Spring Training 2010: Day Three

closeHey, just so you know ... this post is now about 14 years old. Please keep that in mind as it very well may contain broken links and/or outdated information.

9:21am: we just finished breakfast at the Black Bear Diner and are now heading over to the Player Development Complex at the Goodyear Ballpark to watch the Indians’ morning practice.

9:49am: we’re watching some of the players warm up, listening to their chatter. Good natured ribbing is also going on which is fun to hear. 🙂 It’s actually pretty chilly this morning (and windy!) so I’m wishing I had worn my jacket.

10:42am: during batting practice, we’re hanging out behind the outfield fence, attempting to snag some balls. As the morning wears on, more and more people are starting to join us.

My brother managed to get Grady Sizemore to toss a ball over the fence to him (he asked very politely)! That was nice considering Grady snubbed him for an autograph before the game on Wednesday. He also snagged a ball that topped the left field fence and let me have it. Thanks, little bro!

11:59am: we’re in our seats, right behind home plate this time.

3:53pm: another home team win! The Tribe exploded in the 2nd inning with 8 runs and won easily 12-2 over the Oakland A’s. My brother and I were on the scoreboard video screen for the 7th inning stretch (why didn’t I think to ask the guys next to us to take a picture of that!?) and I caught a t-shirt fired from one of those air guns by someone over on the first base dugout.

6:34pm: we’re at Rustler’s Rooste for our (now) traditional steak dinner celebrating the end of our trip. We played it smart this year, after having to wait almost 2 hours for a table last year. This time we called ahead and only had about a 20 minute wait. We saw some A’s fans that were sitting in front of us at the game waiting for a table as well. On our way up here, we passed Tempe Diable Stadium, spring training home of the Angels, so we had to stop for another photo.

Great views from up here … hard to believe we were at the top of Camelback (in the center distance of the photo below) just yesterday morning:

8:31pm: on our way back to the hotel. Dinner was excellent, as expected. Unfortunately, the rattlesnake wasn’t in season so we didn’t get to try it.

9:30pm: need to get to sleep as we both have early flights tomorrow. We got back to the hotel in time to see Kansas get knocked out of the NCAA tournament. Wow. It’s too bad the trip is already over … I already can’t wait until next year!

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