It's Cactus League time again, and I had the chance to visit the latest park to spring up from the desert. Camelback Ranch is the new home of the L.A. Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox, who used to train in Florida and Tucson, respectively. I was a big Dodger fan when I lived in Los Angeles, so I was really looking forward to the game.
It's a beautiful park, though I prefer the smaller, more traditional parks like Maryvale, home of the Brewers, and Phoenix Municipal Stadium, which hosts the A's. Camelback Ranch is just too big, and too generic for me. Nondescript Aramark food, which didn't do anything to help identify which park I was in. I wasn't expecting Vin Scully to be doing the play by play, but I did hope to get a grilled Dodger dog!
It was a beautiful day, and a really good game, highlighted by some great infield play by the Dodgers, who seemed to be in mid-season stride already. For a baseball fan like myself, Cactus League has always been my annual baseball bender.
MMMMMmmmmm, cactus. Just bought some to put in a dish I'm playing with, hopefully when I get home from work. Wanna try a small pork shoulder in the clay cooker, see what happens.
xo, Biggles
oh yes they are back! that park must be something all new and all.
right in your backyard too! opening day can't come too soon. go dodgers...