Berra clowning around and happily signing autographs played in my head. The reality, in person and in color was a bit less jovial, but a casual environment persisted.
That first time, I had not come to Phoenix for the game; I was in town on business. Although I usually came here solo, this time my sales partner joined me. He wanted to catch his team, the Seattle Mariners, prep for the season, so he hosted me and another colleague.
During the game, some players were doing wind sprints in the outfield, oblivious to the contest before them. After the 4th inning, Robinson Cano, the Mariner’s newly acquired star, slowly walked diagonally across and off the field, also oblivious to the between-inning warmups happening around him. He was just done for the day.
It was these images and experiences I shared with Diana that set our expectations for how things would be this time. But, we learned that Spring Training has evolved.
A More No-Nonsense Experience
Our first baseball game this year was to see our beloved San Francisco Giants take on the Kansas City Royals at Scottsdale stadium, the former home of the Giants AAA affiliate. We were also hoping to see Kris Bubic, one of the KC starting pitchers. He played high school ball with one of our sons, so we thought that would be cool.
Unfortunately, Kris had pitched the day before and wasn’t at the game. Moreover, there was a safety net stretching from the left field foul pole around the infield all the way to the right field pole. There were a couple of small openings for players to give autographs before the game, but the net effect (pun intended) was to make the players isolated from the fans. Only two players (neither could be called stars) came over to meet fans.
Gone were the wind sprints, too. In fact, the game was played just like any regular season game, only with a lot more substitution. And the stadium was packed. We wound up moving seats because Diana didn’t have room to stretch out her knee, which had only been replaced 4 weeks earlier. Happily, an usher took pity on her and we sat in some great handicapped seats behind the plate. At least that was an improvement.
We saw the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Cincinnati Reds another day at Salt River Fields also in Scottsdale. Perhaps the excitement had worn off by then, but the stadium wasn’t even half full. I had also purchased seats behind the plate this time. The Dbacks share the facility with the Colorado Rockies, and it was pretty new and quite nice. I hate to admit it, but I liked it better than where the Giants played. Still, this game was all business, too.
Major League Baseball Pricing
Another bit of an eye-opener was how much tickets cost. We got our Scottsdale seats from a friend who has spring training season tickets. These third-row seats halfway down the right-field line were $62. Resales are often cheaper; I got the Dbacks seats behind the plate for $30 plus $15 Ticketmaster extortion. This is for watching some players who will never make it to the show.
Compare that to the $5 seats for four people I got to the see Giants in SF last April. All of those players are actually in the show. I paid more for parking. I also just bought resale tickets fourth-row upper deck looking down the left-field line to see the Florida Marlins host the Cincinnati Reds. Those cost $27 including fees to watch real major leaguers play.
What Is The World Baseball Classic?
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is an attempt by Major League Baseball (MLB) to create its own version of the soccer World Cup. Teams from 16 nations play in a tournament for the right to claim baseball supremacy. All of the athletes involved are proud to represent their countries, although many MLB stars decline to play saying they don’t want to risk getting injured for basically no pay. MLB would do well to find a way to incentivize their participation.
I happened to be in town on business for the first WBC in 2006. It was a night game at Scottsdale Stadium, a rather low-key affair where Canada creamed South Africa. I got a ticket at the gate from a lady wearing a Giants T-shirt. We chatted a bit and I found out she was a nurse from my hometown and had worked with my parents, who were surgeons. This didn’t phase me. I frequently run into people who knew my parents, they seem to know everyone.
The WBC Has Evolved, Too
From somewhat humble roots in 2006, this year’s WBC grew to be a much bigger deal. We picked up some nosebleed seats to see Mexico take on the USA at Chase Field (where the Dbacks play during the season). The baseball game was sold out. Being only 5 weeks postop, the stairs to the row 30 seats nearly killed Diana. Note to self: sit closer after surgery.
The crowd was 75% team Mexico fans and their team delivered. Team USA pitching seemed to stay home that night. After 4 innings, Mexico was up 7-1. Team USA was at risk of having a mercy rule applied to them, i.e. if a team is up by 10 runs after 7 innings, the game is called for the leader. That would have been pretty embarrassing for Team USA.
The game ended with Mexico 11, and the USA 5.
There was a lot of energy during that game, similar to any regular MLB playoff. That continued throughout the tourney. The final game featured the USA vs. Japan. Japan won the first title in 2006 and the USA was the defending champion from the prior event. The game was just as charged as any World Series Game.
The last out came down to two Los Angeles Angels stars battling it out. Shohei Ohtani, arguably the best player in a generation or two, was on the mound for Japan. At the plate, representing the tying run, was Mike Trout, a huge home run threat. Ninety-seven percent (97%!) of the TVs in Japan were tuned in to witness Otani get the best of Trout on three swinging strikes. An epic at bat.
One can argue whether having more stars from the US participate would have changed the outcome. What’s not in dispute: MLB hit it out of the park with this tournament and I look forward to watching or maybe even going to games in the future.
What ball games you attended stick in your memory?
