March 22nd, 2016 at 9:35 am 
by Ron Cervenka For decades fans of major league baseball have often asked “With so many games played at night during the regular season, why don’t teams play more night games during spring training?” In fact, former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was rather outspoken about this very thing four years ago.
“I’m lobbying to get the last week of Spring Training games played at night,” said Mattingly during a March 2012 interview. “We should be able to if we get other teams to do it. Major League Baseball makes the schedule, but they don’t pick the times. It would just get us on schedule.
“At this time of year, with the change in routines, it would give guys a chance to get their things together, make calls during the day,” Mattingly added. “It would be a nice way to finish up camp with the transition.”
Mattingly had no idea why Major League Baseball hadn’t already made this seemingly obvious flaw in the century and a half-old spring training system.
“Maybe the same reason for why they had everybody running at the end of a workout, when you’re stiff, instead of the beginning, right after you’ve stretched out and are fresh. I think it’s just common sense. I discussed it with [former Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti], and he seemed to like it, so we’ll see.”
Sure enough (although it is uncertain exactly how much influence the former Dodgers general manager had in the decision), the Dodgers begin what will be the first of five nighttime Cactus League games tonight when they travel to nearby Surprise Stadium to take on the World Champion Kansas City Royals at 6:05 pm.
The Dodgers with then have their one and only day off of the spring on Wednesday, March 23 and then play three consecutive night games beginning on Thursday evening, March 24 at Goodyear Ballpark against the Cleveland Indians at 7:05 pm.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will call the March 25 spring training game against the Giants from Camelback Ranch and the three annual exhibition Freeway Series games against the Angels – two from Dodger Stadium and the third from Angels Stadium.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
The jewel of the night games and, in fact, of the entire spring will take place on Friday evening, March 25, when the Dodgers host their division rivals San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch at 7:05 pm with Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully on the call. This will be Scully’s first broadcast of 2016 – his 67th and final season as the voice of the Dodgers – and will be carried live on SportsNet LA and MLB.TV, and on AM 570 LA Sports radio. The Friday night game will be the only one that the legendary broadcaster will call from Camelback Ranch this spring.
The night games continue on Saturday evening, March 26, with the Dodgers hosting their spring training camp mates, the Chicago White Sox, at 7:05. This will be the second of two split-squad games on the day, with the first being held at 1:10 pm in Peoria against the Seattle Mariners.
The team takes a break from nighttime action with a 1:10 game versus the Cincinnati Reds at the Ranch on Sunday afternoon, March 27 but resumes nighttime action again on Monday evening, March 28 at 7:05 pm when they host the Texas Rangers.
The Dodgers then play two consecutive 1:10 pm day games on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 29-30 – the first in Peoria against the Padres and the second at Camelback Ranch against the Indians – before heading home for the three annual Freeway Series games against the Angels March 31-April 2, with the first two games at Dodgers Stadium at 7:10 pm and the third at Angel Stadium at 6:05 pm. Scully will be calling all three Freeway Series games.
The Dodgers will then continue on down the I-5 to open their 2016 season on Monday, April 4 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park at 4:05 pm. Scully will also be on the call for the season opener from San Diego.
Posted in 
Tonight I’ll watch a night game for the first time this year at 9:05PM ET.(I wish they’d all start at this time during the regular season). Personally I like the way they’re doing it. Watch most of the ST games, in the beginning, in the day time and now we can get use to the night games.
“Mattingly had no idea why Major League Baseball hadn’t already made this seemingly obvious flaw in the century and a half-old spring training system.”
Maybe ’cause they were too busy with the Civil War in 1862 to worry about night baseball?
Just a thought.