CENTER FIELD :: Random Spring Training Photo(s) of the Day

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Random Spring Training Photo(s) of the Day

Because it is the God-given right of folks down on the sunny beaches of Florida to brag about the view and the weather, here is the view of Clearwater Beach I'm looking out at as I sit on the balcony of my hotel room writing this post:

Today was my first off-day -- no game! -- so I have time to give you not one, not two, but three random spring training photos.

First up, RyHo - grinning at me for the picture.

And demonstrating his cool ball trick.

Pirates bullpen: Bad bullpen or The Worst bullpen? McKechnie Field in Bradenton is actually fairly new - did no one think to include a bullpen-type area in the plans? They just have the pitchers sitting in little folding stools out on the outfield wall in RF and LF. Then when a ball is hit that way (which happens about once an inning), all the pitchers pick up their stools and go running.

And just so those of you back up North in the cold environs feel a tad better - it is torture to be down here and not get to see any of the games on TV. We get all our updates at night on the sportsticker on ESPN in the bars. That's no way to live.

Comments (9)

[ Liza ] says:
on March 11, 2008 4:38 PM

Excuse me while I go try and convince myself that it's a bad idea to pick up and go to Florida right now. (That beach! That Howard! That ball trick! The ST games!)

[ jenny again ] says:
on March 11, 2008 4:39 PM

OH
MY
GOD

bullpen-ptichers-on-stools has me DYING i'm laughing so hard. that must be epic to watch.

who needs a stinkin' bullpen ... ? ;D

[ Twinkie ] says:
on March 11, 2008 5:43 PM

Wow, the Pirates really do fail at everything, don't they?

[ Casey ] says:
on March 11, 2008 6:21 PM

If I try hard enough, the view from my window (snowbanks and barren trees) is the same as yours...NOT!!!!!!!!!!

[ Liza ] says:
on March 11, 2008 6:58 PM

I sort of forget the Pirates exist sometimes. "Wait, you mean--Pittsburgh has a baseball team!? Ohh. Right. Them."

Who votes the Pirates move to Boston so we can finally have a NL team as well? Pennsylvania already has the Phillies... (please don't eat me)

[ Rachel O ] says:
on March 11, 2008 9:31 PM

Hope you're having fun TG, I imagine it's a blast! That bullpen (or lack there of) picture is great--you'd imagine that with all the extra players around during ST it'd be extra important to have a place to put them all that isn't directly in the line of fire but I guess not.
Are you going to any more Indians games? I know y'all probably despise me for even asking this, but if you, uh, happen to see a particular centerfielder they have over there, would you mind snapping a picture? It'd totally make my day--no month!!
Have fun! All those games in the sun...that's my kind of week!

[ Twinkie ] says:
on March 12, 2008 11:58 AM

Liza, we can't have a team called the Pirates in town; the entire bullpen would mutiny and play there.

[ Liza ] says:
on March 12, 2008 4:01 PM

Twinkie: Oh, of course! They could change their name... "Lobstermen"? That'd be fittingly cliche-Boston, and a little bit like pirates?

[ Twinkie ] says:
on March 12, 2008 5:00 PM

That could work. But would the mascot be a fisherman or a giant dancing lobster?

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