Down in the desert! My first ever trip to Spring Training has hit its third day and the Mariners are now 2-1 in my presence. I’m down here for work but squeezing in some “down time”, in my first ever visit to Arizona (sans an airport stop years ago).
The vibe here is great. It’s definitely filled with fans that want to be here, as opposed to back home where a percentage of fans go because their employer offers free kickass seats. If you’re here, it’s by choice and it shows. Mid 70′s weather also adds a nice touch.
Tomorrow is a split squad day and we’ll be covering both games, one in Peoria at 1 PM and one in Scottsdale at 7 PM. It’s gonna be a long day. But a new ballpark I’ve never seen before awaits Saturday night and some of the Mariners best young talent will be on display. Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton… all starters, all high prospects. It should be fun but it will be a really long day of baseball. I wish it was leisurely.
I’m impressed by this youth movement. Jack Z. is adding more and more nice pieces to this franchise. I have no choice but to believe in him, but I really see his vision now more than ever. It might not be in 2012, or 2013, but I believe good ball will come back to the Emerald City very very soon.
