13 minute read

Cactus League 2020

Advertisement

D E S T I N A T I O N A R I Z O N A

2020

Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Colorado Rockies Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers Oakland Athletics San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers

E S T

F i f t e e n t e a m s . O n e h o m e . c a c t u s l e a g u e . c o m

THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW ON THE HORIZON

There’s something about the ritualistic renewal of spring training baseball at any one of Arizona’s 10 Cactus League ballparks that feels comfortingly familiar but uniquely different each year. It seems like there is always something new appearing on the Cactus League horizon. Last year it was the renovations to the newly named American Family Fields of Phoenix (formerly Maryvale Baseball Park) and the Milwaukee Brewers’ 25-year contract extension with the City.

This year changes are afoot at Scottsdale Stadium, the long-time spring training home of the San Francisco Giants, where a $50 million dollar makeover includes both cosmetic and necessary features.

Originally opened in 1956 as the spring training nest of the Baltimore Orioles, Scottsdale Stadium has cast a stately presence at the corner of E. Osborn Road and N. Drinkwater Boulevard in various incarnations over the years and has served as home to more teams than any other ballpark in the League’s history. The San Francisco Giants have occupied Scottsdale Stadium since 1984 and the ballpark received its first rounds of renovations in 1992, being converted from an old wooden band box into is current red brick and green awning design.

The current upgrades include: a new clubhouse and a 10,000-square-foot-event center; the largest of its kind in downtown Scottsdale which can be utilized year-round, a widening of the concourses circling the perimeter of the ballpark, new bleacher seating and a standing room section down the right field line with expanded access to the second level suite and press box and an enlarged main entry with designated mass transit and rideshare pickup and drop off areas.

Perhaps the most significant addition from a fan perspective is the expansion of the Charro Lodge, a highly sought-after premium seating section and non-stop spring training party just beyond the right field wall. Tickets in the Charro Lodge include general admission entry to the ballpark and Charro Lodge, complimentary food & beverages (beer, wine, cocktails, soda and water). For passes, call 480.990.2977.

The Giants open the season against their NL West division rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers at Scottsdale Stadium on February 22.

For an even more up-close and personal look at what spring training is really all about the Giants conduct the team’s minor league training operations on a stretch of practice fields at nearby Indian School Park near the intersection of Hayden and Camelback Roads. The training sessions are open to the public and the players and coaches are often accessible for conversations or autograph signing. You might even see some big leaguers working out with the minor leaguers.

A LEGACY OF ALL-STARS, AWARD WINNERS AND PENNANT CONTENDERS

Ever since the Cactus League drew even with Florida’s Grapefruit League back in 2010 there’s been a 50/50 chance that the World Series winner, National or American League champion and any of the Major League Baseball Award winners might emerge annually from Arizona’s spring training circuit.

Both the 2019 American and National League MVP award winners played for Cactus League teams with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim super star center fielder Mike Trout capturing his third MVP award and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger winning his first. Both Bellinger and Trout were previously Rookie of the Year award winners for their respective clubs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged as perennial favorites in the NL West capturing the division for the seventh consecutive season in 2019.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies have become quite familiar with each other at the major and minor league level since entering into their partnership at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick spring training facility and minor league operations’ headquarters in 2011. Both teams have 16 home games at Salt River Fields this season including three against each other and numerous minor league player development games and B-squad games on the practice fields.

Both the Diamondbacks and Rockies conduct early morning practice sessions at Salt River Fields that are open to the public with concrete walkways winding their way through the 12 practice fields, batting cages, and each team’s clubhouses that surround the main ballpark. From a central vantage point, you can watch the activities on four different fields at the same time. The workouts usually run from about 9am to noon. The entire complex is masterfully sculpted into the desert landscape and doubles as a public park and educational botanical garden complete with labels identifying the varieties of cacti and flora.

(continued)

(continued from previous page)

The rebuilding San Diego Padres signed free-agent third baseman Manny Machado to a 10-year $300 million contract but still managed to finish in last place for the second year in a row and third in the last four seasons. The Padres have shared the Peoria Sports Complex with the Seattle Mariners for 25 years. The Mariners’ 64-98 record landed the team in last place in the AL West. The two teams face each other in the season opener on February 22.

National League Central division rivals, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers will square off at the Cubs’ Sloan Park in Mesa on February 29 and close out the Cactus League season at the Brewers’ American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 22. The Cubs failed to reach the post season for the first time in five years, parting ways with manager Joe Madden at the end of the season who was replaced by 2016 World Series hero David Ross. After two straight post-season appearances, the Brewers are no longer surprising contenders.

After four straight last place finishes, the Cincinnati Reds showed signs of improvement and emerged from the NL Central cellar with the assistance of third baseman Eugenio Suarez’s 49 home runs. The Reds have shared the Goodyear Ballpark with cross state rival Cleveland Indians since joining the Cactus League in 2010. The teams will face each other in the season opener at Goodyear Ballpark on February 22 and again on March 17 and for the season finale on March 22.

