We’re on our last road trip, finishing up the last week of the season. Spring Training plus 140 game schedule is a grind, but when the end comes, it seems like the season went by very fast.

Plans are up in the air for the off-season – winter ball, lessons, clinics, travel…lots of possibilities.

This is our last day in Sarasota, which has been the Spring Training home of the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are moving out to Arizona next year, and I’ve heard a couple of things about what might happen with this complex, but I’m not sure. Here are some shots of Ed Smith stadium:

More shots from the stadium and a museum side trip below…

Read more…

B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, James Shields, Carl Crawford

Port Charlotte is spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays, and summer home of the Charlotte Stone Crabs, which is Tampa’s Florida State League affiliate.  This is definitely one of the best places to play (or watch) a game in the league, with Clearwater being my favorite place in the north division.

Read more…

We just finished up a Sunday day game on a hot day in Ft. Myers.  We really struggled here last time so it was nice to play well.  A couple other nice things on top of that: 1.) I get to see my old college teammate, Pat Neshek, who is rehabbing here and 2.) they have my favorite snack in the clubhouse.

legendary sidearmer, Pat Neshek

We’re in the second have of our season in the Florida State League, 80-something games into 140 scheduled overall.   Just finished our 2nd game of a 3 game series w/ the St. Lucie Mets.  It was Michael Jackson tribute night at the park, and as I took out our lineup card before the game I was given a replica white-rhinestone glove that everyone had on during the pre-game meeting.  They took a picture for milb.com so maybe I can track that down in the future.

*update – here’s that photo:

not-so-rhinestone gloves

Here are some pics of the ballpark – Tradition Field, spring training home of the Mets:  Read more…