CENTER FIELD :: Gone To Florida

« Yes! We Have No Bananas | Main | I Blame Myself »

Gone To Florida

If you're looking for me over the next 11 days, this is where I'll be:

Clearwater, Florida - here I come!

Never fear, I'll be checking in to post regularly-- in between the 9 baseball games. And the beach. And the bars. I'm already dreading coming back... and I haven't even left!

While I'm gone, I'll plan to continue posting open game threads for the televised spring training games. And I'll count on y'all to leave me notes about funny things that happen during the game that you'd like to get video of when I return.

Comments (25)

[ Piney61 ] says:
on March 7, 2008 2:48 PM

Have fun!

[ jules ] says:
on March 7, 2008 2:48 PM

I'm sooooooooooooooooooo jealous!

Have a margarita for me ;-)

[ starr4 ] says:
on March 7, 2008 3:18 PM

Enjoy!!!

Wear sun block (and a hat) while inbibing those tequilas. It makes the fun in the sun less dangerous that way. :)

[ Meg ] says:
on March 7, 2008 3:57 PM

Have a great time! Clearwater is awesome:-D

[ Mike ] says:
on March 7, 2008 4:41 PM

Enjoy and have fun! :D

[ mouse ] says:
on March 7, 2008 5:05 PM

I can't tell you how badly I want to get away from all this ice and snow and be someplace warm and sunny. Not to mention the bonus of baseball.

Have fun, you lucky stiff! [grumbles jealously]

[ Liza ] says:
on March 7, 2008 5:27 PM

Have a great time! Tell us about the games! (NINE? I'm jealous.)

[ Cassidy ] says:
on March 7, 2008 5:34 PM

Heyy. You should add more articles and stuff about Jacoby Ellsbury!! He is my idol, and all time favorite baseball playerrr!!!

[ jenny again ] says:
on March 7, 2008 6:16 PM

MISS YOU ALREADY! ;D ;D ;D

have so much fun! travel safely!

[ Red Sox Monster ] says:
on March 7, 2008 6:20 PM

You lucky, lucky dog. Have fun!

[ fc ] says:
on March 7, 2008 6:24 PM

Questions: Will there be an open game thread for the Sun. 3/9 game during the game (1:00) or during the NESN telecast (8:00)?
And if the latter, can we trust CF posters to refrain from spoilers?
Advice: Enjoy the hell out of your trip.
Jealousy: Wish I was there too.
P.S. Hope someone's taking in your snailmail while you're away. ;)

[ MG ] says:
on March 7, 2008 7:11 PM

OMG I AM SO JEALOUS. we should have gone this year. or i should have gone this year if the other half didn't want to go. have an amazing time!!!

[ Bethie ] says:
on March 8, 2008 10:23 AM

I'm totally stoked for you. Wish we could all go with you, but I hope you have a ball!! We will be waiting for your full report on all the games!

[ DIonysus ] says:
on March 8, 2008 12:27 PM

Ok. Panicking now. *eyes Josh nervously*

[ shark ] says:
on March 8, 2008 12:49 PM

What happened to Beckett today?

[ starr4 ] says:
on March 8, 2008 1:00 PM

Globe and Projo are reporting it's back spasms resulting from a follow-through on a warm-up pitch. Apparently, he landed funny. I am sure we'll hear more as the afternoon goes on.

[ Catie ] says:
on March 8, 2008 1:25 PM

Looks like you're bringing some of that weather with you! It was in the high 80s this week and tomorrow it'll be in the 40s

[ shark ] says:
on March 8, 2008 1:40 PM

Oh boy....

[ Jennifer ] says:
on March 8, 2008 5:30 PM

Have fun!
Beckett is making me nervous!

[ Liza ] says:
on March 8, 2008 6:53 PM

Apparently, it only was a muscle spasm. However, the team is saying he'll be tested more tomorrow... let's hope he's not really hurt!

[ shark ] says:
on March 8, 2008 7:07 PM

Why would wearing cleats but strain on one's back? Is it something with the balance?

[ Lex ] says:
on March 8, 2008 7:31 PM

9 games?? Thats crazy! Wish I was doing that. It sucks that the weather isn't good this weekend, it's so cold. But probably warm for northerners.

[ Liza ] says:
on March 8, 2008 8:17 PM

Shark, his cleat slipped on a patch of dirt and he lost his footing, lost his balance, and strained his back.

Here's one of his pitches while he was hurt, the meeting around the mound, him walking off the field with Tek, a close-up of the last one, and him walking into the dugout.

The first one is an AP photo and the others are from the Globe. (I hope the site's auto comment moderation allows me to link to this many pictures...)

[ Meg ] says:
on March 8, 2008 8:39 PM

He should be fine...probably miss a start or two as a precaution to prevent him from altering his mechanics due to the back discomfort, since that could cause him to inadvertantly mess up his arm or shoulder.

For what it's worth, one site I found said he missed three weeks in 2001 due to back spasms, but I couldn't find anything more specific about it.

[ shark ] says:
on March 8, 2008 8:39 PM

I read that Tito has them take off their cleats when they aren't running drills so as to avoid back strain.
I'm curious as to why cleats would cause back strain.
Thanks, Liza...I did see that Josh slipped. Wish I was there to catch him!

online