What a morning it has been so far in Florida! After breakfast at Peach’s–I highly recommend the sausage, egg, and cheese croissant with fruit as a side–we found what might be the best park in which we’ve ever played. Located in Central Park just west of I-75 on SR-64, we came across the Manatee Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth Baseball Complex. After taking a walk of approximately 1.5 miles around the lake, we donned our uniforms and broke out the ball bucket. Al was rattling the fences pretty good (no dimensions will be given) and I was rattling the backstop pretty good as well with fouls. Gotta keep my head on the ball!
Al tosses one homeward.
The groundskeeper came over to cut the grass on our field–that’s right, they were cutting the grass on March 5, BWA HA HA HA HA!!! I’ve seen Facebook photos today of friends’ backyards full of snow, and captions about how beautiful it is. It’s not beautiful. Shagging fly balls under the crystal blue Florida sun on a carpet of fresh cut grass, when other people have snow in their backyards, THAT’S BEAUTIFUL!!! . . . Sorry, I digress. While “our” field was being cut, we moved to another field to take grounders. The actual infield consisted of about an inch of fine red clay on top of 12 feet of Portland cement. Well, maybe it was just baked and packed clay under the fine stuff, but the ball took off like it was cement and if you dropped the bat, it sounded like cement. In any case, the ball acted like a kangaroo on speed; I haven’t slowed down that much from 54 to 55.
Al with his "Man of Leisure" Model Louisville Slugger.
Tonight we head out to Ed Smith Stadium to take in the Orioles against the Pirates. We’ll bring you that experience tomorrow at about this time because it will be too late to blog by the time we get back tonight, and we’re heading out to Central Park again for more practice in the morning.
Austin Gisriel 
I hate you guys!! Hope to see you on the t.v. in an hour looks like you have had a good day so far
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It was a great day–until the Orioles took the field.
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Austin,
Baseball purists as you guys are, you have to visit Miller Huggins Park in St. Pete. It is the Spring training site for the NY Yankees back in the 20’s. Man, you can feel the atmosphere, and the greatness of those that played there…as much as any stadium you will ever visit. There probably will be some college games going on this time of year with traveling teams. All the small wood frame homes, that the players and their families stayed in are just behind the facility, and the lake and other surroundings are also unique and historical. Also, it is my understanding that the field dimentions are the same as back then – with the RF fence being some 530 feet away. Rumor has it that the Babe used to hit them into the lake. Now, that is a poke… You can google it and find out where it is. It will be worth your time… Pres
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Sounds very interesting, but it doesn’t look as if we’ll make it there–this year.
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Austin & Al,
The shirts are great, but I thought the idea of you guys going to spring training was to turn things around for them ! Austin, I still think you could play “the hot corner” even at the age of 55 ! Al could definitely be the DH with at least 25 or 30 homers, however, as for me at the soon to be age of 62, maybe I could carry your equipment, providing it’s not heavier than 10lbs ! Continue to have a great time guys, and thanks for making baseball fun for me again !
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We improved the team today! Thanks for the kind words, Don. I’m so glad that you’re having fun along with us. Believe me, we’re doing our best to have fun for everyone!
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HI Austin
Cutting the grass in March sounds nice, and I agree it is. The problem is you have cut grass through November! It gets old around August, lol.
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Very true!
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