MESA, Arizona -- On my way back from Tempe to buy Cubs/Angels tickets, I decided to stop by the Cubs complex to check out what was going on.
First of all, the weather here is ... I don't even have enough superlatives. The average high temperature for this time of year is 72. It was 86 today, a record high, and this is supposed to persist for at least the next couple of weeks. I know, those of you suffering through the Midwestern winter don't really want to hear this, but know that weather like this means it's baseball time!
The Cubs are doing their workouts on the four fields that will eventually host minor-league games during spring training. It's laid out very much like the Fitch Park fields -- four fields, with an observation tower in the center. (I was in a bit of a hurry, or I would have climbed up to the top to take a photo from there; the tower, not in use by management today, was open.) About 40 people were watching on benches adjacent to the fields.
I didn't stay long, just long enough to watch some pitcher workouts; they were working on fielding bunts and pitcher-to-first tosses, and to say hello to Tim Sheridan, who will be returning as P.A. announcer for the Cubs this spring, lending a familiar voice to anyone who attends Cubs spring games. You should check out Tim's site Boys of Spring, where he also has photos posted from team workouts.
I also shot this short video of pitchers fielding bunts. I'm not sure who all these guys were, but I'm sure you'll recognize the last guy in the video.
I'll next be heading back to Cubs Park likely on Wednesday to watch the first full-squad workouts.