I’m pretty sure no one has ever come back from surgery on both heels at the same time (well a couple of months apart), but what about just one heel? Any precedent in MLB? Because it is believed that his problems with his legs were caused by the problems in his heels. In any case not counting on him this year, but he is looking good in the clips I have seen.
You’d think by now the novelty would have worn off. I’d think his teammates would be angry that’s he’s taking playing time and a minor league slot away from legitimate players.
Been really enjoying the Spring games. Folks auditioning for a leap into the big leagues.
You folks get out. More than I. Seeing Spring training games have always been on my bucket list. And I am sure some of you have been there. What is it like? Being up close and personal with the games stars? Ballpark food any good?
I’ve been to spring training in both AZ and FL. Probably won’t be going again anytime soon. It used to be cheap and fun, it’s expensive as fuck now with prices almost at MLB level.
Arizona used to be good since the ballparks were relatively close, now they’re scattered into far off suburbs.
But, in the good old days, I found myself taking a leak right next to Tommy Lasorda. And I stood next to Sparky Anderson as he smoked a Winston and we got to talk for a half inning.
I just got back from spring training in Arizona on Saturday. I made it out to 4 games in 4 parks. The experience varies wildly. My parents got there a day early, and headed to the Royals game early to try to catch batting practice. They didn’t see much, but did get to chat a little with Rex Hudler, the color commentator for the local TV broadcasts, who they love.
As for ticket prices, do NOT purchase tickets from the stadium unless you’re getting a high-demand game (like the Dodgers-Giants game). A Royals-Rockies 1:00pm game on a Thursday set me back $14 on StubHub 10 minutes before first pitch, and I was 5 rows behind the catcher. But the Dodgers-Giants game was $35/ticket. It all completely depends. The Friday afternoon game was pretty full, and I imagine weekend tickets aren’t at much of a discount. There are very few bad seats in any of the stadiums. Both Camelback (Dodgers/White Sox facility) and Salt River Fields (Diamondbacks/Rockies facility) are top-notch stadiums, and I recommend visiting them. I didn’t get to go to the Reds/Indians, Cubs, Brewers, As, or Angels stadiums.
But it was a lot of fun, and I recommend it. If there’s a team you follow, go there - batting practice is open in the morning, and it’s cool being in the area. We didn’t get to see many stars (to be fair, the Royals don’t HAVE many stars these days), but I recognized a number of minor league names that should be moving through the system soon. My uncle went to the Dodgers practice a couple times, and managed to hawk some balls and see some of their stars (which they have in spades).
The gameplay is also a mixed bag. Every team is required to have at least 4 regular season players on the lineup card, but that quickly changes by the 4th inning.
MLB just announced that they are delaying Opening Day by at least two weeks.
I was expecting something like this. Buys them time to keep evaluating the situation. It was either delay or play at empty stadiums. The NBA’s incident with a player getting the Coronavirus probably convinced them to not play.
How do they stay ready for the season though? Extended Spring Training doesn’t really reduce the risk to players vs. playing the games at empty stadiums.
Evidently no organized Spring Training, either.
Huh, this doesn’t seem to make a ton of sense. Its not like players are that close together unless we’re talking about the first baseman with a runner on first. and even then they are outside in the sun so it’s about a safe as any two people could be. The dugout is obviously worse but it seems like that is still manageable.
Either way this is going to be a weird season.
Locker rooms (especially in spring training facilities with lots of additional players who won’t be on the Major League roster on Opening Day), showers, contact with athletic trainers and masseurs, etc.
Right but the spring training facilities and extra players could both be solved by ending spring training and have nothing to do with delaying the season. Contact with trainers and masseurs has more to do with team policies. They could certainly institute the same policies that healthcare providers are using to prevent the spread of disease and honestly they could probably do more then your local hospital.
If anything more people are going to be infected in the next month and things will get worse. I get not having fans but at this point they are more likely to cancel the season in a month then say sure its ok to get the players back together.
The key word being ‘thread.’ 
The rest of MLB spring training has been canceled and the start of regular season has been delayed by at least two weeks.
The fans are sure close together though. And the locker room is a great way to share germs.
Perhaps more importantly, holding games encouraged travel. Fans fly to spring training games and regular season games. Cancelling games is good for social distancing. This was a smart, safe move, and it would look bad for MLB to stubbornly push ahead when pretty much every other sport is willing to take a financial hit for public safety.
I love baseball more than I can possibly explain. It is literally the most enjoyable thing in my life after my family. But this delay doesn’t bother me at all, not even a little bit, on a personal level. (It is a shame that some working class people will lose paychecks, that sucks.) I am one hundred percent okay with Opening Day being delayed for the sake of slowing down COVID-19. Hell, start up on May 1. Play a 130-game season.
Just to be clear I get not having fans at the games and I think that makes a ton of sense. I just see a difference between two guys battling for a rebound and breathing on each other and a batter and catcher standing several feet away in bright sunlight.
Team travel does bring up an interesting point because even in the most luxurious of private jets they are close and confined so I could see it spreading through a team more likely than between teams.
Slightly related I’m surprised movies are delaying their opening rather than going straight to streaming release it seems like they could catch a large segment of the market stuck in their house with nothing to do.
**So for opening day and beyond while we await the season, a list of movies to tide of over? **
Bull Durham
Eight Men Out
Field of Dreams
A League of their Own
Major League
Pride of the Yankees
Bad News Bears (original)
Sand Lot
The Natural
42
61*
Mr. 3000 (OK, not that great but following the number theme)
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
Damn Yankees
The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg
**As you get more desperate: **
Both Angels in the Outfield.
Take me Out to the Ball Game (Gene Kelly & Sinatra)
It Happens Every Spring
Fear Strikes Out
Bang the Drum Slowly
Summer Catch
Cobb
The Babe
The Babe Ruth Story
Everyone’s Hero
The Slugger’s Wife
The Scout
Any other Bad News Bears but the original, none were really good while the original was great.
The Winning Team See Ronald Reagan as Grover Cleveland Alexander, or don’t, it really isn’t a good movie.
For now, the speech from Field of Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SB16il97yw
Also Babe Ruth on Baseball in his farewell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2919&v=CGThVd9sInU
Mr. Baseball - Selleck’s character is basically Joe Pepitone until he assimilates into the culture.
Major League sequels.
I never realized Pepitone was the inspiration for Mr. Baseball. Honestly, I’m a little young for Pep and know him from Old Timers games and bringing a hair dryer or something into the locker room in his playing days. So many great Yankees, Pep largely remains a minor footnote to me. I know more about Frank Crosetti.
The Major League sequels are worthy additions to the second tier movies. Thanks.
I’ve read a bit about Pep in Japan; Jack Elliot’s initial behavior captures his mentality perfectly, right down to forgetting to duck when going through doorways.
Bang the Drum Slowly is a great movie. I guess you could say it’s not a great “baseball” movie, but it’s one of my favorite movies. If you haven’t seen it, seek it out!