Spring Training pictures (Tigers game added!)

Goot · February 17, 2008 4:50PM

For all you guys in the snow and cold, here are some pics to help get ready for baseball season. Today I went to Rays camp and scored a David Price auto on the Sweet spot of a baseball with the inscription "#1 overall" on it. He was a VERY nice guy and signed for quite a bit (security literally had to tell him to go into the clubhouse). I'll be going from camp to camp throughout the next few weeks as well as numerous games in the weeks to come, so I will be updating this thread with new pictures every now and then. Also, if there is anyone else in FL or AZ that wants to post pictures, then be my guest!

Nothin like the ZIM!

Team Huddle

Scott Kazmir with David Price about to throw a pitch.

Price in the bullpen.

Kazmir, Price and Jacob Mcgee (#3 prospect in the Rays org.) in the background.

Goot · February 17, 2008 4:56PM

Troy Percival

Jeff Niemann fielding:

The bullpen:

They aren't that great, but they're somethin! I SHOULD be at either Nationals or Dodgers camp tomorrow morning, so expect more soon!

bluemarlin · February 17, 2008 5:08PM

Sweet pics Goot,Keep em coming.

Goot · February 17, 2008 5:17PM

<< Sweet pics Goot,Keep em coming. >>

I will. I'll have a lot more pics from the other teams since I was mostly concerned with getting autographs today.

storm888 · February 17, 2008 5:38PM

Good stuff.

WinPitcher · February 17, 2008 6:58PM

Very nice indeed.

Hope you are having fun down in sunny Florida Goot.

I have a vacation planned for the end of the month to Florida myself, however
a surgery now may very well throw that out the window.

alnavman · February 17, 2008 9:19PM

Great pictures, I had hoped to be in Florida this year also to see the Indians for the last time before they move to Arizona....however house repairs took precedent so guess the first time I go to an Indians spring training will be in Goodyear!! al.l

cwazzy · February 17, 2008 11:19PM

Nice pics, Goot! I don't suppose you will be going to any Cardinal games? I went to spring training for the Cardinals in 2006. It was the greatest baseball expereince I've ever had.

Chris

ajmoeller81 · February 17, 2008 11:21PM

Awesome! Thanks!

itzagoner · February 17, 2008 11:23PM

Stone193 · February 17, 2008 11:34PM

Thanx Mike!

I think the pics look great! It's cool to see the guys getting ready for the season.

Where do you live? I went to HS in Tampa - Dodgers were big - no Rays back then.

I'm looking forward to the next installment.

They showed how the guys eat in the Dodgers camp on ESPN many years ago - Lasorda loved to eat - so they ate well - loads of steak, fried shrimp, shrimp scampi etc.

mike

perkdog · February 17, 2008 11:41PM

Nice pics Goot! You are VERY fortunate to live in Sunny Florida let me tell you!!

stown · February 18, 2008 12:34AM

That's awesome, goot.

Hope you had a great time and thanks for shaing

and5zac · February 18, 2008 12:37AM

Great pics,I got to go to Florida in 86 for spring training and it was great! Go Bucs!

Lou

fur72 · February 18, 2008 1:07AM

Goot thanks for the pics and keep them coming. But I have to say I dont like you right now, I am up to my Ba**s in snow and -20 windchill.

baseballfan · February 18, 2008 1:24AM

thanks for the pics, finally baseball

going to any orioles games??? we finally have soem new faces can't wait to see them

bigfische · February 18, 2008 1:25AM

Awesome pics

carew4me · February 18, 2008 1:26AM

HighChopper · February 18, 2008 2:29AM

Nice backside ... he must work out!

larryallen73 · February 18, 2008 3:05AM

I have been to spring training several times; both AZ and FL. Really a great time of year. Thanks for the pictures.

Carew29 · February 18, 2008 3:15AM

Leave it to a "cheeze" head to bring the thread down.

Keep the photo's coming. Nothing like the fresh smell of baseball in the morning!!

