Spring Training 2011

I always try to get out to see as many games I can afford (both time and money) and hit the practice fields filled with MILB during spring training. There is no better way to get a look and feel of the grind than hanging out at the practice fields.

My favorite is the Phillies complex because my son's catching coach is the Minor League Coordinator there.

We live close to a lot of baseball for the month of March - distances from my house to:

Braves – Disney – 1.5 hours
Red Sox – Ft. Myers – 2.5 hours
Twins – Ft. Myers – 2.5 hours
Yankees – Tampa – 15 minutes
Pirates – Bradenton – 1 hour
Rays – Port Charlotte – 2 hours
Orioles – Sarasota – 1.25 hours
Tigers – Lakeland – 1 hour
Astros – Kissimmee – 1.5 hours
Phillies – Clearwater – 15 minutes
Blue Jays – 20 minutes

I will keep my eye on this thread for opportunities to see some HSBBwebsters and their sons.

not sure yet as to when i'll go to tampa,i'll be going alone because his momma,my wife is a teacher and will have the summer to watch him play.i'm sometimes self un-employed so i have to wait and see when i can get away, hope to meet up somewhere in s.t. CD you too backstop

Ft. Myers March 12-16
Would love to hear from anyone that's going to be nearby.

I'll be in Winter Haven from March 9th-March 17th with my college team. If anyone is nearby, shoot me a PM I'd love to meet up with fellow HSBBWebsters.

Facebook status of a friend going through his first spring training (signed last summer out of the D.R) in Tampa... "Second day went pretty well...saw Derek Jeter, Russell Martin and Phil Hughes about 5 feet away from me...pretty tired"

Hey JH, who are you playing down there?

floridafan-

3/10- Mount Aloysius
3/11- Waynesburg (DH)
3/12- Juniata
3/13- UMass-Boston
3/14- Framingham State
3/15- Messiah (DH)
3/16- Keene State
3/17- Amherst

Sounds like you will be busy! Is that at Chain of Lakes Park?

If that's the old Indians complex then yep. It's our first year going there...my freshman year we went to Cocoa Beach (Expos), last year to Vero Beach (Dodgers)

We live about 20 minutes frpm the Chain of Lakes fields. Our HS son will be in a spring tournament in S Fl March 12-15. (Nova HS), but I would love to meet you and watch the 3/16 or 3/17 game. Hopefully, my son can come as well. I always enjoy reading your posts, and would love to root for your team. Also, would be happy to recommend some restaurants or places of interest. The Chain is going to be torn down and developed into an upscale shopping mall in the near future, so you probably got in on the last year of college ball here.

smalltownmom- Sounds great. Those games should be fun, we played Keene State last year in the NCAA tournament and I have a few friends at Amherst. I don't know if I'm pitching at all during those games specifically, but I'll of course be at the complex. Shoot me a PM and I'd be glad to give you all the info and whatnot

son is heading down to spring training with the Washington Nationals anyone know of any cheap one month rentals in that area?

I'm on the other side of the country from most of you, but I am going to see the first Angels game vs. Dodgers on Saturday February 26 in Tempe.

Looking forward to seeing some of the boys my son has played with over the past two seasons since a bunch of them got invites this year.

Thereafter, I'll go down to Tempe off and on once the MilB Spring Training camp starts up to watch my son play.

Hope to cross paths with any of you visiting Phoenix!