SPRING TRAINING GAME PIRATES V. YANKEES

WE HEADED OUT TO THE BALL PARK TO SEE OUR FIRST SPRING TRAINING GAME.  THE OPPONENT WAS THE YANKEES.  THE GAME WAS SOLD OUT SO WE GRABBED A FEW FROM  A SCALPER. A GREAT AFTERNOON FOR ONLY $17!!  THE STADIUM SEATS ABOUT 6000 AND EVERY SEAT WAS CLOSE TO THE FIELD.  WE DID NOT GET THERE FOR AUTOGRAPHS AND BATTING PRACTICE AS WE HAD BEEN AT BOWLING – WE BOTH HAD A GOOD MORNING AT THE LANES.  WITH DEBBIE SCORING THE HIGH SCRATCH SERIES FOR THE LEAGUE FOR THE SEASON!!  I HAD A PERSONAL BEST SERIES AS WELL.

WEATHER WAS 80′ AND SUNNY WITH A VERY PLEASANT BREEZE.  THE STARTING PITCHER FOR THE YANKS WAS CC SABATHIA- HE IS A BIG GUY. AFTER HE PITCHED HIS 2 INNINGS HE JOGGED LAPS ON THE WARNING TRACK.   THE YANKEES WERE NOT SPECTACULAR TODAY BUT IT WAS FUN TO SEE THE PLAYERS IN PERSON THAT WE SEE IN THE POST SEASON SO OFTEN.

THERE WAS NO BIG SCREEN, NOT TOO MUCH ANNOUNCING AND NOT TOO MUCH HOOPLA BETWEEN INNINGS- JUST A RELAXING AFTERNOON AT THE PARK.
ONE FOUL CAME PRETTY CLOSE AND I DUCKED UNDER THE SEAT- I AM NOT CRAZY ABOUT THINGS COMING FAST TOWARD MY HEAD AFTER THE LITTLE SCUFFLE WITH THE DOG AND MY FACE- SOMEONE ELSE CAN CATCH THAT SOUVENIR !!

WELL THE HIGHLIGHT WAS WATCHING A- ROD UP CLOSE.  OUR SEATS WERE NEXT TO THIRD AND HE WAS THERE WITH JETER NEXT DOOR.  I AM A SUCKER FOR CELEBRITIES.  DID YOU KNOW A ROD’S  SALARY PAYS HIM $44,000 PER AT BAT ?  WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED HIM TO TAKE US OUT FOR AN EARLY BIRD DINNER.
WELL HE STRUCK OUT TWICE AND ALL THE STARTERS WENT TO THE CLUBHOUSE AFTER 4 INNINGS.  THE SUBS PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT AND LOOKED CRISP. NEXT WEEK I WILL TRY TO CATCH THE RED SOX AND MAYBE GET AN AUTOGRAPH !!

WHAT A HOOT TO DRIVE 5 MIN, PAY A LITTLE FOR A TICKET, SIT REALLY CLOSE AND BE HOME IN  5 MIN AND SEE SOME MLB.   TOO BAD OUR CUBS AND SOX ARE ALL THE WAY IN ARIZONA.  THIS WAS GREAT FUN.