Curious how many Packers are taking B-12??????????????? You know the one i'm talking about. That red and pink colored one.

carew4me · February 18, 2008 4:45AM

I must love the game more.

jhpfunk · February 18, 2008 4:52AM

Percival is a punk. To not play and have the Tigers eat his contract and then not come back them makes him a disloyal Johnny Damon suck ass in my book.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · February 18, 2008 4:58AM

Thanks for the pics. Cant wait for the Dodger ones !!!

Goot · February 18, 2008 5:22AM

Next installment from Dodgers camp will be up in a few, just for a heads up.

Goot · February 18, 2008 5:35AM

I can't understand why someone would want to leave this place after 60 years?

This is how Torre spent his whole day. Once practice was over, he lead a high speed chase by autograph seekers as he and Mattingly snuck out the back door. It was the fastest I've ever seen a golf cart go.

Derek Lowe

Bowa on the left, Andre Either dead center and Andy Laroche to the right:

Bowa and Mattingly:

Andruw Jones and Matt Kemp talking during BP with Mattingly and Easler standing next to the cage:

Tanyon Sturtze and Brad Penny:

Torre and Russ Martin:

Martin showing why he's one of the top catchers in the league:

Manny Mota riding a tricycle around the complex.:

Part 2 coming in a few....

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · February 18, 2008 5:36AM

*sarcasm removed*

They're here !!!

Thanks

larryallen73 · February 18, 2008 5:44AM

Manny Mota is the only true Dodger there.

Goot · February 18, 2008 5:47AM

Lowe during a workout:

Delwyn Young and Matt Kemp during BP:

Brad Penny:

Martin:

Lowe literally running past autograph seekers. Didn't say a word and just kept running.

I think the little kids holding out the balls and watching him explain this one. Billingsley even played for Vero for a few years, the least he could do is sign for some little kids.

James Loney and Juan Pierre(in the distance) signing autos.

The Lasorda mobile

Andre Either was one of the last guys to leave and still signed for everyone that asked.

I can't stand him in these colors...oh well:

One of my favorite pictures ever. I'm getting Andruw to sign this next time I'm down there. By the way, Andruw walked past everyone and didn't sign but told everyone he'd be back out. Sure enough, 15 minutes later he was out there and signed for just about everyone. If Andruw can do it, why can't Lowe and Billingsley?

Peace...

I have a lot more pictures, but these are the best. If any of you Dodger fans or anyone else in general would like to see some more, I'll post them later.

Thanks for looking. Unfortunately, this is probably going to be the last installment untill next weekend when I hit some west coast teams (yankees, phillies, tigers) on Saturday and then on Sunday I'm probably heading over to Orlando for the Braves. However, my dad said that I should take a half day off of school and go to one during the week

.

BobaFett72 · February 18, 2008 5:48AM

"Manny Mota riding a tricycle around the complex"

as he gets older he will using a lark scooter

awesome pics though, I wish i was at spring training!

baseballfan · February 18, 2008 5:53AM

great pics. keep them coming. and take the half day when the ole man offers and go!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goot · February 18, 2008 5:53AM

<< Thanx Mike!

I think the pics look great! It's cool to see the guys getting ready for the season.

Where do you live? I went to HS in Tampa - Dodgers were big - no Rays back then.

I'm looking forward to the next installment.

They showed how the guys eat in the Dodgers camp on ESPN many years ago - Lasorda loved to eat - so they ate well - loads of steak, fried shrimp, shrimp scampi etc.

mike >>

I live on the East coast. I'm 45 minutes north of Vero and 1 hour and 15 minutes east of Orlando.....or 2 and 1/2 from Tampa.

Darin · February 18, 2008 6:09AM

Goot, thanks a lot for the pics. I've never been to spring training so I enjoy looking at them and seeing the players and what the fields and complex area look like.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · February 18, 2008 6:33AM

Thanks for the pics. If your down to post more Dodgers pics....Im down to look.

The only IP auto I have ever received was my 2 boys tix and Ethier signed them and alot of others peoples stuff as well. Good signer.

Goot · February 18, 2008 7:13AM

<< Thanks for the pics. If your down to post more Dodgers pics....Im down to look. >>

Ask and you shall receive

View from possibly the best dugout in the world.

