MANAGER: Joe Torre

GM: Brian Cashman

2005 PAYROLL: $208,306,817(1st)

COACHES: Rich Monteleone, Don Mattingly, Lee Mazzilli, Tony Pena, Larry Bowa, Ron Guidry, Joe Kerrigan, Rob Thomson

# = Prospect

* = Non Roster Invitee

Bold = Projected Starter

Batter               Pos  B    T    Born

CABRERA, Melky          OF    S     L     8-11-84

CAIRO, Miguel           2B    R     R     5-4-74

CANO, Robinson          2B    L     R     10-22-82

CROSBY, Bubba           OF    L     L     8-11-76

DAMON, Johnny           OF    L     L     11-5-73

*DAVIS, Ben             C     S     R     3-10-77

*DUNCAN, Eric           3B    L     R     12-7-84

ESCALONA, Felix         SS    R     R     3-12-79

*GARCIA, Daniel         2B    R     R     4-12-80

GIAMBI, Jason           1B    L     R     1-8-71

*GIL, Jose              C     S     R     9-4-86

JETER, Derek            SS    R     R     6-26-74

*JOHNSON, Russ          IF    R     R     2-22-73

MATSUI, Hideki          OF    L     R     6-12-74

NIEVES, Wil             C     R     R     9-25-77

*PARRISH, Dave          C     R     R     6-13-79

#PHILLIPS, Andy         1B    R     R     4-6-77

POSADA, Jorge           C     S     R     8-17-71

*PRIETO, Chris          OF    L     L     8-24-72

#REESE, Kevin           OF    L     L     3-11-78

RODRIGUEZ, Alex         3B    R     R     7-27-75

*ROJAS, Irwil           C     L     R     8-11-84

*SANTOS, Omir           C     R     R     4-29-81

SHEFFIELD, Gary         OF    R     R     11-18-68

STINNETT, Kelly         C     R     R     2-4-70

#THOMPSON, Kevin        OF    R     R     9-18-79

WILLIAMS, Bernie    DH-OF    S     R     9-13-68

 

Pitcher              B    T    Born

#BEAM, T.J.                   R     R     8-28-80

#BEAN, Colter           R     R     1-16-77

*BERGMAN, Dusty         L     L     2-1-78

*BROOKS, Frank          L     L     9-6-78

CHACON, Shawn           R     R     12-23-77

*CHILDERS, Matt         R     R     12-3-78

*COREY, Mark            R     R     11-16-74

*COX, JAMES             L     R     5-13-84

#DE PAULA, Jorge        R     R     11-10-78

#DESALVO, Matthew      R     R     9-11-80

DOTEL, Octavio          R     R     11-25-73

FARNSWORTH, Kyle        R     R     4-14-76

#HENN, Sean             R     L     4-23-81

*HUGHES, PHILLIP        R     R     6-24-86

JOHNSON, Randy          R     L     9-10-63

#KARSTENS, Jeffrey      R     R     9-24-82

*LEITER, Al             L     L     10-23-65

*MENDOZA, Ramiro        R     R     6-15-72

MUSSINA, Mike           S     R     12-8-68

MYERS, Mike             L     L     6-26-69

PAVANO, Carl            R     R     1-8-76

PROCTOR, Scott          R     R     1-2-77

RIVERA, Mariano         R     R     11-29-69

SMALL, Aaron            R     R     11-23-71

#SMITH, Matt            L     L     6-15-79

STURTZE, Tanyon         R     R     10-12-70

*VERAS, Jose            R     R     10-20-80

VILLONE, Ron            L     L     1-16-70

WANG, Chien-Ming        R     R     3-31-80

*WHITE, Steven          R     R     6-15-81

*WILSON, Kris           R     R     8-6-76

WRIGHT, Jaret           R     R     12-29-75

 

 

5 Best Ballparks

• 1. Hohokam: It could be the die hard Cub fans that put this stadium over the top. Going to a game at Hohokam is a must for any first-time Cactus Leaguer.
• 2. Scottsdale Stadium: This is the five-tool player of the Cactus League. With the food, drinks, views, atmosphere and people watching, Scottsdale Stadium barely misses out on the top spot.
• 3. Tucson Electric: The mountains in the background add a dramatic touch to watching a game at TEP, but the facilities are top notch. The food and amenities are second to none.
• 4. Maryvale: While a bit bland, Maryvale's lower prices are the top pick for families. Plus, it is less crowded than the other parks which makes finding a nice spot of grass less stressful.
• 5. Hi Corbett: The lower prices and the tranquil park setting are winners, plus the field box seats are as close to the action as you can get.

