Professional Baseball Goes Year-Round, Intensifying Competition
In the heart of Arizona, Cubs Park in Mesa has proven to be a bustling facility, even out of the public eye during regular Wrigley Field season. This was evident last weekend when the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) held its AFL conference at the venue.
The conference culminated in the Fall Star Game, a Major League Baseball (MLB) event that was attended by a few thousand fans at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. The game, however, was not involving a big-league team, but rather, a game between two teams in the Arizona Fall League (AFL).
The AFL is one of a growing number of extensions of the major league system, contributing players to six teams that play at what are normally Cactus League spring training sites. Bernie Pleskoff, a former MLB.com analyst and recognised expert on the Arizona Fall League, was among those present at the game.
The players participating in the AFL are not just there to play ball. They are generally there for one of three reasons: to be promising minor league players, to rehab from injuries, or to work on something like switching hit, learning a new position, or a new pitch. This was evident as players took batting practice, used indoor batting cages, did wind sprints, weight trained, and practiced on various fields at Cubs Park.
The game was televised on MLB.com and was attended by a flock of scouts. The players, known for their politeness and obliging nature, lined up for fans seeking signatures and pictures. Children, men, and women alike were eager to interact with the players, making for a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.
The AFL is just the tip of an iceberg of year-round activity in the Phoenix area. Other leagues include the Arizona Summer Rookie League, the Florida Instructional League, and various minor leagues of A, AA, and AAA. The teams are divided into two divisions: East and West.
Cubs Park, a $100 million facility, was initially seen as a gamble for the city of Mesa. However, its year-round activity has proven its worth, making it a valuable asset to the city and the baseball community.
