Spring Time in Arizona Means Baseball Time

It is officially baseball time again as spring training has been going on for about a week now in Arizona. This sunny-filled state is the spring home to many of the MLB teams including the former AL pennant winner Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals and several more.

The first spring training exhibition game of the Cactus League took place on Friday, February 25, 2011, in Scottsdale, Arizona, between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants. The Giants started off the game with Tim Lincecum on the mound, but he didn’t produce the most spectacular stat line. Saturday, two games took place between the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Los Angeles Angels and the Colorado Rockies at the Arizona Diamondbacks.

On Sunday, the former American League pennant winner will take on the Kansas City Royals in Surprise in hopes of showing that they will have what it takes to rise to the top once again this year. With C.J. Wilson on the mound and Dave Bush following behind him, the team should be able to pull off an impressive first exhibition game. Wilson will also be the Texas Rangers starting pitcher come Opening Day April 1. The San Diego Padres will be at the Seattle Mariners in Peoria and the Oakland Raiders will be in Mesa to play the Chicago White Sox. The Cleveland Indians will host the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear and the Diamondbacks will host the Giants at Peoria.

Plenty of teams are debuting brand new players out of the draft or newly acquired players from trades or purchases so be on the lookout for all these new players. Many of the teams will be changing batting order lineups – such as Texas, for example, because Ron Washington is putting speed at the top of the lineup with Ian Kinsler in the leadoff position and Elvis Andrus right behind him – and pitching lineups will be changed from last year as well.

With the exhibition games finally starting this year in spring training, it officially means that baseball season is here. April 1 will be the first day of the 2011 MLB season. I think it is going to be a season to remember! Check out your favorite team in spring training and see how they are doing before you head on over to your favorite online sportsbook and place your bets for the upcoming baseball season.

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