Spring training trip, days one and two.

Hi there!!

I'm writing this from my room, at the knights inn. In mesa after a couple of good days of baseball.

I drove down from salt lake, overnight Wednesday into Thursday. I do not recommend making this trip alone, or at night. It is a draining drive.

I made Tempe diablo stadium 2 hours before the game.




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I was fortunate enough to get there early enough to watch practices featuring most of the minor league camps, and so I followed the trails inside.

Got a photo with one of my salt lake boys. Michael Kohn.

The team lost the game against the brewers, but that result was inconsequential. It sucked, but did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm for the fact that I was at my first. Spring training game ever!

Tempe diablo stadium is a nice park. Comfortable seats. But lacks in shade.

Day two started out at minors camp practices with the angels, where I got to exchange pleasantries with a few of the guys with history in salt lake. Including a couple of guys who recognized me, before, I saw them. It made me feel like a million bucks, I won't lie.

I learned the story behind the walker finish.... The events that lead up to today's two-tone dyed bats which just fascinated me.

I found Bobby wilson, Brandon wood, and peter bourjos practicing buns on the 'half field'. And it was cool just to watch all three of these guys in big league uniforms.

After they left, I got to my car, and headed to phoenix municipal stadium, home of theA's spring training.






The stadium is nice. However, I Have something to bitch about. The seats that Are in the outfield are metal benches. I'm not a tremendously smart man, but metal benches cook a lot of butts in Phoenix weather.

We ended up winning this game 11-3, and it was fantastic to see the guys play well. Kohl, and starter matt palmer pitched well, and a lot of the guys had multiple hits.





Tomorrow, it's the white sox in glendale. It is a pilgrimage that ever fan must make!

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What to do, what to do.....

I am at a genuine loss.

When I was younger, I had one or two players that I followed, and it wasn't hard to show my loyalty.

For the past 3 years, I have been a season ticket holder for the Bees, as a result i have seen, and formed attachments to more than a few guys. and it brings me to this quandry. How do you show support for ALL the guys that you want to succeed?.

In my closet alone, I have 6 game used jerseys (from different players) that i've purchased, and just ordered an authentic from mlb.com for another guy.

Having had the great fortune to meet, and watch these guys interact with fans, its hard to not want to see them do well.

Guess its a pretty good problem to have. Good luck at camp this year guys.

Oh Spring Training, Where are you?!

Welcome!

As I write this we are sitting just over two weeks away from Spring Training, and 10 weeks away from the home opener.

Everyday, thanks to Twitter, news trickles in about this player signing with that team, or that player signing elsewhere.

Some names you're glad to see go. Some names break your heart. But that's part of the grand sport we all enjoy.

This year, I changed my season ticket, on the First Base side this time, and I can't wait!

Salt Lake hosts the Triple A all-star game this year, and I get to Go!!

Anyway, think happy thoughts my friends!! Go Angels!!

Today marks the half way point of the Colorado springs homestand, Not much to say, except we need to hit more.

On the plus side. Great photos now that the weathers drier!!

Trevor Reckling, above, fires a strike against the skysox

Wrap up of the Portland Series

4 Games at home, 1 rainout game, a monsoon during a dh and a mudhole at First Base.

Thats the short Short version.

Now the Good part, we won 3 of 4, against an in-division rival, as we leapfrogged over portland to 2nd place. just a game and a half back of the Skysox.

Thursday was Snowed out. Friday we lost. We won both games Saturday. and sunday was almost good recovery.

I cannot remember so many cold/rainy days this (relatively) late into into the year.

Got a foul ball off the bat of Terry Evans, Thank you Portland OF'r Mike Baxter.

Boys, Good luck in Cali, and we will try and have the field wrung out by the time you get back.

Game 6 against Vegas…. Rainout, soo Catch up time.

Game 4,  the last game against Tacoma. Not much to write home about, except a 4-3 lead blown.  we lost the game in the ninth. Thanks to a home run, and what seemed like 17 singles.  but in reality, was 4.

Game 5….  Vegas,  we won 8-5

Daniel Davidson pitched six and two-third amazing looking innings and Gary Patchett drove in three runs.  Davidson (2-0) got his second win against vegas this year.  Patchett tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning with a single and then broke that tie with a two-run homer, his first of the year, in the sixth.

Just trying to feel good again at the plate and put together some good at-bats.

Terry Evans delivered his first four-hit game of the season with three singles and a double, while Mark Trumbo added two hits, a double and his fourth homerun of the year.

Cory Aldridge, and :Pete Bourjous extended their hit streaks to 10 games.

 

Double header Thursday at 5:30

Game 3: Bees 10-7

We finally got the home win out of the Way.

Trevor Reckling started,  it was a tad bit rough, allowing 7 runs, he never made it out of the third. but aside from the home runs, he didn’t pitch bad.

We owe this game to two Guy’s Heroics Rich Thompson, and Michael Ryan.

Rich was called in in the top of the third, with the team down 7-2. He proceeded to ice down the Tacoma bats, 4 scoreless innings, 46 Pitches.

lets flash forward to the bottom of the 9th. at this point. We’d managed to get back to 7-5. Terry Evans lead off with a home run, his first hit since being outrighted from anaheim.

Michael Ryan comes up with one out, runners on first, and second, and Tattoo’s a pitch from Tacoma pitcher Chad Cordero. We win the game 10-7.

 

This is the first game the bees have won, after being behind  entering the ninth since Adam Pavkovich’s grandslam.

go Bees!!