For anyone who’s ever been to Spring Training before, you can feel my excitement.  The cactus on the roads, the canyons in the distance, and the smell of baseball on every corner.  There is no better place to be.

Today was my first day at my first Spring Training, and was a great way to start off a trip.

The key to the week I have, is waking up early.  The kids at Papago start training very early in the morning, and don’t rest until very late in the afternoon.

I got to Papago Baseball Complex (Home of the A’s minor leaguers) at 11 AM, just in time to see the tail end of their morning workout.

Many familiar faces, like Chad Boyd, Justin Friend and James Heuser were all fielding balls in the outfield, while a long-haired Justin Sellers swung the bat with the big boys.  The craziest thing happened though, Matt ‘Manta’ Ray and Walter Correa were training with Richie Robnett and Landon Powell.  Yes, they’re training with the AA/AAA squads, and playing with them too.  Weird.

After a quick pit stop at Jack In the Box, we decided to watch the game at Papago between the A’s Single-A players and those of the Milwaukee Brewers.  The AA/AAA squads would play Milwaukee’s higher squads at their minor league complex.

After deciding to watch the low-Single A Cougars, it was a blowout from the start.

Travis Banwart was Oakland’s pitcher, a guy Vancouver fans saw in the bullpen, though he never appeared in a game.  I could see why he’s such a valuable asset to the franchise, because he was dominant.  The only faux pas he had in his three innings of work, was not covering third on a tight play, which eventually brought in a run.

Offensively in the first, Grant Desme struck out, while 2007 Canadian teammate Corey Brown hit a deep home-run, over the 410 mark at Papago Park.

A few innings later, Shane Keough hit an opposite-field double, as did 2006 Canadian Greg Dowling.   One runner scored, 2-1 A’s after three. 

Scott Hodsdon replaced Banwart on the hill, and was lights out.  Same went for the following pitcher Brad Hertzler.  Hodsdon and Hertz combined to pitch innings 4 through 8.

Offensively, Mike Richard was beaned twice by a pitch in his quest to beat JD Pruitt’s season HBP record, and Dante Love reached base a few times.

I left after eight innings, when Oakland was up 6-2.  Aaron Jenkins was scheduled to pitch the 9th.

Notes:

-James Heuser (left) was in a good mood watching Stockton play, and says he’ll pitch 2-3 innings Tuesday afternoon against Los Angeles.

-Dusty Napoleon, Earl Oakes, Justin Friend, Lance Sewell, Aaron Jenkins, Shane Keough, Dante Love, Corey Brown, Mike Richard, Grant Desme, Leo Espinal, Chad Kerfoot, and Pedro Figueroa are all 2007 Canadians who are on the Kane County squad, and there are probably others who were trying to find some shade on this 79 degree day.

-How is Haas Pratt still in Kane County?  He played here in 2005 as a first baseman, and hit the longball, before struggling in two seasons with the Cougars.  Do something with this guy, because being a back-up catcher/1B/DH in low-A won’t do much for his development.  Of course, I might be mistaken because although he was in the Cougars dugout Saturday, there is no roster sheet to assure what team players are on.

-Craig Lefferts was tossing BP and coaching the AA/AAA squads, meaning his health is close to 100% for this season with the C’s.

Next up for the trip:  A matinee game between the Texas Rangers and Oakland A’s this afternoon, where prospect Gio Gonzalez will throw his Lord Charles Curve towards Ian Kinsler and the Rangers, against washup pitcher Sidney Ponson of Texas.

Oh, and if you’re ever in Phoenix, join Planet Orange and watch the Phoenix Suns.  Anytime you get to see Phoenix score 79 points in the first half, crushing Sacramento, it’s a great way to start off a trip.