Cactus and Grapefruit - Spring Training 2009

[Zorro825]

Back from my trip to Camelback Ranch to watch the Dodgers play. What an expereince. It was my first taste of Spring Training and I gotta say, I LOVED IT!!! I'll be posting pictures later of my trip.

[aashee]

Cool deal Zorro. Spring training ball is pretty special, seems a lot more intimate.

[Zorro825]

Originally Posted by aashee

Cool deal Zorro. Spring training ball is pretty special, seems a lot more intimate.

Definetly. I had never been so close to my favorite team before. Plus the atmosphere is so much more laid back. The staff at Camelback is also very friendly. I cant wait to go again (hopefully) next year!

[Zorro825]

K, here are some pictures from Camelback Ranch, home of the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox

Hangin out waiting for the gates to open.

Shot of one of the many practice fields

The following are shots of the players walking to practice. The great thing about Camelback Ranch is that the Dodgers continued the tradition of Vero Beach in that the players must go through the fans to get to and from the practice fields. This allows more chances for interaction with your favorite players.


Jonathan Broxton

Larry Bowa and Mariano Duncan chat it up while walking to practice

Manny arrives

Guillermo Mota and Andre Ethier

James Loney

The "O-Dawg" Orlando Hudson

Manny Mota

Tommy signs for some fans

The great Don Newcombe







More to come later...

[aimster]

Very cool! I saw Tommy Lasorda at a Tigers spring training game a few years ago. He would sign autographs between innings and I was waiting in the makeshift line. Was almost my turn when he got invited to go into the press box. I knew he wouldn't be back, so no autograph (boo), but... OMG... he was wearing really thin white trousers and you could see his striped boxers through them! My mom & I were trying really hard to keep from laughing too hard/loud.

That was the day I was traumatized by Tommy Lasorda's underwear.

[aashee]

Great pictures. Bums me out that I'm missing spring training for the second year in a row.

[royaldisneyfan]

That's awesome you got those close shots. That's a neat shot of Tommy too. He looks like he can still manage.

[aimster]

The Tigers released Gary Sheffield today. Wow. I honestly didn't see that one coming. He's 1 home run away from 500 too. Maybe now they can finally retire #3 (Trammell). I never liked that Sheff wore that number.

[Zorro825]

Here are some more pictures from Camelback Ranch. The first three are from Saturday and the rest from Sunday. Sunday's game had much nicer weather as it was partly cloudy and breezy which brought the tempature down considerably.

Russell Martin signs for fans before the game

Brad Ausmus and Joe Torre in the background

Manny warms up. We came SO close to getting his autograph. He was literally right in front of me as he was signing before the game. However he was only signing for kids and when he got where my friends and I were standing with our baseballs stretched out he said "I'll be back" and ran off..ARGGH!!!


Dodgers Scout Mike Britto. Most famous for signing Fernando Valenzuela and for being the man with the radar gun behind homeplate at Dodger Stadium





Tommy hangin out in the dugout

Russell Martin at the plate

Manny before he smacked a double

Rick Monday signs after the game

Charley Steiner

Kurtwood Smith!!

Funny story with him actually. I was getting an autograph from Ken Levine who is the host of "Dodger Talk" on KABC 790. As he was finishing signing my ball I heard a distinctive voice behind me say "Now THATS the autograph to get right there!". Ken chuckled and I turned around knowing full well whose voice it was I had just heard and there was Kurtwood Smith!! I asked if he would sign my ball as well and he chuckled and said "Absolutley!" and when he handed me the ball back all i could blurt out was "Thanks! And I loved you on '24' this season!" he laughed again and said "Thank you" and went up to the press box with Ken Levine. Afterwards he returned again and this time my friends and I got a picture with him. He is a really nice guy and was very gracious in accomdating our request even though he was obviously on his way out.

I had such an awesome time at Camelback Ranch. We got autographs from current players Andre Ethier, James Loney, Jason Repko and Juan Castro. Had a chance meeting with Maury Wills as we ate lunch (he chatted with us for a bit and signed for us also) Got autographs from Mike Britto,Charley Steiner, Rick Monday, Ken Levine, Ned Colletti (who looked very stressed out. I guess this long offseason with Manny took a toll on him) Pepe Yñiguez (color commentator for the spanish broadcast) and of course Kurtwood Smith.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

[aashee]

Great pictures Zorro. You got some really great close shots!

[Rex Dopey24]

great shots. you are so awesome.

[Radiobarry]

Great job, Zorro. Very nicely done!

-- Barry

[royaldisneyfan]

Well, it's been confirmed. Sidney Ponson is the Royals' 4th starter and will start the home opener on April 10th. What a way to open the 'New' Kauffman Stadium.

[Radiobarry]

Originally Posted by royaldisneyfan

Well, it's been confirmed. Sidney Ponson is the Royals' 4th starter and will start the home opener on April 10th. What a way to open the 'New' Kauffman Stadium.

You'll have to admit that it's not every year that the Royals open up a new stadium with a "knight in the order of the Orange-Nassau" on the mound.

"Sir" Sidney, dubbed by the Queen of the Netherlands six years ago.

Maybe that's a good omen, since the Netherlands team surprised a few folks in the WBC...

[Radiobarry]

So, Zorro, on the autograph thing - Manny promised one thing, and did another?

You'll have to pardon me. I am SHOCKED.

Maybe he'll send you an autographed Scott Boras glossy.

Or, maybe a complete set of new Upper Deck super-agent cards.

-- Barry