Take Me Out To The Ballgame...Spring Training

Thank God it is warm again today because going from 75 and sunny in Florida to 30 degrees here yesterday was a rough transition. That being said, I am still daydreaming about being in Florida and watching baseball. My perfect lazy afternoon would be spent at a baseball stadium and Spring Training is a great way to do that. As you may notice in my pictures, the parks are much more intimate than a normal stadium and the overall atmosphere is much more relaxed. One of my greatest memories of Spring Training was a couple of years ago, in seats similar to the ones we had in the picture below, and Nick Swisher interacting and joking with the fans (including myself) during the game. 

beer and baseball: a great combo

How else is Spring Training different? Well, the number of guys there is significantly higher than a roster, especially in the first couple of weeks. It is always exciting to see the non-roster invitees because they're the minor league players who are (hopefully) the future of the franchise, or at least trade material for other players. Yankees fans tend to be more invested in their farm system after the Core Four. Of course, ownership's approach to the farm system has changed over the years...but that's probably something that none of y'all care about.

Since there are so many players, sometimes combinations like this pop up and you just can't help but chuckle a bit...

I didn't take this, but it made me laugh

It is a great environment to watch baseball, even if you aren't a fan of the teams playing. Honestly, we were just happy to be wearing shorts for once! 

Beer and Baseball again! Loving that I'm in Lilly and Jacks and the
boys are in Chubbies and Sperrys...so typical for our family

Oh, and to see those players we've had a crush on since we were 5...

Or pictures with the now-retired number of one of your all-time favorites...

And to see famous people throw out the first pitch! Can you even tell that's Richard Gere? He was going seriously incognito in that outfit...

Getting to enjoy dinner and drinks outside was also a huge perk!

Frenchy's Iconic Grouper Sandwich...it's so good!

 Basically we were just happy to be there taking it all in!

Oh, and sometimes you fish on the same boat as a Yankees player, 5 minutes after he gets off! Gosh, I wish I had realized that is why I recognized the guy getting into the car next to us as we pulled up to the marina. 

we went fishing

If you get the chance to get to a game in Arizona or Florida, definitely do it! The parks are small so there really isn't a bad seat and it's so much fun to explore all the different parks and the towns they're located in! Even if you aren't a dedicated fan but an afternoon of having sun warming your skin at a ballpark sounds appealing, this is the place for you. Not everyone there is a diehard fan, though you will definitely find some...

What a dedicated fan! How many people do you think take a picture with that truck?

Well, it's back to reality for me, how did you spend your Spring Break?

xoxo,

SSP

P.S. Congrats to my Cavaliers on winning today!!!