Torre just chillin:

Broxton is a freaking COW!:

Ethier:

Ethier, Abreu, Loney:

Schmidt:

Ethier's juggling skills were tested while he was signing after practice:

Ironmanfan · February 18, 2008 7:31AM

Great pictures Goot! When are you heading to Ft. Lauderdale for some Orioles shots?

Goot · February 18, 2008 7:39AM

<< Great pictures Goot! When are you heading to Ft. Lauderdale for some Orioles shots? >>

Ft. Lauderdale is too far for me, but I will be able to get pictures of the O's when they play the Nationals on March 1st.

zep33 · February 18, 2008 7:52AM

sweet pics man - keep them coming

thanks

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · February 18, 2008 8:02AM

Thanks !!!

magellan · February 18, 2008 8:17AM

Great pics, thanks!

I'm gonna miss spring training this year after making it several years in a row, love that atmosphere.

Last year we saw both the O's-Red Sox in Ft Lauderdale and the Cards-Braves in Jupiter.

kidzfund · February 18, 2008 8:31AM

Nice pics. I just read Koufax was there yesterday.

stown · February 18, 2008 9:07AM

bigfische · February 18, 2008 9:28AM

Is Kemp as tall as he looks in the photos?

Goot · February 18, 2008 9:29AM

<< Nice pics. I just read Koufax was there yesterday. >>

Yeah, that's what I heard today. I was talking to an older guy that was carrying around a ball with auto's of Snider, Podres, Koufax, Lasorda, Sutton and a few other Dodger greats all over it. He said he had a 15 minute conversation with Koufax and that he looked great for his age. Wish I was around to see him!

Goot · February 18, 2008 9:39AM

<< Is Kemp as tall as he looks in the photos? >>

Haha, nope. Delwyn Young is just 5 ft. 8. Kemp walked right past me, and was only an inch or two taller than me and that was with his spikes on, and I'm about 6 feet/ 6 ft. 1 inches tall.

bigfische · February 18, 2008 9:40AM

He dwarfed andruw in that one pic.

Goot · February 18, 2008 10:02AM

<< He dwarfed andruw in that one pic. >>

Oh I see. It looks to me like druw is in his batting stance or something though. I just checked online, and they have kemp at 6' 2" and Druw at 6'1".

Clemaz · February 18, 2008 10:14AM

Great photos Goot. Are you going to the Pirates traing camp?

Stone193 · February 18, 2008 10:27AM

Those were great Mike!

I will tell ya - practice fields did not look that great in the 60s!!!

As a Braves fan, it's hard to see Jones in "blue" - I have a GU bat and signed jersey - just won't be the same.

Jones in Braves colors:

Thanx again for taking the time to share your day.
mike

leadoff4 · February 18, 2008 11:05AM

Goot, great pics! I usually catch 7 or 8 games a Spring but with an 8 week old I'll be lucky to get to one! I'm an hour north of Orlando. Lakeland(Detroit)/Kissimme(Astros) and Orlando(Braves) are about an hour away. I love Vero Beach... caught about 8 balls in BP there on the left field line 4-5 years ago. Dunedin(Toronto) is VERY fan friendly. Is this the last year for Cleveland in Winter Haven or are they already gone? Also heard this might be it for the Reds in Sarasota too. It's a shame everyone is moving to Arizona.

Goot · February 18, 2008 11:13AM

<< Goot, great pics! I usually catch 7 or 8 games a Spring but with an 8 week old I'll be lucky to get to one! I'm an hour north of Orlando. Lakeland(Detroit)/Kissimme(Astros) and Orlando(Braves) are about an hour away. I love Vero Beach... caught about 8 balls in BP there on the left field line 4-5 years ago. Dunedin(Toronto) is VERY fan friendly. Is this the last year for Cleveland in Winter Haven or are they already gone? Also heard this might be it for the Reds in Sarasota too. It's a shame everyone is moving to Arizona. >>

I'm pretty sure the Indians are still here. I haven't heard anything about the Reds though. I don't understand the lure of sharing complexes and all that garbage in Arizona. I would be very interested to see what propels teams such as the Indians and Reds to move west though. The Dodgers are understandable since they're a west coast team and they want to be near their home base and such.

Spring Training pictures (Tigers game added!)

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