The Oakland Athletics posted a 97-65 record for the second consecutive year and finishing in second place behind the powerhouse Houston Astros in the AL West for the second year in a row and have lost the AL Wild card game for two years running. The A’s will host their Bay Area rival San Francisco Giants in the team’s home opener at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa on February 23.

The Cleveland Indians 93 wins we not enough for the team to reach the post season for the first time in the past four seasons.

The Chicago White Sox moved up a notch after finishing fourth for the past five seasons and re-signed face-of-the-franchise first baseman Jose Abreu to a three-year $50 million contract extension.

Since winning the World Series in 2015, the Kansas City Royals fell out of contention in the AL Central finishing 42 games back in fourth place with a 59-103 record. The Royals have shared their Surprise Stadium facility with the Texas Rangers since 2003 and the teams will open the season against each other on February 21 and conclude on March 21.

Injuries to Japanese two-way (pitching and hitting) phenom Shohei Ohtani have cost the star-crossed Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim any chance at contention in each of the past two seasons but, new manager Joe Madden might be able to breath some life into the club. The Angels open the spring training season against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale on February 22 and will face their cross-league regional rival Dodgers at the same park on Feb. 26. The Dodgers come to Tempe Diablo Stadium for the Angels’ last home game on the schedule March 20.

Thanks to a new partnership with Google Maps, visitors, including hikers and mountain bikers, to Arizona State Parks and Trails (1-877-MY-PARKS, AZStateParks.com) can plan their trips and treks out in advance, charting a course and choosing a campsite before heading out. State parks staff has utilized state-of-the-art Google R7 Trekker Cameras to record 360° views of all state parks and more than 175 miles of trails connecting to the state parks across Arizona. The data is live on Google Earth and Google Maps, enabling viewers to see trail routes and conditions so you can plot the perfect course for your spring adventure.

E S T

2020 CACTUS LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Schedule subject to change. Please check with the team website or www.cactusleague.com to confirm dates & times.

Games start @ 1:05 or 1:10 pm Arizona time unless otherwise indicated. Dates, times, and teams are subject to change.

FEBRUARY

Rangers at ROYALS

Athletics @ CUBS Angels @ WHITE SOX Brewers @ RANGERS D’backs @ ROCKIES Mariners @ PADRES Royals @ ANGELS Dodgers @ GIANTS Reds @ INDIANS

Athletics @ D’BACKS Cubs @ DODGERS Giants @ ATHLETICS Padres @ BREWERS Rangers @ MARINERS Rockies @ ANGELS White Sox @ REDS Indians @ ROYALS

Angels @ BREWERS Brewers @ ATHLETICS Cubs @ MARINERS D’backs @ GIANTS Padres @ ROYALS Rangers @ REDS White Sox @ DODGERS Indians @ ROCKIES

Athletics @ PADRES Giants @ WHITE SOX Mariners @ BREWERS Rockies @ CUBS Royals @ RANGERS White Sox @ INDIANS Dodgers @ D’BACKS Reds @ ANGELS

Angels @ DODGERS Brewers @ GIANTS D’backs @ ATHLETICS Mariners @ REDS Rangers @ ROCKIES Royals @ CUBS White Sox @ ROYALS Indians @ PADRES

Cubs @ RANGERS Giants @ MARINERS Mariners @ WHITE SOX Padres @ ANGELS Rockies @ ATHLETICS Royals @ BREWERS Dodgers @ INDIANS Reds @ D’BACKS

Athletics @ REDS Cubs @ PADRES Giants @ ROYALS Mariners @ D’BACKS Rangers @ ANGELS Rockies @ GIANTS Dodgers @ BREWERS Indians @ WHITE SOX

MARCH

Angels @ GIANTS Brewers @ CUBS D’backs @ DODGERS Padres @ REDS Royals @ MARINERS White Sox @ RANGERS Dodgers @ ROCKIES Indians @ ATHLETICS

Athletics @ ROYALS Angels @ ROCKIES D’backs @ INDIANS Giants @ PADRES Mariners @ CUBS Rangers @ DODGERS White Sox @ ANGELS Reds @ BREWERS

Angels @ CUBS Cubs @ ATHLETICS Giants @ D’BACKS Padres @ WHITE SOX Rockies @ MARINERS Dodgers @ REDS Indians @ RANGERS

Athletics @ WHITE SOX Angels @ INDIANS Brewers @ PADRES Cubs @ ROCKIES D’backs @ ROYALS (6:05PM) Rangers @ GIANTS

Cubs @ REDS Giants @ DODGERS (6:05PM) Mariners @ ANGELS Rockies @ RANGERS Royals @ PADRES White Sox @ BREWERS Indians @ D’BACKS

Brewers @ REDS D’backs @ RANGERS Padres @ MARINERS Rangers @ CUBS Rockies @ WHITE SOX Royals @ ROCKIES Dodgers @ ATHLETICS Indians @ GIANTS

