Spring training set to begin
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“Play ball!” Major League umpires won’t shout those magical words in the Southland for nearly two more months. Can’t wait that long? Then plan a jaunt to Arizona, where the Angels and 11 other teams will play in the Cactus League. In late March, they’ll be joined by the Dodgers, who are moving their spring training from Florida to Arizona. It’s all just a short flight -- or an easy drive -- from L.A. Ticket prices are a real steal, starting around $5 for lawn seating to $25 for a seat behind home plate. Check out schedules at cactusleague.com and springtrainingonline.com. -- Jay Jones, Special to The Times
| TEAM | HOME STADIUM | SCHEDULE/TICKET INFO | THE VIBE | |
Arizona Diamondbacks | Tucson Electric Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way, Tucson | Feb. 28 to March 29 $5 to $16 diamondbacks.mlb.com, (866) 672-1343 and at the stadium. | Strong pitchers led the D’backs to the best record in the National League last year. Look for stellar repeat performances in ’08. | |
| Chicago Cubs | Hohokam Stadium, 1235 N. Center St., Mesa | Feb. 29 to March 27 $6 to $26 (800) 905-3315 and at the stadium. | They finished first in the NL Central Division last year, but a spot in the World Series continues to elude the Cubbies. | |
| Colorado Rockies | Hi Corbett Field, 3400 E. Camino Campestre, Tucson | Feb. 29 to March 26 $4 to $17 rockies.mlb.com, (800) 388-7625 and at the stadium box office. | After handily winning the NL pennant, the Rockies lost four straight games to the Red Sox in the World Series. The folks in Denver are still licking their wounds. | |
| Chicago White Sox | Tucson Electric Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way, Tucson | Feb. 27 to March 27 $5 to $16 whitesox.mlb.com, (866) 672-1343 and at the stadium. | Chicago’s South Siders cringe at the thought of the team’s 72-90 record last year, the opposite of its 90-72 record in ’06. Maybe the White Sox can split the difference this year. | |
| Kansas City Royals | Surprise Stadium, 15930 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise | March 1 to 26 $7 to $22 royals.mlb.com, (800) 326-4000 and at the stadium. | All but the top three spots in the Royals’ lineup are still up for grabs, depending on who’s hot during spring training. | |
| Angels | Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe | Feb. 28 to March 29 $5 to $25 angels.mlb.com, (480) 784-4444 and at the stadium. | The Angels won the American League West division title last year but faltered in the playoffs. Fans hope they’ll make it all the way to the World Series this season. | |
| Dodgers | Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 5999 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix (2 games only) | March 20 versus White Sox March 22 versus Angels $6 to $21 dodgers.mlb.com, (877) 493-2255 and at the stadium | After 56 years of spring training in Vero Beach, the Dodgers will play their last game in Florida on March 18. Next year, the team will head west to Airzona to train in a new stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale. | |
Milwaukee Brewers | Maryvale Baseball Park, 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix | Feb. 28 to March 27 $8 to $19 (800) 933-7890 and the stadium. | It has been a hard winter in Wisconsin, so look for flocks of snowbirds in cheesehead hats at the smallest of the Valley of the Sun’s ballparks. | |
| Oakland Athletics | Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 5999 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix | Feb. 29-March 19 $6-$25 (877) 493-2255 and at the stadium. | The A’s play in one of the area’s older ballparks, much improved by an $8-million renovation three years ago. | |
| San Diego Padres | Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria | Feb. 29 to March 26 $6 to $23 (800) 677-1227 and at the stadium. | The Padres share Peoria Stadium with the Mariners; it has nearly 13,000 seats. Many also think it’s the best place to watch a game. | |
| San Francisco Giants | Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale | Feb. 28 to March 25 $8 to $28 (877) 473-4849 and at the stadium. | The Giants hope to improve on their last-place finish in the NL West to mark the 50th anniversary of the team’s move to San Francisco. | |
| Seattle Mariners | Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria | Feb. 28 to March 27 $6 to $23 (800) 677-1227 and at the stadium. | Thanks to some big off-season trades, the Mariners expect to go from strength to strength. | |
| Texas Rangers | Surprise Stadium, 15930 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise | Feb. 29 to March 27 $7 to $22 (480) 784-4444 and at the stadium. | The Rangers finished last -- 19 games behind the Angels -- in ‘07, so the only way to go is up. |
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