Bicycles and Baseball

March 6, 2012

Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ

Does it get any better?

Now that “winter” (well, meteorological winter, according to the TV weather people) is over, the return to nice temperatures means we can get the bikes out and ride around a bit.  We can’t really complain much at all, since this year’s La Niña weather pattern has meant a mild and dry winter -- as opposed to last year’s cold!

I’ve tried to maintain a one hour ride three times a week pace, although it doesn’t always happen.  Geri needs to work up to a sensible schedule for her.  And, every once in a while, we’ll plunk the pups into the baskets and take them for a ride as well.  They aren’t particularly comfortable there, and we’ve added small leashes that keep them attached to the basket, but I’m still afraid they’ll try to jump out, especially if we happen upon another pup on a walk.  But, they seem none the worse for wear after short rides.

Today, we took in a spring training “Cactus League” game.  It was good to do this again after a couple of years away from the month-long “season”.  There are several new stadiums in the area, and the whole league has consolidated into the Valley of the Sun around Phoenix (the Diamondbacks used to train near Tucson).  We’ve been to our local park here in Peoria a few times over the years but this year we decided to branch out.

Using StubHub, I was able to pick up some pretty nice seats at Camelback Ranch in Glendale.  This new park (opened in 2010, I think) is about as far away from home as the Peoria park, just in the other direction.  Actually, we drive right by it every time we go to the Vet over in Litchfield Park.  It’s the Spring Training home of the White Sox and the Dodgers.  All of the parks are shared facilities between two teams, generally one from each League (American and National).

I chose a Dodgers game because they were playing the San Francisco Giants.  Not that we’re huge fans of either team (I’ve never forgiven the Dodgers for abandoning Brooklyn, and I was only 2 at the time), but Shawn Sanford, grandson of our friends Barbara & Jim, was invited to Spring Training.  We didn’t get to see him pitch, but we did see him after the game, which the Giants won.  This was a good thing, I suppose, since we were seated in the Giants rooting section, right behind the visitor’s dugout.

Spring Training brings the fourth of the big waves of snowbirds to the Phoenix area.  The first wave (which I suppose we’re part of) arrives as soon as it gets chilly “back home”.  This is usually in early November.  The second and third waves follow the Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years holidays, respectively, for people who can take a little cold but want to be “home for the holidays”.  During January and February, you can tell the percentage of out-of-state plates has increased.  In March, there’s another bump in the population, and you notice more license plate frames and stickers on cars with team logos.  In early April, there’s a big exodus, as the baseball crowd usually only comes for the month, often following their team around the valley and going to most every game.  I have no idea how they can afford this, since prices rival big-league parks.  By late April, only the locals are left.  At least I think that’s the case, because we’re usually gone by then, too.