Derrick cheering on the Snakes. No surprise there!

Anyway, when I was watching the WBC Classic last week, Derrick Hall did an interview with MLB Network after the brawl between Canada and Mexico. Hall had some good points about the safety of the ballpark and baseball as a whole in the Valley. It got me thinking: Is Arizona a hot bed for baseball? I’m starting to think it is. Scottsdale is home to arguably one of the most beautiful spring training parks in the league at Salt River Fields. If you head west on the 10 towards Glendale, you end up at my favorite spring ballpark; Camelback Ranch. Chase Field has transformed itself into the clean, sedona red-splashed ballpark that we see in downtown Phoenix today. The Arizona Diamondbacks and the league in general are doing a great job at keeping these ballparks fairly active all year round. From spring training to the Arizona Fall League, chances are that there is a game going on in central Arizona. In an interview earlier this off season, Hall said:

“It’s going to be nice to host Team USA at Salt River Fields. To me, it’s like an open-house sales opportunity for us, showcasing what I think is the best Spring Training facility to players who have never been there. Chase Field is going to be home to the big games.”

It’s a great move to make all of this baseball so accessible to fans from across the world. To me, a spring training game is still one of the best bargains around. There is a vivid trickle-down effect of baseball in this state. Due to the climate, baseball is being played all year and by all different ages. From T-ball to junior college, baseball is being played. If you add Arizona State and GCU baseball to the mix, it can be a very fun year. Want to travel to Tucson? You’ve got U of A baseball to watch there. Let’s not forget, the wildcats are the defending NCAA champs.

Hi-Corbett Field is the new home of the Arizona Wildcats.

See what I mean? Baseball is everywhere you look in the state of Arizona and being a big baseball nerd, I like to keep it coming as much as possible. After college, my plan is to live in Arizona and the fact that all this hardball will be around me is only that much more enticing. To all of you Arizonians? Arizonites? Baseball fans? Enjoy that state because I know I sure will.

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As we enter the season, it is refreshing to know that we don’t have and contract concerns because when you arrive at spring training with arbitration issues with one or more players, it can be a black cloud over the organization. The D’backs can breathe easy as they fill up the big rigs and head to Scottsdale for what looks to be an exciting year of Diamondbacks baseball. Personally, I would have liked to see Parra locked in for more than one year but I think he should take this season as a challenge to really perform well and treat this season as a contract year. Gerardo has been on the constant incline as a player both on and off the field in the recent years.

Parra is likely to patrol the outfield for the D’backs most days in 2013

Unless there are some trades, which I believe will happen, everyone is carved in stone for 2013. This allows for some competitive position battles as we enter the spring. Parra will most likely be an everyday player but not unlike recent years, if production is down, don’t be surprised to see Gerardo sitting. Understandably, Gerardo Parra wanted more money but as far as he is concerned, with production comes some extra dollar signs.

Pitchers and catchers report in 5 days.

Salt River Fields is set to host preliminary games of the 2013 WBS. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

First of all, the World Baseball Classic is an experience for the ages. There is a type of emotion and atmosphere that can’t be matched by a normal regular season game. The best players from all over the world are displaying their talents and fans have flocked to this event over the years. I encourage all fellow baseball fans to experience the WBC and all that it has to offer. The fact that the great state of Arizona will be hosting this event is very exciting for me. Remember what the city was like during the All-Star Game? Take that and multiply it by about 100. Salt River Fields and Chase Field should feel honored to host such an awesome event which will undoubtedly benefit both venues.

Although attendance at the WBC has not been scarce over the years, I see this as a test for the fans in Arizona to “show up.” We, as Dbacks fans have become accustom to not seeing Chase Field at capacity any given day. This is a problem. The WBC may be an answer to this problem. In what is a large Latin community in Phoenix, Tempe, etc, I believe an event focusing on international baseball will draw fans from those said communities. I’m not saying that everybody in Arizona is not a baseball fan, but with an event like the Classic, it is a real opportunity to convert some residents.

Whether you support a certain country or not, the WBC is a site to be seen.

If someone is contemplating attending this these games, just wait until you step inside Salt River Fields. I think it is the most beautiful spring training facility in all of the Cactus League (Camelback Ranch is a close second). The stadium is probably licking their chops right now at all the fan fare that will surround the stadium and bring people coming back year after year. As far as Chase Field is concerned, the stadium has transformed into a very fan-friendly park and oh yeah, it’s air conditioned! Without sounding too much like a travel agent, this event will bring many fans to the beautiful area of Downtown Phoenix and its surrounding cities. Something that is very enticing to the city is the revenue that will be coming its way. From tickets,merchandise and hotels, the state of Arizona is set to make out pretty good in the revenue department.

The World Baseball Classic can and will be a great event for all baseball fans, young and old. It’s an opportunity to cheer on your country while watching the greatest sport there is.

Follow me on twitter @realcmoff18 and the entire team, @venomstrikes for your latest D’backs news and notes!