Sweat Out Baseball 2006 Spring Training in Arizona

February heralds the end of winter hibernation and the time for true baseball fans to wake up. In looking to spring training camps in Florida and Arizona, fans can forget their 2005 dashed hopes (unless you are a White Sox fan), and renew faith in a spectacular 2006 World Series finish. Indeed, baseball is a sport of eternal optimism and as folks travel to see their favorite teams stretch and try out new pitches or batting stances, baseball itself settles in for a new year of history. Injuries and disputes keep the players circulating amongst teams and leagues, but the game remains true to its roots. Let us saddle up and head out west for a look at the Cactus League.

Arizona slowly lured teams to the desert with new stadiums and dry, sunny weather. Snowbirds need to lather up the sunscreen and apply liberally. With no shady palm trees, Arizona offers a backdrop of cactus. In Phoenix, you can learn about different types of cacti at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden.

In Tucson Electric Park, the World Series championship trophy will be on display March 13-19 as the Chicago White Sox bask in its hard fought 2005 glory.

Arizona is the place for doubleheader action. The Padres and Mariners both play at the Peoria Sports Complex. The Rangers and Royals share space in Surprise, Arizona with one baseball team playing in the afternoon, and the other team resting for a night game. Early in the day, you can see workouts from both teams at their separate fields. You can spend a day absorbing baseball. The other teams using a dual complex are the White Sox and the Diamondbacks. They share Tucson Electric Park. Additionally, the shortest distance between two Arizona training camps is four miles. The Giants are in Scottsdale, while the Athletics play in Phoenix.

With Barry Bonds actually at training camp this year and possibly contemplating retirement, Scottsdale will be the place to be. Fans will be cheering his home runs and saluting his batting skills. This could be the first time in two years that Bonds actually plays spring- training exhibition games.