5 Best Foods 

• 1. Birria Burro from El Charro at TEP: It might cost $8.00, but this burro is well worth the price. Not only is it tasty, but it comes with sides of rice and beans. Be advised though, it not the most comfortable thing to eat while sitting in your field box seats.
• 2. Red Hot Chicago Dog at Hohokam: The hands down winner of the best hot dog in the Cactus League. The $5.00 price tag is about par for the course, but the smell alone is worth the price. You can close your eyes and imagine yourself on Waveland Avenue.
• Randy Jones Rib Plate at Peoria: At $8.00 it is on the high end but you get a good amount of tasty ribs and two sides. The beans are the best in the Cactus League.
• 4. Dingleberry at Shiskaberrys at Peoria: The most unique of the deserts in the Cactus League. It consists of five chocolate covered strawberries on a shiskabob. A chocolate lovers dream.
• 5. Strawberries and cream at Scottsdale: Keeping with the strawberry vibe, but with a healthier touch. If you are watching your figure but still need to quench that sweet tooth, look no further than the Coyote Fresh Cut stand.

5 Best Things About Spring Training

• 1. Surprise Sundancers: The volunteers from Sun City make the trip out to Surprise Stadium worth it. They are willing to help and will do it with a smile.
• 2. El Charro Lodge: There is nothing better than VIP service and that is what you get at Scottdale Stadium's El Charro Lodge. An elevated tent in the left field grass berm provides the comfort of its own bar and buffet area. And don't bother bringing your blanket, there are picnic tables provided under the tent.
• 3. Lineup board at Hohokam: Walking into Hohokam you immediately get the old-school vibe, with a dry erase board that has the starting lineup. Watch the loyal Cub fans fill out their own scorecards.
• 4. Promotions at Maryvale: Be it the youngsters who get to call out the batting order or the sausage races, the people at Maryvale know how to entertain you.
• 5. The Angels rally monkey: It might be a bit old, but there is still nothing better than the late inning magic of the rally monkey.

5 Best Souvenir Shops

• 1. Maryvale: There might not be a huge contingency of Brewers fans around, but this spot has plenty of shirts and caps. As added bonus, the people working the counter where actually debating the merits of Wes Helms at third base.
• 2. Giants Dug Out Shop: Even though it is just a tent set up in the concourse behind home plate, the selection is the largest in the Cactus League. The varied selection even makes you want to be a Giants fan.
• 3. Hohokam: Yes, there is a line to get in, but the extensive selection of hats, caps, jerseys and t-shirts make it worthwhile. The amount of Chicago accents you hear adds to the authenticity of the place.
• 4. TEP: The place is open and airy and there is plenty of room to move around. The prices might be high, but the selection is impressive.
• 5. Hi Corbett: It might not have the best selection but if you are in the mood for a Todd Helton jersey there is no better place to go.

5 Players to Watch (2005)

• 1. Barry Bonds, SF Giants: While Barry's participation is limited this spring, every move he makes in Scottsdale will be noted. There is no bigger personality in sports than Bonds.
• 2. Vlad Guerrero, Anaheim Angels: The reigning AL MVP, Guerrero's power at-bats are a must to see. And although he may want to avoid the spotlight, all eyes will be on him again this season.
• 3. Adrian Beltre, Seattle Mariners: You could argue Beltre was the real MVP of the National League last season. His move to the Mariners gives fans another reason to go to Peoria aside from Ichiro and maybe Richie Sexson.
• 4. Nomar Garciaparra, Chicago Cubs Who can pass up the chance to yell No-mar in that annoying Jimmy Fallon accent?
• 5. Troy Glaus, Arizona Diamondbacks: Glaus will be the big stick in the D-Backs revamped lineup, so go watch him hit bombs at TEP before he starts routinely dropping them into the pool at the BOB.

