Spring Training starts today, future uncertain

Enjoy it while it lasts, Southern Arizona.

This afternoon, yet another season of Spring Traning baseball starts up, when the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox square off at Tucson Electric Park.

The White Sox already have plans in place to take their spring sessions to Glendale next spring. Since their lease with TEP doesn’t end until 2012, the White Sox must find a replacement team, but little progress has been made on that front.

The Rockies have inhabited Hi Corbett Field each spring since 1993, but have been in discussions with the city of Goodyear, in case renovations don’t take place.

If the Rockies leave, the Arizona Diamondbacks — Tucson’s third spring team — would almost certainly follow them.

While this uncertain future might cast an ominous cloud over the future of baseball in Tucson, the sun is shining brightly today, with the sights and sounds of the ballpark signaling the official start of spring.

The Diamondbacks captured the local spotlight throughout the late summer and early fall, winning 90 games and edging the San Diego Padres and Rockies for the NL West crown.

While the team ranked near the bottom of the NL in nearly every offensive category, a remarkable bullpen and a knack for pulling out close games helped the D-backs advance to the NLCS, where they ran into the Colorado buzzsaw.

Brandon Webb submitted the most impressive individual accomplishment of the 2007 season, compiling 42 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

Arizona acquired Oakland ace Dan Haren to pair him with Webb and form the most fearsome one-two pitching punch in the majors.

While NL saves leader Jose Valverde is now pitching for the Houston Astros, Brandon Lyon appears poised to step into the closer’s shoes.

The Rockies became one of baseball’s best stories in 2007, winning 22 of 23 games on their way to the squad’s first World Series berth.

Despite being swept by the Boston Red Sox, optimism runs high within the Rockies’ organization, named “Organization of the Year” by Baseball America.

No team fields the ball as cleanly, and with young stars Matt Holliday and Troy Tulowitzki signed to lucrative extensions this off-season, the Rockies are out to prove that 2007 was no fluke.

Two years removed from their first World Series title in 88 years, the White Sox struggled to a 72-90 record last year.

They finished near the bottom of the American League in batting (.246, 14th), with high-priced sluggers Jim Thome, Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye experiencing off years.

Chicago acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera and outfielder Nick Swisher, hoping to improve the team’s on-base percentage so the sluggers have more RBI opportunities.

Staff ace Mark Buehrle was locked up for four years and $56 million, where he’ll be expected to anchor an inconsistent pitching staff.

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