Athletics @ INDIANS Angels @ ROYALS Giants @ BREWERS Mariners @ DODGERS Rangers @ PADRES Rockies @ D’BACKS White Sox @ CUBS Reds @ ATHLETICS

Athletics @ MARINERS Cubs @ INDIANS D’backs @ ANGELS Padres @ D’BACKS Rangers @ BREWERS Rockies @ DODGERS White Sox @ GIANTS Reds @ ROYALS

Angels @ REDS Angels @ BREWERS Brewers @ ATHLETICS D’backs @ CUBS Mariners @ GIANTS Royals @ WHITE SOX White Sox @ PADRES Dodgers @ RANGERS Indians @ ROCKIES

Athletics @ RANGERS (6:05PM) Giants @ INDIANS Mariners @ BREWERS Royals @ D’BACKS Dodgers @ PADRES Indians @ ANGELS Reds @ WHITE SOX

Angels @ MARINERS Brewers @ ROYALS Cubs @ GIANTS D’backs @ REDS Rangers @ WHITE SOX Royals @ ATHLETICS Reds @ ROCKIES

Athletics @ ANGELS Brewers @ DODGERS (6:05PM) Giants @ RANGERS Mariners @ PADRES (6:40PM) Padres @ CUBS (6:05PM) Royals @ INDIANS White Sox @ ROCKIES

Athletics @ DODGERS Brewers @ D’BACKS Mariners @ ROYALS Padres @ INDIANS Rockies @ BREWERS Dodgers @ CUBS Reds @ MARINERS

Cubs @ WHITE SOX D’backs @

GIANTS (7:05PM) Giants @ ANGELS (6:10PM) Padres @ ROCKIES Rangers @ ATHLETICS

(7:05PM) Rockies @ REDS (6:05PM) Royals @ RANGERS (6:05PM) Dodgers @ MARINERS

(6:40PM) Indians @ BREWERS

Athletics @ BREWERS Cubs @ ANGELS D’backs @ PADRES Giants @ REDS (6:05PM) Mariners @ ATHLETICS Rangers @ D’BACKS Rockies @ ROYALS Dodgers @ WHITE SOX Indians @ CUBS

Angels @ RANGERS Brewers @ ANGELS Cubs @ D’BACKS Padres @ ATHLETICS Rockies @ INDIANS Royals @ GIANTS White Sox @ MARINERS Reds @ DODGERS

Angels @ PADRES Giants @ ROCKIES (6:40PM) Mariners @ RANGERS White Sox @ REDS Indians @ DODGERS

Angels @ ATHLETICS Brewers @ WHITE SOX Rangers @ GIANTS Rockies @ CUBS White Sox @ D’BACKS Dodgers @ ROYALS (6:05PM) Indians @ MARINERS Reds @ INDIANS GCU @ D’BACKS (6:10PM)

Athletics @ ROCKIES Cubs @ ROYALS D’backs @ BREWERS Padres @ DODGERS Rangers @ INDIANS Royals @ ANGELS Reds @ PADRES (6:40PM)

Athletics @

GIANTS (7:05PM) Angels @ D’BACKS Brewers @ MARINERS

(6:40PM) Padres @ RANGERS Royals @ REDS Dodgers @ BREWERS Indians @ WHITE SOX (6:05PM) Reds @ CUBS

Brewers @ INDIANS

D’backs @ MARINERS

(6:40PM) Giants @ CUBS Mariners @ ROCKIES Padres @ GIANTS Royals @ DODGERS White Sox @ ATHLETICS Dodgers @ ANGELS (12:10PM) Reds @ RANGERS

Brewers @ ROCKIES Cubs @ ATHLETICS (12:05PM) D’backs @ CUBS Mariners @ INDIANS Rangers @ ROYALS (12:05PM) Rockies @ PADRES White Sox @ DODGERS

(12:05PM) Reds @ GIANTS

Cubs @ BREWERS D’backs @ WHITE SOX Padres @ MARINERS Rockies @ D’BACKS (12:05PM) Indians @ REDS (12:05PM)

Padres @ CUBS (12:05PM)

Mariners @ ROCKIES

D'BACKS & ROCKIES - Salt River Fields at Talking Stick - 7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ ATHLETICS - Hohokam Stadium - 1235 N Center St, Mesa, AZ ROYALS & RANGERS - Surprise Stadium - 15930 N Bullard Ave, Surprise, AZ INDIANS & REDS - Goodyear Ballpark - 1933 S Ballpark Way, Goodyear, AZ ANGELS - Tempe Diablo Stadium - 2200 W Alameda Dr, Tempe, AZ DODGERS & WHITE SOX - Camelback Ranch-Glendale - 10710 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ GIANTS - Scottsdale Stadium - 7408 E Osborn Rd, Scottsdale, AZ MARINERS & PADRES - Peoria Sports Complex - 16101 N 83rd Ave, Peoria, AZ CUBS - Sloan Park - 2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ BREWERS - American Family Fields of Phoenix - 3805 N 53rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ

This article is from: