What’s that round white thing?

High 80’s to the mid-90’s. That was the ‘heat’ that was being thrown across home plate as the Kansas City Royals faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in yesterday’s opening day game of the 2018 Cactus League Spring Training. Spoiler alert... the Royals beat the Folks from the city of angels in a pretty good game.

The Phoenix area is experiencing a little bit of a cold snap with the temperature at first pitch a not-balmy 59 degrees. The forecast for today’s matchup between the Texas Rangers and my hometown Colorado Rockies is a little better with highs in the mid 60’s. Still, with lots of folks coming in from colder climes to root for their favorite teams temps in the 50’s and 60’s beat what they left at home. Give it a week or so and it’s likely the temps will closer match the ‘heat’ being thrown at nervous batters trying to make a favorable impression on eagle-eyed scouts.

As cold as it relatively was by Phoenix standards it was great to see the crowds flocking to the ballpark. With the cool temps the best seats yesterday were the cheapest with folks throwing down blankets in the grass sections overlooking the outfield. Those folks at least had the sun shining on them most of the game while those in the usually more coveted covered sections shivered along with the action.

I’m working for Aramark who has the retail concession for Surprise Stadium. If you’re lucky enough to come visit during Spring Training there are four locations inside the ballpark where you can load up on all the new 2018 Spring Training merchandise. A favorite every year is the ‘patch’ hat which is the same hat worn by the ball players on the field. Of course you can find shirts, pins, baseballs and all sorts of other stuff to please the most discriminating of fans.

This year’s schedule has been mixed up a little from the norm and will feature four night games rather than two and two doubleheaders. I like working Spring Training since, unless your a player, the games don’t count. And since they don’t count almost everyone’s in a good mood and content to sit in the Arizona sun in the middle of winter and see grown mean swing toothpicks at little white missiles streaking by.

On a more somber note a less pleasant change is that there are now metal detectors at the gates and yesterday’s game featured a moment of silence for the victims of the tragic school shooting in Florida. I guess it’s a sign of the times and it certainly tends to give one pause. Still Spring Training reflects if nothing else a chance for rebirth and hope for the future. So when the ump calls out “Play Ball!” for the first game of the season hope springs eternal for everyone gathered, players and fans alike. All in all, not a bad way to start.