Time to get back into America's favorite pastime! Got a story to start the new season. We went to Phoenix for the weekend. I made a hotel reservation at a pretty new hotel, the Sheraton Wrigleyville West in Mesa because it was centrally located to all the places we would be going, and not far from the airport. I was kinda wondering why it had that name. This morning before we left to come home I found out! The Cubs Spring training facility is right across the street from the hotel!! The +1 and I walked over there and the team was practising so we got to see some of that. Their first game is this Sat. It was cool. And they have a big team store that is really nice.

Nats tix go on sale in a couple of weeks, so I'm getting my list of games together. They have moved from a low-key facility near Melbourne, FL to West Palm Beach. They share the new posh one with the Astros. So we need to get down there at some point.

 

Yay! Almost spring training time! When "Hope springs eternal!"

 

Lets Go Mets

 

Go Tribe!!

 

Couple of pics from the Cubbies spring training facility in Mesa, AZ.

 

Cubs are still my favorite to repeat. Red Sox have a dynamic trio of starting pitchers.

 

I hate to start the year with controversy but this is just wrong.

Major League Baseball Is Changing How Intentional Walks Are Given Out | The Huffington Post

baseball is abandoning the 4 pitch deliberate walk. the coach will just wave the player to first base.

 

I agree, An intentional walk is part of the game. There have been times when the pitch was wild and runners advanced or there have been stolen bases taken when the pitcher was caught off guard. It won't speed up the game that much.

 

I remember some team fooled a batter into thinking the pitch was going to be an intentional ball and then threw a strike. Someone hit a homer off an intentional ball, in last few years.

 

The CUBS new park and the Diamondbacks/Rockies Talking Stick park just up the 101 are very nice, I also like the Giants old park in old Scottsdale, it might be the first spring training park in baseball.