posted on Friday, March 09, 2007 4:29 AM
by
Jim
LFT2: Fun at the old 'B' game
While I've never been to SoxFest, I'm pretty sure there's no way to get closer to the players than to attend a "B" game during Spring Training. And by close, I mean so close that Ryan Sweeney tells you who's starting, Ozzie Guillen and Kenny Williams set up folding chairs next to you and Jim Thome squeezes by you twice en route to a port-a-potty.
Matt and I hit a Rockies-Sox exhibition at a Hi Corbett practice field this morning, only to discover that the "B" game was played on a true practice field. There were no bleachers or seats of any kind outside of the dugouts, which were not fenced in. There was nothing between the players and the fans except for the understanding that the Sox were working.
Also, the field was one foot deeper to dead center (401 feet) than it was
down the lines (400), so it's really not meant for regulation play.
We were leaning up against the fence by home plate when Kenny came by with a chair and sat down. Ozzie wasn't far behind. They were no more than five feet away, and we'd assumed that we were somewhere we weren't supposed to be. We asked Ozzie whether we needed to move, and he said we were cool.
So I spent the next 2 1/2 hours watching the game next to Ozzie and Kenny, keeping score, taking pictures, and trying my best to be a fly on the wall. I did do a lot of laughing, because Ozzie really doesn't shut up. Some things overheard:
- After Alex Cintron dropped a second ball on the day, Ozzie said something loudly in Spanish, and the Latin players on both sides started laughing. Clint Hurdle told him, "Now, I can't say that." Ozzie asked him if he understood, and Hurdle said, "Yes, and I can't say that." Ozzie asked again, and Hurdle said, "I can't get away with calling that glove a piece of sh-t!" Laughter ensued.
- Ozzie repeatedly directing media types to non-existant beer.
- Ozzie saying "holy sh-t" a couple of times to himself when Sean Tracey hit the backstop, though more in amazement since Tracey was effectively wild that inning.
- Ozzie getting on Hurdle's case, calling him a baby when Hurdle disputed the ump's count, saying that the ump forgot a ball when a Rockie thought he walked. Hurdle got revenge when the player doubled on the next pitch.
- Ozzie pleading with the ump a couple times that a 450-foot shot over dead center was foul.
- Ozzie offering encouragement to Brian Anderson both at the plate and on the field after Anderson made a nice running catch.
- Kenny talking to Bruce Levine (pictured right) and saying that he's trying to be as political as possible when talking about contracts.
- Kenny saying that Anderson and Luis Terrero have an advantage over the rest of the field for an outfielder spot, presumably because of their right-handedness and ability to cover ground (it was shortly after Anderson's catch, I believe).
I did ask them who No. 92 was, since he was an outfielder I didn't recognize. Ozzie took a second, mumbled and then came up with the name "Pedro Jest." I didn't write it down, and Kenny followed up politely by saying, "It's a guy we brought up from the minors named Daron Roberts." Ozzie laughed.
Roberts played at the end of both the "B" game and the "A" game, but I'm not sure what that means since
he hasn't really done anything in the minors. I will be calling him "Pedro" if he manages to make the big leagues at any point.
Other observations:
- Whatever "veteran presence" is, Eduardo Perez has. He was arguably the most vocal and supportive player out there today.
- Thome turned down a couple autograph requests from adults during the game, or at least said he would get to them later. He did, however, sign one in-game for a little girl.
- That little girl had a heck of a day -- she also had a picture taken of her on Ozzie's lap.
- Anderson looked a lot better at the plate, and he was facing major-league pitchers (Aaron Cook and LaTroy Hawkins, to name two).
- Charlie Haeger had a hard time finding the strike zone, and I'd be surprised if he were anywhere else but Charlotte at the start of the season.