Spring Training Trip

by Wonko on Mar 9, 2009 10:23 AM PDT

I go to spring training with a large group of people who have a variety of favorite teams (Cubs, Angels, Giants, Padres and, yes, even the Dodgers). It is a weekend trip that includes 3 games as a big group, but I usually get there one day early or stay one day late and go to a Padres game. Normally that means I go to two Padres games, but this year it only meant one (having the Dodgers there kind of jacked things up). I went to the 3/5 Padres-Rangers game where the reserves tried their best to come back, but fell short.

The next day, we went to Peoria to see the team practice. All the non-WBC players were there. Some of the fans in attendence would yell, "Good Morning" as the players would show up to take their hacks. Brian Giles and Kevin Kouzmanoff both said "Good Morning" back to them. Kouz even did some posing.

Some of the players chat it up with each other while they wait. Some want to put in their two cents to Buddy. Headley and Hundley seem like good buddies and Giles wanted to get in a few words with everybody.

We peaked into the covered batting cages and caught Cliff Floyd getting some instructions from Jim Lefebvre on how to hit a curveball.

We also saw a Cla Meredith fan professing her love with a T-Shirt.

After that we went to Mesa to see the Dodgers play the Cubs. Saturday we went to the brand spanking new Camelback Ranch to see the Dodgers and the Mariners. And on Sunday we saw the Giants' scrubs (split squad) play the Angels in Tempe.

Poll

Does anyone want to see the Camelback Ranch pictures? Note: They contain Dodgers.

Yes

43 votes

No

34 votes

77 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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Comments

I need to make a t-shirt

professing my love of that Cla Meredith fan.

by jbox on Mar 9, 2009 11:48 AM PDT reply actions

dude

i know that girl with the clam shirt. well i don’t know her, but i see her all the time by the dugout and she’s always wearing that shirt.

"i kinda feel like nevin and klesko were some fling we (the padres) had in the past and now realize were a bad idea and are embarrassed about."

by freelunch on Mar 9, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Did she mention me?

by jbox on Mar 9, 2009 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions

is there a reason why she would?

have you ever talked to her?

"i kinda feel like nevin and klesko were some fling we (the padres) had in the past and now realize were a bad idea and are embarrassed about."

by freelunch on Mar 9, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Good job Wonko

thanks for coming through with the post and the pics.

by jbox on Mar 9, 2009 11:49 AM PDT reply actions

At least one GLBer

doesn’t lose the photos on his laptop…

Also – I expected this to be a lot longer.

(Nice work, dude.)

by Winfield's Ghost on Mar 9, 2009 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

That just means he wasnt long-winded

and What happens at ST, stays at ST.

Chicks Dig a Low ERA Bullpen.

by eastbaysd on Mar 9, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions

You tell em East Bay- I like that line!

by kdukat on Mar 9, 2009 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I blame HP

They didn’t tell me they would wipe my hard drive when I sent it in for work.

Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Mar 9, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, apparently there is more to come

According to the poll I’ve got to put up some pics and descriptions for Cameltoe Ranch. I’ll try to add more of my Padres pics to break up the monotony of Dodgers pics.

1-10-DEN 18 (9:52) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 19-E.Royal INTERCEPTED by 93-L.Castillo (95-S.Phillips) at DEN 18. 93-L.Castillo to DEN 14 for 4 yards (62-C.Wiegmann). 6-J.Cutler pouts ob to DEN 25 for 11 yards.

by Wonko on Mar 9, 2009 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Would it be better to wait for someone that might have pics from there from the White Sox?

I have it under good authority that there might be some GLBers going there in a couple of weeks for a Sox game.

by kdukat on Mar 9, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Did Buddy say "hi" to the crowd?

Bochy would always come over to the fence and say “Good morning” to the fans. I loved that.

I hate how they covered the batting cages. There was many times players would strike up a repartee with fans watching when the covering wasnt there. Any new changes you noticed to the Padres practice areas? Did they cover or block off anything else?

Thanks for posting and posting photos. I would like to see the Camelback pics, please.

Chicks Dig the Bullpen.

by eastbaysd on Mar 9, 2009 1:06 PM PDT reply actions

I went to ST buddies first year

and he actually came over and talked to the large group of fans that were sitting in the bleachers watching them practice for a good 10 to 15 min. It was nice actually made me a big fan of his in his first year at the helm.

by Grey Suit on Mar 9, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions

When I went to ST his first season

He wouldn’t talk to anybody.

Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Mar 9, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I didn't get there for the start

I did ask Buddy for an autograph as he headed to the batting cages. He told me, “I’ve got a little more work to do.” And then when he came out I just ignored him, but he gave some other fan the same line and went back to the practice fields. I’m sure he did, but it was slightly humorous that he was dropped the same line twice on separate occasions.

by Wonko on Mar 9, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Great post!

seems like a lot of fun

by itay n. on Mar 9, 2009 2:02 PM PDT reply actions

What time was the Padres practice in the am? Just in case I might be making a trip there myself!

by kdukat on Mar 9, 2009 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

We got there a little after 10

Since we weren’t staying for the game they let us park there for free as long as we promised to be gone by 11:30 am. I suspect they are out there even earlier. When we got there one field had a bunch of the younger guys (Blanks, Cabrera, Antonelli) taking BP with some guys shagging their balls. Another field has Eck, Kouz, LRod and Burke taking fielding practice. And a third had Gerut, Venable, Floyd and somebody else taking BP. Headley, Hundley, Giles and Alfonzo showed up after that to hit as the earlier 4 went to the cages. The infield guys toweled off and then came in to hit. Other times I’ve been there I’ve seen the low level minor leaguers out stretching or practicing and a couple of times I’ve seen some pitchers throwing in the bullpen-like-thing they have next to the batting cage. I think Chris Young had just finished when I got there, but I didn’t see him.

by Wonko on Mar 9, 2009 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions