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MyTake

Spring training

Mark McGee
Posted 3/11/23

For me nothing is more relaxing than sitting in the afternoon sun and watching a baseball game.

However, to watch Major League spring training games, whether you are in Arizona or Florida, takes …

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MyTake

Spring training

Posted

For me nothing is more relaxing than sitting in the afternoon sun and watching a baseball game.

However, to watch Major League spring training games, whether you are in Arizona or Florida, takes the relaxation level up a notch or two.

I was lucky enough this past week to spend some time in Tempe, Arizona where I was chosen to be one of 35 speakers at the 30th Annual NINE Spring Training Conference. The conference ran from Wednesday through Saturday but I also found time to see three games, two at Diablo Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels and one in Scottsdale at the San Francisco Giants spring training base.

Many of the players in these early games are destined to spend the summer on the Class Triple-A or Double-A level. There are a lot of uniform numbers in the 70s, 80s and 90s, usually reserved for minor leaguers. It doesn’t matter who the players are or the outcome. The playing of the game is all that matters.

The stadiums are much smaller than regular Major League parks with most seats close to the field and the action.

It was my second trip to spring training in Arizona, known as the Cactus League, though I have made seven trips to Florida for Grapefruit League games.

In Arizona there are 15 teams playing within a few miles of Phoenix. In Florida, the training camps are spread out more around the state.

It was an opportunity for me to see close up how the new Major League rules are working. If you attended minor league games last year then you received a preview of what is ahead this season.

Pitchers have to begin their motion before a 15-second timer goes off, or 20 seconds with at least one runner on base. There is a 30-second timer for pitchers between batters. A pitcher can step off the rubber two times per a batter’s plate appearance to stop the clock and reset it. Hitters are also timed in how long it takes them to step into the batter’s box.

There are also restrictions on shifting players. Bases have increased in size from 15 inches to 18 inches to prompt more runners to attempt to steal.

The  biggest change in my opinion is the timer for pitchers. Spring training games can be long in length due to frequent pitching changes and substitutions in general. But with the timer the games I watched were all complete within two-and-a-half hours.

If you are a baseball fan, and you have never spent time in spring training, you are missing a treat. Put it on your to do list in bold face.