Everyone benefits when teams double up on spring sites

Sporting News, The, March 25, 2005 by Todd Jones

When I first heard that the Marlins and Cardinals share the same spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla., a couple of thoughts went through my head.

One was: Great, I have to throw my bullpen session next to Jason Isringhausen, then hear a fan ask why I don't throw as hard as he does.

Another was: I'm getting my work in on one of the back fields, and boom, I give up a home run, it travels to another field and hits Larry Walker in the shin, and he misses a few days of work.

In reality, sharing a complex is a great idea for players and fans. Turns out there's no interaction between the clubs; we get our work done and don't bother each other. The complex's dozen practice fields are separated by the Cardinals' batting cages in the middle. We enter and exit the complex from the third base side of Roger Dean Stadium, and the Cardinals use the first base side. Our locker rooms are in separate buildings.

Having two teams train at the same site helps cut down on travel. Certain teams play each other a lot in the spring because their camps are in the same vicinity. In South Florida, the Nationals, Dodgers, Mets, Marlins, Cardinals and Orioles all reside along Interstate 95, but many games mean long bus rides. It's better for everyone when the Marlins and Cardinals meet. We'll face each other five times this spring, and we'll take turns being the home team.

It's not as if I want to face Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen while trying to make the Marlins, but it beats taking a 2-hour trip somewhere, getting stiff, eating a soggy tuna sandwich, drinking a room-temperature soda, playing the game and then getting back on the bus.

Fans have it best of all when teams share a complex. Twice the players means twice the autograph opportunities. There's a game at the park every day. And in Jupiter, fans can visit a bunch of other attractions, such as an outdoor mall, a 16-screen movie theater and various restaurants, all without having to repark their cars.

Only three other sets of teams share complexes, and all are in Arizona--the Diamondbacks and White Sox in Tucson, the Mariners and Padres in Peoria and the Rangers and Royals in Surprise. Doubling up used to be a money-saving strategy, but now it's the wave of the future. Other clubs would draw better crowds by sharing.

The atmosphere in the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues is relaxed; why not make things even more fan- and player-friendly by turning a spring training "double play?" (Sorry, had to say that.)

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Marlins, at tjones@sportingnews.com.