Monday, March 1, 2010

2010 Florida Spring Training Junket Part I

 The 2010 Florida Baseball Spring Training Junket is underway. So far since Saturday, we have seen three ballparks, watched a college baseball game, driven from Clearwater to Tampa and onto Jupiter, first stopping in Daytona Beach for dinner with my children, and watched two practices while attempting to get autographs from the players.

 The trip started in Clearwater, home of the Philadelphia Phillies Training Facility. We arrived at the tail end of the practice day and watched players like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth drive by as they were leaving the facility. Unable to get them to stop, we were unsuccessful with the autographs from the Phillies. As the practices were over for the day, the ballpark still was not empty. A game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish was starting and we decided to stay and watch some college baseball. Baseball is baseball and we are baseball fans.


As we entered the ballpark, we decided to sit right behind home plate and it just happened that the scouts for about all 30 Major League Teams were sitting down also. Equipped with the tools of their trade, the Radar Guns, stop watches, note pads with their special cards to evaluate the players, and a camaraderie amongst themselves that was humorous and full of digs at each other. During the half innings, I would have a chance to talk to a couple of guys and they genuinely had a love for the game and enjoyed being part of the game. From the scout who was starting his first season to the 19 year veteran who had discovered several players who made it to the majors, it was great to hear their insight and knowledge of the game.


As we were leaving, a good friend of mine and minor league pitcher for the Phillies, Nick Hernandez sent me a message stating he was watching the game also. After a couple of minutes, we found Nick and spent the next hour talking baseball from his perspective as a prospect in the farm system. Nick spent the 2009 season in Short Season Rookie Ball with the Williamsport Crosscutters and put up some very impressive stats, 8 wins versus 1 loss, a 2.70 earned run average and 67 strikeouts in 80 innings. He is hopeful that he can continue to improve and impress the Phillies front office and advance to the major leagues one day. Nick, we all wish you the best of luck and we will be following your progress.


That put an end to the first day and gave us a taste of what would come next. Sunday morning came around and our destination was Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Spring Training home of the 2009 World Series Champion New York Yankees. Arriving at 8am, we wanted to secure a location for seeking autographs. We found the place that was recommended to us by a friend and we were the 2nd and 3rd person to show up.


We staked our claims and began the process of waiting for the players and coaches to arrive and begin practicing, which did not start until 11:30am. The players did arrive on schedule and we saw several of the more famous Yankees such as CC Sabathia, Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson, and Mariano Rivera as well as some old-timers like Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson. All of them walked by or near where we were standing and continued on without stopping for the autograph requests by the fans. As the practices came to an end around 1:30pm, yes 5 1/2 hours of standing waiting for a chance for an autograph and feeling as if we could get shut out for the day, a player decided to stop and sign a few items. This player was gracious enough to sign for about 50 people out of the crowd and he could have signed all night long due to his notoriety. He has played his entire career with the Yankees and during that time has won 4 World Series Championships, played on numerous All-Star teams and some day after he retires, he will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In fact, his number 2 should be retired and be included in the Yankees Monument Park. Of course, the player I am referring to is Derek Jeter, shortstop of the Yankees. When the opportunity came my way, I asked Derek to please sign a 1999 issue of Sports Illustrated and he obliged my request and autographed the magazine with a beautiful blue sharpie signature. Way to go and many thanks, Derek. You made the waiting all worth it. This will stay in my collection and will not be for sale, sorry.



We left the ballpark a short time later after watching Reggie Jackson and other coaches teaching bunting skills to some rookie players. How ironic is that, a Hall of Famer with 563 home runs and probably was never asked to bunt his entire career teaching these youngsters how to catch the ball with the bat and place it in the right spot on the field to move a runner around the bases. That skill will help the Yankees win a game sometime during the season and make a difference how the season unfolds. Baseball, what a wonderful game! 

Continue to check back and look for Part II of the 2010 Spring Training Junket.


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