Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Day 2 Spring Training
Whew! What a day! We basically spent the whole day doing nothing but baseball. I love it! Take a look at the slide shows for Day 1 and Day 2. Those are just a sample of the hundreds of pictures we have taken over the two days.
We got to witness something that we may never see again. Josh Hamilton bunt single in the first inning with a man on first. Yes you did read this correctly. He promptly pounded out two doubles later on in the game. It was the bunt single that took the whole crowd by surprise.
What can I say. The pictures do all the talking.
We are having a blast. The best part is that we get to do it all over again tomorrow! Of course we will have more pictures for you to see.
Loving our time in Surprise.
Go Rangers!
We got to witness something that we may never see again. Josh Hamilton bunt single in the first inning with a man on first. Yes you did read this correctly. He promptly pounded out two doubles later on in the game. It was the bunt single that took the whole crowd by surprise.
What can I say. The pictures do all the talking.
We are having a blast. The best part is that we get to do it all over again tomorrow! Of course we will have more pictures for you to see.
Loving our time in Surprise.
Go Rangers!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Day One In Surprise
Whew what a whirlwind first day in Arizona. We rolled into Surprise just before 11:00am AZ time. We did not get a chance to go to the back fields today. We made it in town just in time to catch the 1:00pm game against Cleveland. The Rangers pounded Cliff Lee for 4 runs in the first inning. They tacked on another 6 spot in the third for a 10 - 0 lead. Cleveland rallied for 5 runs in the 5th with the aide of 2 Ranger errors. Scotty looked great even with the 5 run outburst in the 5th by Cleveland. All in all, it was a fabulous first day at Spring Training.
As always, my lovely bride Erin took about 300 pictures of the days events. Look in the photo album for a few shots of the first day. Tomorrow we will have shots from the practice fields before we head to Peoria to watch the Rangers take on the Padres. Enjoy the pictures.
Go Rangers!
As always, my lovely bride Erin took about 300 pictures of the days events. Look in the photo album for a few shots of the first day. Tomorrow we will have shots from the practice fields before we head to Peoria to watch the Rangers take on the Padres. Enjoy the pictures.
Go Rangers!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Spring Training or Bust!
10 days until our trip to Surprise.
Some of the best baseball of the spring will take place on the back fields of spring training. During the week we will spend countless hours taking in the basics of spring training. Infield drills, bullpen sessions, pitcher and catcher bunt plays, and various instructional sessions. Most people would find this sort of thing boring. I eat it up like steak and potatoes before the tasty dessert of afternoon games with the big boys.
One of the lost charms of spring training instruction are the minor league games played during the late mornings on the back fields. During this time you get to watch "A", "AA", and "AAA" players fight and scratch for placement in the minor leagues in a game time setting. When we get to Surprise, many of these players are working to claim their spots in Clinton, Frisco, and Oklahoma City. Along the way you get to watch the rookie league kids get valuable major league instruction. During this time you get the opportunity to see some of the future stars. There is a ton of baseball to see and digest. The atmosphere is laid back and simple. The games at times feel like college, high school, or little league contests. You claim your spot on the old metal bleachers or on a grassy patch with a blanket. If you think ahead, bring a lawn chair and plant yourself right behind the catcher behind the backstop. You can float back and forth from one backstop to the next while multiple games are going on at once. You almost forget that these are professionals practicing and playing for money. It is a big contrast to the Big League atmosphere that permeates the air at Major League parks across the country. I am so happy that Nolan has the team place names on the back of jerseys. It will make it easier for me to keep track of who is playing.
If you get the chance to make it to spring training, please take the time to watch these minor games on the back fields.
Go Rangers!
Some of the best baseball of the spring will take place on the back fields of spring training. During the week we will spend countless hours taking in the basics of spring training. Infield drills, bullpen sessions, pitcher and catcher bunt plays, and various instructional sessions. Most people would find this sort of thing boring. I eat it up like steak and potatoes before the tasty dessert of afternoon games with the big boys.
One of the lost charms of spring training instruction are the minor league games played during the late mornings on the back fields. During this time you get to watch "A", "AA", and "AAA" players fight and scratch for placement in the minor leagues in a game time setting. When we get to Surprise, many of these players are working to claim their spots in Clinton, Frisco, and Oklahoma City. Along the way you get to watch the rookie league kids get valuable major league instruction. During this time you get the opportunity to see some of the future stars. There is a ton of baseball to see and digest. The atmosphere is laid back and simple. The games at times feel like college, high school, or little league contests. You claim your spot on the old metal bleachers or on a grassy patch with a blanket. If you think ahead, bring a lawn chair and plant yourself right behind the catcher behind the backstop. You can float back and forth from one backstop to the next while multiple games are going on at once. You almost forget that these are professionals practicing and playing for money. It is a big contrast to the Big League atmosphere that permeates the air at Major League parks across the country. I am so happy that Nolan has the team place names on the back of jerseys. It will make it easier for me to keep track of who is playing.
If you get the chance to make it to spring training, please take the time to watch these minor games on the back fields.
Go Rangers!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Fever Has Taken Hold!
The mad rush to do all things baseball has taken over. The countdown to our trip to Arizona has been reduced to just under two weeks. By this time in exactly two weeks we will be sitting under the warm desert sun watching our boys of summer. Believe me, it cannot come fast enough. We have are room booked for five days. We have spring training game tickets for six contests. The sunscreen is packed. The anticipation is beginning to boil over. Let the 17Th come soon if at all possible.
When we get home it will be two weeks until opening day. It seems like two weeks is the magic time frame.
Whether it's two weeks, 14 days, 336 hours, or 20,160 seconds, it will seem like a year to little Aubrey Rose. Surprise, Arizona seems like a million miles away right now. Baseball is coming. Can you feel it?
Bring it on. If you plan on being in Surprise during the week of March 16Th through the 22ND, look for us. We will be the ones with the big wide smiles on our faces.
Go Rangers!
When we get home it will be two weeks until opening day. It seems like two weeks is the magic time frame.
Whether it's two weeks, 14 days, 336 hours, or 20,160 seconds, it will seem like a year to little Aubrey Rose. Surprise, Arizona seems like a million miles away right now. Baseball is coming. Can you feel it?
Bring it on. If you plan on being in Surprise during the week of March 16Th through the 22ND, look for us. We will be the ones with the big wide smiles on our faces.
Go Rangers!
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