Hey baseball fans! Sorry I didn’t write last week but Joe and I were in the Sunshine State for our sixth annual Spring Training trip. Our goal is to see all of the parks. With the three this time around, that gives us a baker’s dozen so far (2002 Giants, 2003 Brewers, Mariners/Padres, Royals/Rangers, 2004 Braves, Mets, Dodgers, 2005 Nationals, 2006 Orioles, Cards/Marlins, 2007 Phillies, Reds, Blue Jays).
We rate this one to Tampa/St Pete as one of our best, getting perfect weather and enjoying the nice feeling that other Bay Area gave us. The local sports scene was hopping with the PGA Tour and the ACC conducting tournaments in the area.
On Wednesday, our first day, we drove across the bay to Clearwater for the Blue Jays-Phillies game at Bright House Networks Field. The beach there is one of the best I have ever seen. Temperature in the mid 70s, not a spit of wind, the smooth Gulf waters - the calmness there is, well, calming!
After the beach, we took in the local Panera. Eating at a Panera has become a tradition for us. It started in 2005 after I read Barry Svurlga's columns in the Washington Post. He kept mentioning the Panera in Viera as one of the better places to eat and hangout.
The trick with Panera is to avoid the long lines. We got there well before lunch and had no problems, although the mid-morning snack crowd created a long line briefly. This particular Panera looked understaffed and didn't react to the rush of customers. I've worked retail and know the challenge. Turnover isn't something they bake, it's a way of life with cashiers. The stores don't pay them enough for all the hard work they do.
The game was a good one. Philly fans have their nice five year old ballpark and predictions by at least one magazine that THIS is the year the division bell rings in Philadelphia. Everybody is full of hope including non-roster invitee Brennan King. He crushed a bottom of the ninth walkoff homer and was mobbed at the plate by his teammates.
On Thursday, we drove down to Sarasota to see the Reds take on the visiting Tigers. At 15 years old, Ed Smith Stadium is still serviceable. But it’s a fossil if you’re an owner looking to keep up with the Jones’s. The rumor is the Reds will get a new stadium right around the same area. It will surely be popular, as Sarasota supports the Reds with good attendance.
Friday took us to the sleepy town of Dunedin (“Done-uh-din”), located north of Clearwater. You don’t need a lot of land for a Spring Training park and this neighborhood locale demonstrates how a ballpark can fit in nicely. A bonus is the eating establishments nearby. From what we have seen, a lot of the parks don’t have a place to eat within walking distance. If you’re lucky the food is more than just fast. We hit the jackpot with a pleasant cafe adjacent to the parking lot. The homemade chili was delicious and reasonably priced, the service person friendly and helpful and we sat outside under a tree. We soaked that one up as the rare experience.
The Blue Jays hosted the Astros. As we watched Houston take batting practice, I struck up a conversation with an older man sitting by himself behind home plate. This is another fun aspect of spring training. I love to hear fans talk, especially the veterans, about their teams and experiences. This one had driven from Alabama. He grew up in New York City and pulled for the Dodgers in the late 40s and 50s. He lived closer to Ebbets Field but couldn’t get tickets as they usually were harder to come by. So instead he went to games at the Polo Grounds. I asked him where he was on October 3, 1951. Uh? Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard Round the World. Oh yes, he said. He was very sad for weeks afterword.
Our seats were the best we’ve ever had, second row behind the Jays dugout. Toronto played all their projected starters, including the Fab Five of Lyle Overbay, Troy Glaus, Vernon Wells, Frank Thomas and Alexis Rios.
As much as we enjoyed this trip, it was marred by an unfortunate incident that took place before the game on Friday. I hesitate to say anything, not wanting to get anyone in trouble. But the more I think about it, the more I want to tell what happened.
Joe and I were talking to two senior citizen gentleman before the game. Our conversation turned to Candlestick. One of them mentioned he was stationed at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in the 50s. He said he enjoyed it there "except for the nigg---."
I was stunned. Did he think just because I was white and spoke in a southern accent that I wouldn’t say anything?? Well I did. I immediately scolded him, something I haven't done in a long, long time. I forget my exact words but I told him him that he should not say that word and he shouldn’t assume people wouldn’t say anything. We excused ourselves and left.
I don’t want to sound holier than thou but that incident still upsets me. I imagine the n word is still used in certain circles but it’s sad to know that 60 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, someone still has the nerve to say that word in the manner that this man did.
Other than that, Tampa treated us right. Florida gets joked about now and then. But it’s a very diverse state and we had a good time once again. We’ll be back, but not before we return to that other sunshine state next March to see the boys of spring.
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