Part of the allure of spring training is that it allows fans to watch games in a close and casual setting. The venues are more intimate than the big ballparks where teams play in their home cities, the players are more laid back as they prepare for the season and the warm weather adds to a welcoming environment that can’t be duplicated once the calendar reaches Opening Day.
This season, with a renewed concern for fan safety at ballparks across the country — sparked by an incident involving a young girl who was hit by a line drive at Yankee Stadium in September — all 30 major league ballparks expanded protective netting until at least the far edge of the dugouts.