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WaxPax
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So much for making plans and sticking to them. Our plan for today was to get to Sarasota @ 10am to see the Oriloes, then a quick stop at Sports Authority to get my kids some new gear for their Baseball season which starts next week, finally a 2pm appointment with my Tax Preparrer. So, as we pull up to the parking lot enterance at 9:45am, there is a sign that says "There will be an Afternoon Practice at Noon". Well I had planned to stay until about noon, so we had to move things around a bit, but it all worked out and we made in time for the noon Practice.
Now, I have been going to Ed Smith for the past 6 years, and I keep forgetting how bad it is for Spring Training (relative to others I've been to), especially for picture opportunities. They made some changes, but it basically corrals fans into an area in the middle of the 4 fields, with bleachers facing each field. There is a short fence which encloses this "Corral" and keeps you pretty far away from 2 of the main fields (For today these were the fields the position players were on). While I managed some good pictures of the pitchers working out, I go nowhere near the other fields which is really what I planned to see.
My kids were getting a little frustrated by being so far away they opted for leaving, but we decided to stick around for BP. Glad we did, cause the wind was blowing out to LF on the field that borders the parking lot. Apparently Mark Reynolds was crushing the ball into the parking lot yesterday according to a few people who we spoke to, and while I'm not sure he was hitting on the field were planted ourselves beyond (Green tarp hung on the OF fenses prevents you from seeing who is hitting) Vlad was taking hacks there. In the end My sons and I ended up with 10 HR balls (1 is missing from the picture as it is outside drying after in landed into a retention pond beyond the center field wall) as you see in the last picture.
So 3 clubs in 3 days (Pirates-Rays-O's), Lots of auto's yesterday, and lots of BP balls today. You never know what each day will bring but it was a great weekend for the 3 of us (too bad mom had to work all 3 days....LOL)...It was fun, and we hope to hit a few more camps in a couple of weeks when the kids have spring break. Most likely going to the east coast to see the Mets, Nats, Cards and maybe Braves or Astros around the disney area......Enjoy the pictures
Now, I have been going to Ed Smith for the past 6 years, and I keep forgetting how bad it is for Spring Training (relative to others I've been to), especially for picture opportunities. They made some changes, but it basically corrals fans into an area in the middle of the 4 fields, with bleachers facing each field. There is a short fence which encloses this "Corral" and keeps you pretty far away from 2 of the main fields (For today these were the fields the position players were on). While I managed some good pictures of the pitchers working out, I go nowhere near the other fields which is really what I planned to see.
My kids were getting a little frustrated by being so far away they opted for leaving, but we decided to stick around for BP. Glad we did, cause the wind was blowing out to LF on the field that borders the parking lot. Apparently Mark Reynolds was crushing the ball into the parking lot yesterday according to a few people who we spoke to, and while I'm not sure he was hitting on the field were planted ourselves beyond (Green tarp hung on the OF fenses prevents you from seeing who is hitting) Vlad was taking hacks there. In the end My sons and I ended up with 10 HR balls (1 is missing from the picture as it is outside drying after in landed into a retention pond beyond the center field wall) as you see in the last picture.
So 3 clubs in 3 days (Pirates-Rays-O's), Lots of auto's yesterday, and lots of BP balls today. You never know what each day will bring but it was a great weekend for the 3 of us (too bad mom had to work all 3 days....LOL)...It was fun, and we hope to hit a few more camps in a couple of weeks when the kids have spring break. Most likely going to the east coast to see the Mets, Nats, Cards and maybe Braves or Astros around the disney area......Enjoy the pictures
