Your Rookie Fort Myers Brewers? (Florida vs. Maryvale)

[Mass Haas]

Every so often a story like this pops up and drives folks into the Florida vs. Arizona spring training discussion, so let the debate begin anew --

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Next up for City of Palms in Fort Myers, Brewers, Nationals or ... Dolphins?

By DANA CALDWELL, Naples (FL) News

 

FORT MYERS - Although the Sarasota County Commission voted Wednesday night to approve an agreement to host spring training for the Baltimore Orioles for the next three decades, Lee County commission chair Ray Judah was not ready to toss in the towel Thursday.

 

Lee County officials had hoped the Orioles would use the City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, which will be left by the Boston Red Sox for a new stadium in the county in 2012. Judah still was in the batter's box early Thursday afternoon.

 

"I still haven't necessarily acquiesced to the fact that the Orioles are leaving," Judah said. "There's still a lot of specific language that needs to be worked out on that memorandum of understanding before the Orioles and Sarasota complete the deal."

 

The Orioles and Sarasota County will spend $31.2 million on a renovation of Ed Smith Stadium, where the Orioles -- who have spent springs in Fort Lauderdale since 1996 -- will have spring training next year.

 

Even if the O's go to Sarasota, Judah believes Lee County could have other options in the not-too-distant future.

 

"Yeah, we've looked at other alternatives in case things don't work out with the Orioles," Judah said.

 

Judah said John Yarbrough, the former Lee County Parks and Recreation director who last week was named the Miami Dolphins' liaison to Southwest Florida, "had been in touch with the (Milwaukee) Brewers because we weren't certain that things would work out with the Orioles. That was the initial contact. It's my understanding ... that the Milwaukee Brewers are not real pleased with their current situation in Arizona.

 

"And the Washington Nationals are going to be somewhat isolated where they are -- in Brevard County. The West Coast (of Florida) is more of a mecca and setting for Major League Baseball teams. It would seem to be something that the Washington Nationals might want to consider, relocating to the West Coast of Florida."

 

The Brewers' agreement in Arizona runs through 2012. The Orioles' move to Sarasota -- if it goes through -- would leave the Nationals in Viera, the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, who share Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, and the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie as the only spring training teams who train on the East Coast.

 

Judah even mentioned the possibility of the Dolphins holding future late-summer training camp in Fort Myers, citing "casual conversation" with Mike Dee, the former CEO of the Red Sox and current Dolphins CEO.

 

"We talked about the current situation over there at Nova (Southeastern) University where they have their training camp, and it's not ideal," Judah said. "Mike certainly likes the West Coast. It would be, certainly, a desirable opportunity for the Dolphins if they would consider relocating their facilities to the City of Palms Park. Then we can reconfigure, remodel and renovate for a football facility.

 

"But there was nothing definitive or anything concrete. We were just talking about that as a potential in the future."

 

Said Yarbrough: "We don't have anything at this point that would work for the Dolphins. I think right now, they're happy where they are. I think Ray was simply throwing out any idea for the City of Palms, if we don't get a baseball team."

[DHonks]

My issue with the Brewers moving to Florida is that a) their owner lives nearer AZ, and b) Wisconsin people retire to AZ, not Florida. I swear every 10th person in Arizona is from the Midwest, whereas Florida is driven by New England retirees.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

It also rains in Florida. That majorly sucks for people traveling with the risk of a rain delay.

[lcbj68c]

The arguments should still be present in the forum when the Brewers were discussing Sarasota. As a Florida resident, March is not a rainy season.

[Godspeed]

This issue just doesn't touch spring training but rookie ball as well. Is it beneficial for the Baby Brewers to endure heat-stroke capable temperatures throughout the summer? Is it a 'whatever doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger' type situation, or would it be better for player development if the training and teaching were in more habitable temperatures?

[lcbj68c]

Any different than the Brevard County team? I mean..should parents start moving their student athletes out of Florida high schools because of the heat? Did Ryan Braun's development struggle at the Univ of Miami. I think the weather is much ado about nothing, from a player point of view that is. As a fan, I dread when the Brewers play in Miami, but loved the Series at the Trop, as much as dump that place is.

[battlekow]

Any different than the Brevard County team? I mean..should parents start moving their student athletes out of Florida high schools because of the heat? Did Ryan Braun's development struggle at the Univ of Miami. I think the weather is much ado about nothing, from a player point of view that is. As a fan, I dread when the Brewers play in Miami, but loved the Series at the Trop, as much as dump that place is.

I read GYPE's post as referring to the heat in Arizona, not Florida. Florida's plenty hot, but Maryvale is like a blast furnace at this point in the year.

[Godspeed]

Yeah, I was referring to AZ, not FL.

[lcbj68c]

Worse than Florida? Never been to ARZ, but isn't that a dry heat. I guess I just assumed with the 100% humidity that this was the hottest place in the US. It's so miserable in the summer.

[DHonks]

AZ isn't bad guys. I'd rather play in 110 than in 85 with humidity. During my summers as a teacher, you'll find me outside quite a bit. The only difference is that in FLA, you wear your sweat, whereas in AZ it evaporates and you don't realize how much water you've lost until your dehydrated. Plus at night time (the recent games) it's only around 95-100 at night. That sounds like a lot, but when there's no humidity in the air and no sun beating on you, it's extremely comfortable.

 

It's hilarious, because people love to mock the dry heat. I'd say 110 is comparable to 85 degrees when humidity is present. I remember dying in summer golf tournaments in Wisconsin, yet I can walk a round of golf with minimal discomfort in AZ this time of year. The other day someone I knew got out of a pool in AZ and complained about it freezing outside. The pool was 88 degrees and the air was 99. She was freezing because the lack of humidity in the air and the slight breeze that constantly blows during monsoon season in AZ.

[CheezWizHed]

I agree with DHonks. I've been in the FLA humidity and the AZ heat (also in Death Valley and Salt Lake City). I prefer the dry heat out west. Plus, FLA is crazy for so many other reasons...

 

Of course, this may signal we are going after Halladay... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Of course, this may signal we are going after Halladay... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

Maybe we offer to train next spring in Roy's backyard. It's probably big enough.

[Mr QL]

Personally, I just have a lot more connections with Florida so that would be my obvious choice. I was down there earlier this year while spring training was going on and it would of been pretty cool if I could of saw the Brewers.