Training Days: Trip To Arizona A Dream Come True
By Kevin Hageland | @OThankKevin
105.3 THE FAN -- Ask any American about taking a trip to Arizona and, unless they are going to see the Grand Canyon or The Thing (you might have to look that one up), you'll probably be met with a less-than-enthusiastic response.
But tell that person the trip is scheduled for March and their demeanor will almost certainly change.
At least if they are a baseball fan, because that represents the beautiful equation that is March + Arizona = MLB Spring Training.
I've had this hypothesis backed up by the hundreds of giddy fans I've seen walking around the ballpark these past couple days.
That group includes me, as I've been a Texas Rangers' fan my whole life.
More: 105.3 The Fan at Spring Training
My first memories at a ballpark are out in Arlington at the old stadium that I'm still convinced contained more blue than anything I'd seen in my life to that point and anything I've seen since. So to actually make it out to the spot where the team gets chosen and the season really starts -- that is an unreal experience I am not taking for granted.
Now, as media members we are supposed to remain stoic and keep up the appearance of impartiality, but for a born-and-bred Metroplex man making his first trip to Spring Training, let me assure you, on the inside I am not feeling any emotions resembling stoicism or neutrality.
I want to grab every other person I see and yell, "We're at Spring Training!!" I won't, because that'd probably get me arrested -- or at the very least kicked out of the ballpark and stripped of my media credential.
But I definitely want to.
So many media members who have been through here for several years are clearly jaded to the process … you can see it on their face and in their body language, but not me or Cory Mageors – we are thrilled to be here!
And again, how could you not be?
On Saturday, we got to pick up our credentials from the Rangers' home ballpark in Surprise and chat with some of the players. On Sunday, we rolled out to Peoria to watch Texas take on Seattle in the Mariners' home-away-from-home ballpark. And we did so from the broadcast booth – the very same booth from which we had just finished up broadcasting The K&C Masterpiece.
Then, on Monday, we finally got to go into the Rangers' clubhouse, where we talked with Chi Chi Gonzalez, Mitch Moreland, Derek Holland, Prince Fielder, Elvis Andrus and Yovani Gallardo about a wide variety of topics (including yarmulkes, NCAA Tournament bets, watches and whether or not to touch a pro baseball player you've just met … spoiler alert, Cory skips past normal people's social cues on this issue).
I understand not all fans get to enjoy some of these perks (I have, however, tried to include some photos I took from the various ballparks to eliminate that sting a bit), but everyone can still enjoy the main event – which is the games.
And they do … over and over and over again.
I can't tell you how many shirts I've seen that say, "Spring Training 2005," "Surprise 2013" or some variation of that slogan to display how many years they've made the trip out to Arizona to enjoy these games. OK, I'll give it a shot – at least 150.
Come to think of it, these people have the right idea. I'm tired of watching the Rangers and Cincinnati Reds from the press box, I'm going down to watch this game in the crowd … after all, what other place would a true baseball fan want to be?
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