Nightengale's Notebook: MLB lockout could cost fans yet another spring training

PHOENIX — We’re not supposed to care about spring training, right?

If the lockout drags on, and spring training starts late, it’s no big deal as long as the regular season starts on time, we’re told.

Besides, spring training games are completely meaningless, we’re reminded. It’s impossible to judge a team by its spring training performance, or else the San Francisco Giants’ 107-victory season wouldn’t have been such as a shock.

Teams already know who they plan to keep, send to the minors, or try to trade before they even arrive at camp.

But if spring training is so irrelevant, why does it mean so much to the fans, and all of the spring-training cities in Arizona and Florida?

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