Tips for Spring Training

The only time of the season where the Nationals have a shot at not finishing dead last (after all, they reside in the Grapefruit League with the Pirates, among others). And, regardless of who your home team is, the weather at the games will be gorgeous and tickets will be, well, all things considered, affordable.

That said, while you may not have to put up a second mortgage on the house to see a Yankees Spring Training game (although they still are among the pricier in the league with $17 standing room only tickets), you will have to travel to either Arizona or Florida, where all MLB Spring Training games are played.

For starters, fans will want to check out the websites of their favorite teams when buying tickets. As with regular season tickets, Ticketmaster is the league's official ticketer. But, fans seeking tickets to sold-out games are advised to try MLB-sanctioned StubHub.com. Teamonetickets.com also offers tickets from fans.

Five Spring Training Tips:

1. Get there early: Spring Training is the ideal time for autograph seekers, but, even with the smaller crowds, you'll still only have a brief window to track down your favorite players.

2. Splurge: If you feel the need to get rid of the money you saved on tickets, lucky for you, casinos abound in both Arizona and Florida.

3. Position yourself: Depending on where you stay, odds are that you'll be within close proximity to several teams training facilities.

4. B prepared: B-games may not even count in the standings, but it's where you'll get to see up-and-coming rookies and other players that are unlikely to make the opening-day roster.

5. Study up: During Spring Training, the league doesn't use its usual six-team alignment, thus creating some interesting, rarely seen match ups. The league divides teams into the Grapefruit League (teams with Florida-based training facilities) and Cactus League (teams that practice in Arizona).