The origin and development of Arizona's Cactus League is a story of entrepreneurial initiative and community leadership, of planning as well as happenstance. It includes club owners trying to gain a competitive edge for their teams, and owners who simply liked the idea of spending spring in the Grand Canyon State. Prominent names figure in the Cactus League story, names like Bill Veeck, Horace Stoneham, Del Webb, and Dwight Patterson. But ultimately the story of the Cactus League is one of baseball and sunshine.

In the Arizona springtime, baseball can be played as it is played best -- outdoors, in the daylight, in the sunshine, with neither rain nor cold as hostile detractors. And if this be the perfect clime for playing the game, it is no less ideal for the baseball spectator. As Roger Angell wrote in "Taking Infield":

Teams in Florida and Arizona play with identical rules and before the same sort of audiences, but the two spring flavors are quite different...
Arizona baseball is slower, sweeter, and somehow better fixed in memory.
Angell's observation suggests another dynamic fueling the Cactus League: competition for spring training with Florida.

The Arizona circuit is decidedly junior. The Cactus League first fielded more than one major league club in 1947 while the Grapefruit League dates back 75 years to 1914. And the Cactus League has always been the smaller of the two, currently fielding eight teams to the Florida circuit's eighteen. Still, the discrepancies between the two leagues, in terms of longevity and size, have done little to lessen arguments about which league is "best."

These friendly but vigorous disputes commenced the first spring major league clubs called Arizona their winter home. Arizona supporters solicited more teams to locate in their state, citing Florida's inhospitable March rains and late-winter chills. The Florida towns, reacting to the threat of a major-league exodus, reminded their ballclubs of Arizona's sandstorms, the greater travel distances involved (remember, it was not until 1958 that the majors had a home town west of St. Louis), and the shortage of other major league opponents for exhibition games.

The ballplayers themselves often got caught up in comparing the relative benefits of the two training and exhibition leagues. Bob Feller, ace right-hander of the Cleveland Indians, was asked about the suitability of Arizona's climate for conditioning a pitcher's arm. It was the spring of 1948, the second spring the Tribe trained in Tucson. Rapid Robert, who had enjoyed the agreeable weather of Fort Myers and Clearwater, Florida in previous years, reportedly said, "I don't think it's good for a pitcher out here (Arizona)." The dry heat, he explained, made it tough for players to work up a sweat and loosen up. Mel Ott, the manager of the New York Giants who had trained in Phoenix the previous year, laughed when told of Feller's remark: "What's he complaining about after the season he had last year?" The manager had a point. After preseason training in Tucson in 1947, Feller proceeded to lead the American League in wins, games started, strikeouts, shutouts, and innings pitched with a whopping 299.

The controversy persists and probably always will. Yet for most spring training fans, there's no real argument. The Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues are each immensely enjoyable, Arizona and Florida are each fascinating and unique. The real dilemma for patrons of exhibition baseball is wishing they could be both places at once.

The San Francisco Giants, one of the Cactus League's original teams, will continue spring training in Scottsdale for 20 more years.

The Scottsdale City Council voted to extend the City's relationship with the Giants and the Scottsdale Charros, a charitable organization that has operated spring training since 1964.

The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority is expected to consider the proposal later this month.

"The agreement keeps a franchise with a great history in a downtown filled with baseball history," said Mayor Mary Manross. "There's no better way to celebrate 50 years of spring training in Scottsdale."

"The Giants have enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Scottsdale and its citizens and we are delighted to continue spring training in Scottsdale through 2025," said Larry Baer, Giants executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Scottsdale Stadium and Indian School Park serve as our homes away from home during the months of February and March and are as much a part of our history as Seals Stadium, Candlestick Park and SBC Park. We look forward to working with the city and the Charros to continue on with this rich tradition for decades to come."

"We're thrilled that our organization can stay involved in another 20 years of spring training," said Kirk Johnson, a Charros board member. "We appreciate the support we receive from the Giants and the community for the charitable work we do."

The estimated economic impact of spring training in Scottsdale was nearly $16 million in 2004, according to estimates from the city's Economic Vitality Department.

The agreement calls for a new training field and a smaller practice infield just east of Scottsdale Stadium and upgrades to the stadium and the team's existing training facilities at Indian School Park. Total cost of the new facilities and upgrades is estimated at $23.1 million.