Our Easter Outfits?

The Hulk and a pirate in their Easter best!

At bat at Albert Field

I ended up not missing the 2nd game of the season while on my spring training trip. It was postponed due to weather conditions.

This picture was from the Lady Bugs versus Surfer Girls on Saturday, March 15th.

Baseball America: Top 100 Prospects

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2008/265655.html

Spring Training Rankings

On the trip home, Jamie and I decided to rank the stadiums in 3 categories, 1) spring training experience (proximity to players, autographs, nostalgia), 2) best ballparks (look and feel of ballpark, concessions, souveniers) and 3) major league prospects. We then combined the rankings to determine the overall best spring training team visited during the trip (lowest score being the best). Here are the rankings.

Spring Training Experience
1. Los Angeles Dodgers, Holman Stadium (Dodgertown), Vero Beach
2. Cleveland Indians, Chain of Lakes Park, Winter Haven
3. Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton
T4. Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater
T4. Toronto Blue Jays, Knology Park, Dunedin
6. Tampa Bay Rays, Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburgh
7. New York Yankees, Legends Field, Tampa
8. Florida Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter

Ballpark
1. Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater
2. Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton
3. New York Yankees, Legends Field, Tampa
4. Florida Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
T5. Toronto Blue Jays, Knology Park, Dunedin
T5. Tampa Bay Rays, Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburgh
7. Los Angeles Dodgers, Holman Stadium (Dodgertown), Vero Beach
8. Cleveland Indians, Chain of Lakes Park, Winter Haven

Major League Prospects
1. Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton
2. New York Yankees, Legends Field, Tampa
3. Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater
4. Toronto Blue Jays, Knology Park, Dunedin
5. Los Angeles Dodgers, Holman Stadium (Dodgertown), Vero Beach
6. Cleveland Indians, Chain of Lakes Park, Winter Haven
7. Florida Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
8. Tampa Bay Rays, Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburgh

Overall Combined Rankings
1. Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton
2. Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater
3. New York Yankees, Legends Field, Tampa
4. Los Angeles Dodgers, Holman Stadium (Dodgertown), Vero Beach
5. Toronto Blue Jays, Knology Park, Dunedin
6. Cleveland Indians, Chain of Lakes Park, Winter Haven
7. Florida Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
8. Tampa Bay Rays, Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburgh

The end of the road...

At 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 8th the 2008 Spring Training expedition concluded.

1123 miles later (very close to my estimated guess of 1100 prior to the trip) we safely returned to Jacksonville. We had a great time, saw some neat parks and look forward to another spring training experience down the road.

I will be posting our rankings of the parks in 3 categories in a day or so...we had to have something to do on the trip home. The parks will be rated by the spring training experience (access to players, practice, autographs and atmosphere), best ballparks and major league prospects.

Until then, don't forget to move your clocks forward tonight.

On the road heading home...

Jamie's New Discovery...

...He had the coffee a few times and added a donut the last time after the Tigers/Blue Jays game.

And that's a wrap...

8 baseball games minus 1 rain out, 1 hockey game and 1 week later and it is done.

Blue Jays score 1 run in the 8th to beat the Tigers 4 - 3 on a bright sunny, windy and chilly day

Now to figure out the best way from Dunedin to I-275 for the trek home.

Oh yeah, we have to find a Dunkin Donuts.

Top of the 9th

Home team is winning so this could be the last three outs of the trip. Boys of Summer is playing on the PA.

Today's attendance

Announced as 5510...a sellout. Top of the 7th with the score tied 3 - 3. We are now shaded by the roof so it now feels much cooler.
2:53 pm