Spring Training...ever been?

[Big Papa Fulch]

Hey Guys,

Aside from hockey I'm huge baseball fan and I'm really excited for spring training to start up soon. My wife and I will take our annual trip down to Scottsdale for Spring Training (gotta watch my Giants).

Have you guys ever been to Spring Training? What players are you excited about seeing?

[Phila26Flyers]

I've never been down to Clearwater, FL for the Phillies, but, when I was at ASU, I got to a handful of Angels, Giants, and Athletics games in Tempe. I dated a girl from the Chicago area in spring of my junior year so of course the Cubs in Mesa was a must. Overall, I don't keep up with too many of other teams' prospects, but I always like seeing who performs well for the Phils. There are a handful of new faces on the team this year, and a couple roster spots open, so I'm looking forward to the competition.

Do you stay in Scottsdale for the whole month?

[4thLineGoon]

I was in Florida in 2005, went to Mets-Braves at Disney and there was a wicked 20 minute thunderstorm right after the anthem. Game got cancelled but while they were trying to dry the field a young David Wright went up and down the dugout signing for everybody who would toss him something. Also met Eric Valent and Manny Acta before they called it a day. Made the drive down to Port St. Lucie the next day for their game which was a great time. Got sigs from Cliff Floyd and Mike Cameron in the parking lot after, players definitely way more accessible and chill than when in New York, definitely would like to make the trip down again for a few days someday. Reccommend it for any ball fan!

[Leaf2717]

Got to see the Yanks in Ft. Lauderdale as a child. Reggie Jackson was near enough to touch and I was hooked.

Plan on hitting Lakeland [Tigers], Dunedin [Jays], and Pittsburgh [never been to their Stadium] this year.

Lots of Philly, Toronto, and NY people on this site - Phils have a beautiful and fairly new stadium [I liked old Jack Russell better] DO NOT get a cheese steak! Jays have an old and "authentic" Grapefruit League stadium in a nice [for Fl] town, and Yanks have a fairly new stadium which features bad traffic and expensive parking - just like the Bronx.

Have been to all the FL stadiums for Spring ball with the exception of Rays and Pirates, and like the gentleman who started the thread can not wait!!!

All the best.

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by Leaf2717

Got to see the Yanks in Ft. Lauderdale as a child. Reggie Jackson was near enough to touch and I was hooked.

Plan on hitting Lakeland [Tigers], Dunedin [Jays], and Pittsburgh [never been to their Stadium] this year.

Lots of Philly, Toronto, and NY people on this site - Phils have a beautiful and fairly new stadium [I liked old Jack Russell better] DO NOT get a cheese steak! Jays have an old and "authentic" Grapefruit League stadium in a nice [for Fl] town, and Yanks have a fairly new stadium which features bad traffic and expensive parking - just like the Bronx.

Have been to all the FL stadiums for Spring ball with the exception of Rays and Pirates, and like the gentleman who started the thread can not wait!!!

All the best.

Do not get a cheesesteak "from the ballpark" I hope you mean. Which I would agree with.

[Leaf2717]

Originally Posted by Phila26Flyers

Do not get a cheesesteak "from the ballpark" I hope you mean. Which I would agree with.

That is what I mean - authentic "Philly" steaks are sold at the park = about as authentic as the Pastrami at the local delis [which do not exist unless one includes Grocery stores, Quiznos, and Subway].

All the best.

[caps05]

My wife and I have gone to Giants spring training every year since about 2002.

I went to school in Central Florida, and we took trips to a couple of parks, mostly Tigers camp in Lakeland and Braves camp, plus a team (can't remember which) that trained at Disneyland.

[Boston Garden]

I've always been intrigued in going, but being in Massachusetts I'm obviously nowhere near any spring training sites.

I'm curious to see how the Red Sox look this year, I can't say I'm "excited" as I'm still pretty pissed about how despicable the Sox have been for the past year or so...

AL East should be fun this year though!

[ValJamesRules]

I have family in Jupiter, and for a while my father and I would go down there for St. Patty's Day and catch a game. What's cool about Jupiter is that it has both the Marlins and the Cardinals. One year we went and the Yanks were playing the Cards. The Cards wore green uniforms, the Yanks had Sheffield and Giambi. The rest of the stars were playing in the WBC, but I got to see Guidry and Donnie Baseball walking around. I am not a Yanks fan, but it was cool because my father is. After the game we headed over to Rooney's, which had the streets closed off and a stage set up with a local Irish rock band playing. It's a great scene. Nothin finer than putting away Guinness with my cousin, uncles, and dad after watching a ball game. The weather is perfect in Florida this time of year. Check it out!

I would love to get out and see the Cactus League, especially my beloved Cubbies.

[Big Papa Fulch]

Originally Posted by Phila26Flyers

I've never been down to Clearwater, FL for the Phillies, but, when I was at ASU, I got to a handful of Angels, Giants, and Athletics games in Tempe. I dated a girl from the Chicago area in spring of my junior year so of course the Cubs in Mesa was a must. Overall, I don't keep up with too many of other teams' prospects, but I always like seeing who performs well for the Phils. There are a handful of new faces on the team this year, and a couple roster spots open, so I'm looking forward to the competition.

Do you stay in Scottsdale for the whole month?

NO, not the whole month, just a week for spring break. I catch as many games as possible while the old lady gets massages and tans, haha.

We live in Montana and we NEED some sun shine come March.

[Treehugger]

Didnt recognize Lincecum with his hair cut, Kid looks pretty respectable.

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by Treehugger

Didnt recognize Lincecum with his hair cut, Kid looks pretty respectable.

How did I miss this?

[Big Papa Fulch]

Originally Posted by Phila26Flyers

How did I miss this?

Yeah I think all those phillies fans whistling at him in the play offs got to him. haha. maybe his new hair dew will get him out of the bull pen and back @ his ace spot? lol

[nilan30]

Originally Posted by caps05

My wife and I have gone to Giants spring training every year since about 2002.

I went to school in Central Florida, and we took trips to a couple of parks, mostly Tigers camp in Lakeland and Braves camp, plus a team (can't remember which) that trained at Disneyland.

Is there a team playing out of Winter Haven? I was there once in early March (not for good reasons so I had no intention of going to a ball game) and thought I heard something about a team there.

[Leaf2717]

Originally Posted by nilan30

Is there a team playing out of Winter Haven? I was there once in early March (not for good reasons so I had no intention of going to a ball game) and thought I heard something about a team there.

The Cleveland Indians no longer train there, left for Arizona, so no team in Winter Haven. The new local attraction is a Lego-Land.