** First of all, the recession is hitting spring training hard, especially in Arizona. USA Today reported on Monday that attendance is down 12% already and attendance was down at the Saturday and Sunday games we went to. A Sunday Angels' home game in Tempe is always sold out and this one had 2,000 unsold seats out of less than 8,000. It was VERY surprising. Someone told me that even Cubs' games aren't sold out and a recent Cubs' road game had plenty of tickets available, unheard of in years past.
The early start of spring training and the WBC games could be affecting attendance this spring, but I think the recession is the real reason. Hotel rates were very cheap this year in Phoenix.
** We saw the Royals on Saturday and I'll admit that I'm impressed with their lineup this year. Coco Crisp at the top of the lineup really adds a lot and Mike Jacobs at cleanup brings a legitimate HR threat. He hit a HR about 450 feet on Saturday as the Royals scored eight runs in three innings. I'm not sure who is going to play second base, but Willie Bloomquist sure looked good hitting second. We didn't see Zach Greinke, but reports out of spring sure are good on this kid.
** We didn't see a full Indians' squad, but we saw a few things with them. Victor Martinez had two of the ugliest ABs you'll ever want to see. He went three-for-three on Sunday, but yikes he struggled on Saturday. Aaron Laffey was getting hit hard on his soft-tossing.
** I saw the Angels on Sunday and that team is going to run every chance it gets. Scioscia even had Mike Napoli try to steal at one point. Figgins looks to have the green light as much as he wants. The Angels just pounded a weak Giants' split squad as their starters looked good. Nick Adenhart looked very impressive and I regret not grabbing him early in the AL-only reserve round on Sunday night. He just threw strikes and got ahead of the count and looked very confident. Napoli may not be able to catch yet, but his shoulder definitely isn't restricting his swing as he swung from the heels on every pitch. Kendry Morales had a couple of hits and looked great.
** Nothing to report on the Giants other than Juan Uribe is big. Too big to play short. Babe Ruth big.
I know it's not much, but that's all I had time for. I wish I could spend a week out there sometime before the season. Hell, with the weather here I wish I could spend all March out there!!
Perry and any of the others who are watching more games than I do can certainly add to this thread if they'd like.