MESA AZ– Sloan Park March 17, 2017.  It was St Patricks Day at the Cubs spring training home, and lots of folks where wearing their green, and even the visiting Diamonbacks had green jersey tops. But the day belong to the Chicago Cubs, the Kings of the Desert, as they took care of the snakes in front of another sellout crowd, something normal in the most popular baseball facility this time of year.

The Cubs beat the Diamondbacks 15-4 as they scored 5 runs in the first inning, basically mugging starter Archie Bradley,

Dexter Fowler and Kyle Schwarber hit triples,Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant with doubles and were helped by an error by second baseman Jean Segura.

Jason Hammel started and won the game for the Cubs, his second win in his two starts, going 5 complete inning giving five hits one earned run, did not issue a walk and struck out six.

The Chicago Cubs who are 4 to 1 favorite (according to oddmasters in Las Vegas)to win the World Series, look good, Jayson Heyward, ex St Louis Cardinals right fielder who signed a multi year multi million dollar deal with the Cubs looks great, as well as Dexter Fowler who returned for one more year with the Cubs, signing less than a month ago as a Free Agent.

A full scoreboard of games during this St Patrick Day, with many teams wearing green. Green beer was sold at Sloan Park, while outside on the Phoenix Metropolitan area freeways there were electronic signs that read: “The luck of the Irish won’t help you if you drive drunk” and”Drive Hammered, get Nailed”.

Why are the Cubs the Kings of the Desert? They average over 14,000 fans per game this spring, and there is a great buzz about this team who has not won a World Series in way over 100 years.

A TESTAMENT TO CHARACTER: Adam LaRoche retired over White Sox request to limit his son in the clubhouse, therefore he leaves $13 million dollars, he would have made this year as salary- on the table, LaRoche said “I thank the Lord for letting me play for 13 years”as he announced his retirement effective immediately. However, there is one person who probably is not very happy about it, his agent.

To boot White Sox vice president Ken Williams appears to be losing the team after the retirement of LaRoche. Sox pitcher Chris Sale and Williams got into an F bomb fest when Sale told Williams to stay out of the clubhouse at the conclusion of a team-management meeting. The players were considering a boycott of Wednesday’s game but called it off due to LaRoche retiring after he was told that his 14 year old son can no longer visit in the clubhouse. The players were besides themselves over the Williams decision but the rule stays and no player is allowed to bring their children in the clubhouse. Williams said that LaRoche had his son in there 100% of the time and was told to dial it down. LaRoche said he decided to retire from the game at that point. Williams is close to loosing the team as the players are ready to let Williams have it at every turn now in meetings, the dugout, or in the clubhouse.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for Oakland A’s baseball and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com