Spring Training in AZ

I've been hangin' in the Phoenix area for the past week; went to three spring training games with my friends Dave and Wayne. We hit Scottsdale, Surprise, and Camelback Ranch in Glendale on successive days. In each case we hung out on the outfield lawn for several innings, then migrated to seats near home plate. The atmosphere here is very relaxed and informal, and pure baseball. It's a must for every serious baseball fan to go to spring training!! Here in AZ the weather is perfect almost every day; it's really nice. Here Tim Lincecum, the Giants' Cy Young winner last year, is firing a pitch at Scottsdale vs the Seattle Mariners.

Hall of famer Fergie Jenkins signs autographs at Scottsdale. Fergie was a 20 game winner for six straight seasons, unheard of today.

The Oakland A's and Kansas City Royals square

off at Surprise stadium in a night game.

Camelback Ranch in Glendale is a brand new spring training venue. The LA Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox have both moved from Florida to AZ to train here. This pic shows Bartolo Colon warming up before a game with the A's. Colon is coming off elbow surgery, trying to win a spot in the White Sox rotation. He pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings in this game, which had to help his cause. No walks, and pretty good heat!

Jim Thome, the Sox DH, warms up in the bullpen. With over 500 NATURAL home runs in the show, this good ol' midwestern boy is on the track to Cooperstown.