Baseball Season! (Spring Training Thread)

***Art*** · 02-20-2003, 01:09 AM

He bases that on pure hitting, not power or anything else. Sweeny had the highest BA in the majors last year.

stinkins · 02-20-2003, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Art
He bases that on pure hitting, not power or anything else. Sweeny had the highest BA in the majors last year.

Not entirely...Sweeney has also averaged 30+ homers and 100+ RBIs for the past few season to go with averages higher than .330 for the most part...

Ryan Akers · 03-08-2003, 08:38 AM

Hey, I leave for Spring Training tomorrow. I'll get pictures and bring them back... Also...autographs for $5!!!!!

GMartin2R · 03-09-2003, 01:35 AM

cool who are you going to see playing?

Mark · 03-09-2003, 03:25 PM

Go texas Rangers!

Maybe Park will do better this year, and hopefully our young pitchers will perform well. Mark Tiexeira is panning out well so far. Sad to see Pudge gone, though.

RogueWarrior · 03-10-2003, 08:14 AM

Park couldn't be much worse than he was last year. He pitched through several injuries which affected his performance. Teixiera should start the season in AAA, but with Herbert Perry's injured knee, the Rangers may have no choice but to have him on their opening day roster.

Hopefully Pudge will have a successful season with the Marlins. I hated to see him go as well.

Shanemasta15 · 03-10-2003, 08:09 PM

I'm actually gonna root for the Rangers this year. We've finally helped the the middle relief/ closer problem with Yan and Urbina, we've finally got a true CF with Glanville, and I think Showalter will put more faith in the youth rather than a crew of washed up vets. It's certainly not gonna be a playoff year, but it's gonna be closer than we've been in a while.

PS: Go Astros!

psalm63adam · 03-11-2003, 04:22 PM

Just got back from the spring training facility in Surprise (half a mile from my house) and watched most of the Diamondbacks-Rangers game with Randy Johnson on the mound.

It was beautiful, man...beautiful. Oh yeah, and I was 10 rows up right behind home plate.

Mark · 03-11-2003, 06:03 PM

Wow, what a cool experience.

Yes, now the Rangers actually have a decent closer, in Ugi. I just really hope the pitching gets better this year. We've got plenty of young bats that can produce, but we need to pitchers like Doug Davis and Colby Lewis to step it up this year.

Ryan Akers · 03-16-2003, 07:13 AM

Hey guys...I'm back. Very tan. Saw 7 games. Got a lot of pictures. In about a week or two I should have them all. I was like 5 feet from everyone...it was crazy. Griffey Jr. walked right by me....but he's stubborn and doesn't sign autographs. Anyways, I gotta go to church. This afternoon, I'll post all about my trip....very interesting and awesome.

***Art*** · 03-16-2003, 04:35 PM

Baseball players that don't sign autographs just suck.

I'm glad that you had fun, though.

Ryan Akers · 03-16-2003, 10:33 PM

Here it goes:

Monday:
Astros vs. Phillies. I realized just how hot it was sitting in the sun. Phillies didn't bring Rollins but they brought Thome. Thome was pounding the ball in BP. We left at about the 7th inning...it just got too hot. Had seats 4 rows behind home plate.

Monday Night: Tigers vs. Devil Rays Night games are so great. Tiger town was really nice. Devil Rays brought all their players....lol....most of them were minor leaguers though. Tigers had everyone. Allan Trammel, Al Kaline were both just like 20 feet from me. We had seats 2 rows from 1st base.

Tuesday: Braves vs. Dodgers MUY CALIENTE! I got burnt. Bravos didn't have Andruw Jones. Maddux pitched a solid 3 innings. He's gonna be the stud this year. Got a ground rule double during BP. Seats 10 rows behind home plate. Cracker Jack stadium was the least intimate stadium. Disney made it more of a MLB ball park. Couldn't really meet the players or anything. In the scouts section just down from us sat Ken Griffey Sr. Two of the guys I was with asked for his autograph and Griffey gave it to them, but ran out of the park before I got a chance.

Wednesday: Back to Tiger Town. Tigers vs. Blue Jays. Same seats as before. Got there for BP. Caught like 5 balls on the Berm in left field. The Tigers starter that day was their stud. He's gonna be hot. Forgot his name though.

Left early to leave for Sarasota....two hour drive.

Wednesday night: Reds vs. Yankees. Yankees - What a bunch of crocks. They brought Modesi, Matsui, and Ventura. No Giambi, Soriano, Williams, Jeter, or Posada. Griffey Jr. was on fire. Hit a HR. Wily Mo Pena is going to be a good one to pick up on Fantasy teams from the Reds. The kid is huge and is going to pound the ball. Sean Casey signed a ball for me.

Thursday: Dodger Town Dodgers vs. Cardinals. Very intimate park. Players walked by me a lot. It was like a big babe ruth field. Very run down almost. Cardinals brought Rolen, Martinez, and Pujols....no Matheny. Pujols was about to sign for me and one of the coaches came over and made him leave. He was like 4 from me. Nomo pitched for the Dodgers....not too great. He got rocked.

Thursday night: Back to see the Braves vs. Devil Rays Braves were almost to full strength. Robert Fick was the only starter out. Smoltz came in to close the game and looked very strong. As we were leaving...guess who we saw? Griffey Sr. was back scouting again. I got his autograph this time! Our guess was that the Reds and Braves are looking into some kind of trade or something.

That's my 7 games. I'll get pictures ASAP. Lots of fun stuff down there. I plan on going again next year. Any questions?

Andrew · 03-17-2003, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkO
Maybe Park will do better this year, and hopefully our young pitchers will perform well. Mark Tiexeira is panning out well so far. Sad to see Pudge gone, though.

I am so out of the loop... Where did Pudge go?

Dr. Doom · 03-17-2003, 12:20 PM

The Florida Marlins

Andrew · 03-24-2003, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Euchre0
The Florida Marlins

*weeps*