MLB Spring Training Talk

[MDS]

I think if I paid her enough she would.

[Tomahawk]

No, I'd rather talk about how much a whore your ex-wife is.

Not even she would farg you. 

Because she's not a dyke?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2345972

Check out the link - the White Sox GM goes off about what an idiot Frank Thomas (The Big Hurt) is.

[Sgt PSN]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2345972

Check out the link - the White Sox GM goes off about what an idiot Frank Thomas (The Big Hurt) is.

Nice find.  Man, that is some crazy ish right there. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

Death to the both of youse.

[Geowhizzer]

Did my annual spring training jaunt this weekend.  It was a smaller loop than normal (furthest I got was Sarasota- about 90 miles from Naples), and unfortunately didn't get to the Phillies, as money was tight and I didn't have the extra for the hotel night I would need.

There's nothing like watching the spring training drills, getting a few autographs, talking baseball with lots of different people.  This year I was low-key on autographs, getting only 39 (before my son was born I'd net 150-200 per year).  Top autograph was Curt Schilling on a baseball.  JHowever, this year I just wanted to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, and didn't worry too much about getting things signed.

Highlights:

1.  By far the coolest thing was talking baseball with Johnny Pesky.  I had heard his interview regarding Curt Gowdy on XM radio while driving this morning to the Red Sox camp in Ft. Myers (about an hour away from my home), and we talked about that.  Then he told some Ted Williams stories and other stories about playing baseball in the World War II era.  He's one of the last of a dying breed, and I was honored to spend a few minutes with him.  He signed a ball for me as well, but that was secondary to the time he gave me, and everyone else that wanted to listen.  He'll turn 87 in September, and he's still coming down to spring training every year and helping out. Incredible man.

2.  I talked to two old guys from Ohio for about three hours at Reds camp yesterday.  It was a cloudy, chilly morning (for Florida standards), probably in the 50s, which kept the crowd extremely light.  Reds broadcaster Marty Brennemann came over and talked with us for about 20 minutes, talking about Reds players past and present.  Even though I am a Phils fan by heart, I know some of the history of the Big Red Machine and was able to take a small part in the conversation, but mainly I just listened. 

3.  There was a kid that was tagging along with his big brother, who was getting autographs.  For whatever the reason, the kid didn't have anything for himself.  I slipped him a baseball from my bag that I had brought in.  The look on his face was priceless.  I know that in the next few years I'll be relegated to sentry duty while my son starts his collection, and I took notice of all the parents that were performing that duty for their young children so that they could get a few rookies' signatures on a ball.  My son will be three by next spring training, and I may take him to the Twins spring training, which is much more low-key than any other that I've seen.

4.  Funny story:  A kid (I'd say 12, give or take a year) called Rod Carew, who was in the batting cages at the time, and asked for an autograph.  At the time, several players had stopped and signed there (best I got there was Rondell White), so the kid wasn't really being out of line.  Carew yells, "Can't you see that I am working.  I'm not signing anything!"  The kid said that there was only two people there, and Carew proceeds to use words that would clog this board's profanity filter, and he colorfully reiterated that he was not signing anything.

5.  Funniest T-Shirt that proves how neurotic Boston fans are:  On the front- "No Hair, No Beard, No Class."  On the back- "No Loyalty- Damon 18." 

6.  Nice Guy Award- Michael Cuddyer signs for everybody, an is just super nice to talk to.  He played minor league ball in Ft. Myers, and has made it his permanent home.  Torii Hunter is the same way.  I didn't get him this year, as he had to go in to rehab his knee, but he signed for a bunch before he had to go in (the trainer had actually called for him several times).  You can tell how much Hunter loves playing the game of baseball, and he is one of my favorite players of all time.

7.  What I learned about the teams:  Not much, as all they did was drills and batting practice.  Ron Gardenhire (Twins) was loose and joking, Jerry Narron (Reds) was all business, and Terry Francona (Red Sox) was low-key, as usual.

[MDS]

If you didnt farg with Francona for sucking here for 4 years, I'm revoking your Philly fan liscense.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Nice re-cap, Whiz.

You should've asked Tito where he car was parked so you could go remind him of Philly and slash his tires.

And I agree about Torii Hunter. Love him. Wish he was a Phillie.

[MDS]

And I agree about Torii Hunter. Love him. Wish he was a Phillie.

nice man crush you got there, buddy.

[Sgt PSN]

Torii Hunter is man crush worthy.  He gets a ton of props in the media but still has to be one of the most underrated players in the game. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

And I agree about Torii Hunter. Love him. Wish he was a Phillie.

nice man crush you got there, buddy.

My man crush on Hunter > your man crush on Don West

[MDS]

ha. don is the man. torrii makes amazing crashes then fargs over his team by crashing into walls and breaking his wrist. ill take don.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Hmmm.

Are you an Abreu hater who criticizes his defense and fear of walls?

[MDS]

No I love Bobby. I know he sucks defensivley.

[Geowhizzer]

Umm... I'm at a loss for words. 

[MDS]

I was told it was a Bob....