Reds spring training: A rainy day in the desert

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - It was a splendid day for the geraniums at Reds training camp in Goodyear, Ariz., on Wednesday.

The temperature dipped overnight and showers moved into the west side of Phoenix before the sun came up. After several days in the mid-70's, the Reds arrived at their training complex with a high expected in the mid-50's. The rain showers weren't heavy, but they were steady.

Goodyear was lucky. Scenes from TV news showed snow and hail in various parts of the Phoenix area, an area ill-equipped to handle wintry conditions. TV weather guys kept referring to "graupel," a term I had never heard before, so I looked it up. Graupel is soft hail or snow pellets.

From the Reds complex, you could see snow on the Estrella Mountains to the south of the city. Locals tell me that snow there is rare, maybe only once or twice a year.

Dusty Baker said at his morning media session that "it would not be a day off." And it wasn't. Players skipped through the puddles to get to the indoor batting cages, or they worked in the training area on conditioning and agility drills.

When the rain cleared out in late morning, players went onto the field for throwing. But there's only so much to do on a damp field. Nobody wants to risk injury this early in the spring.

It was a work day, but it was a shorter-than-normal work day.

The Reds will gather again on Thursday morning when dry conditions are expected to return. Weather is also expected to be fine Friday when the Cactus League season begins in Goodyear.

(You can click on the attached video for my report on the Reds at Spring Training)