2010 Cactus League trip recap special #6

Chone Figgins and Ichiro look to gel during spring training and form a top of the lineup duo, to ignite the Seattle Mariners - on paper, the Seattle Mariners look to be at the top of the American League West. However, I don't think they are a finished product and wouldn't be surprised if they took a step back, before they can take a step forward. 

Can the starting pitching hold up after Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee - will the offense be able to score enough runs? Will Milton Bradley put together a relatively healthy and productive season? 

Ichiro is some kind of freak, but does his 'homeboy,' Ken Griffey Jr. have one more season - where his bat speed resembles something more of what fans saw in the late 1990s or even when healthy in the 2000s.

In putting together a revamped Mariners team, GM Jack Zduriencik has had a cult-like following among mainstream baseball pundits and statheads alike - but is Zduriencik's 2010 Mariners good enough to compete against the Angels?

I'm an Angels fan and it is going to be exciting to see how the two squads battle it out in 2010 - since they should be the top teams to battle for the division title.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #5

This post is about several pictures I took at a Chicago Cubs / Arizona Diamondbacks spring training game - including a banner advertising an event held by baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, who has a table set-up at HoHoKam Park [with some other retired players making appearances like Lee Smith, Bob Dernier, HOF Rollie Fingers, etc] to sell autographed items and to sign autographs as well [for a small fee]. 

An unknown Cubs player heading to the locker room after pre-game BP signing autographs for fans - access to get autographs from Manager Lou Piniella and the better players [think Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, maybe Derrek Lee] on the Cubs is often times hit-and-miss, because of the reluctance of those high-paid players to show appreciation for the team's strong fanbase. 

Among established veteran players - be happy if Ted Lilly and Carlos Silva relent to sign an autograph. Ryan Dempster is typically pretty good about signing too.

Here is a banner with a Web site address to support an initiative to add surcharge on spring training tickets sold - so the Chicago Cubs can get a new ballpark in Arizona.

Shortstop Starlin Castro, the crown jewel of the Chicago Cubs' farm system finishes his day on the field, running in-between innings - I'm pretty sure it is him.

Chicago Cubs pregame warm-up before the game - maybe unlike other Cactus League ballparks, there are people everywhere at HoHoKam and while it isn't like the real deal back at Wrigley Field in Chicago, going to a Cubs game in spring training is kind of an event in itself.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #4

Brett Anderson throws in a side session during an Oakland Athletics workout at their facility at Papago Park - so far he pretty much signs anything put in his face.

The Angels will always be my team but visiting the Oakland Athletics camp once or twice in spring training - seems like a spring training 'must-go' destination in order to get handfuls of autographs, even though their 'stars' may pale in comparison to more popular teams training in the Cactus League.

I'm not sure if the change is permanent, but during my last week in Arizona, I'd read in the local paper, the A's moved their Major League team workouts to their spring training stadium [Phoenix Municipal Stadium] - because it was easier for the players and staff to work from the stadium, than at their facility at Papago Park.

Hopefully access to getting players' autographs isn't curtailed during the spring - even though the A's are generally a good signing team anyway, though some players may not always feel like signing everything for everyone [Jack Cust, Ben Sheets, Eric Chavez, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Travis Buck...]

Trevor Cahill [pictured signing] and Anderson are relatively young players on the A's, who maybe the future pitching aces for the franchises - at this point, they are very accomodating signers. 

I think Justin Duchscherer [obscured by his cap and the sea of people] said he likes to sign because one day - people won't be asking for his autograph anymore.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #3

During my trip to the Cactus League, my friend and I visited the Angels' camp in Tempe - after he was done with his Japanese media obligations new Angels' slugger Hideki Matsui relented to sign for fans waiting at the rail at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

I was the second to get Matsui's autograph that day [my friend was the first] - but we had to get out of the way fast, because as Matsui signed 25-30 autographs, he was mobbed by fans and collectors waiting on him. This wasn't as bad as when Ichiro signed over at Peoria, but it was still a mess trying to get Godzilla.

Trying to get the all-stars in a supposed relaxed setting like spring training is like trying to jump into a mosh pit during a rock concert - the mass of humanity is unforgiving at times, but it seems all worth it, when coming away with an autograph.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #2

I got Aroldis Chapman's autograph on an odd-sized image photo print [a little smaller than an 8x10] during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians - he signed by the camera well near third base and looked to have stopped once the National Anthem was being sung.

After, I made my way towards were he was lingering and called out to him with others who wanted his autograph - he signed several more before finally walking away.

My very fortunate friend also got Chapman's autograph, but towards at the end of the day, when I spotted Chapman in street clothes at the Reds' development complex - Chapman was waiting to be picked up and when his ride arrived, he was swarmed by five or six people and signed maybe two or three as someone from the player development complex came out and was trying to usher Chapman away.

Reds Manager Dusty Baker, as well as several other aspiring players in the Reds organization - stopped in their vehicles to sign for those still waiting for autographs as they were leaving for the day, including Yonder Alonso, Drew Stubbs, Chris Valaika, Mike Leake, Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette and Travis Wood.

2010 Cactus League trip recap special #1

Being able to get out to Arizona for an 11 day spring training trip from the end of February through the beginning of March - made me feel enthused about the upcoming MLB season. The worst part of the off-season is stockpiling baseball cards and other stuff and having no place to go to get them signed.

Once the autograph numbers piled up and I start to see other people chasing after players, I start to feel like I have a purpose again - even though I may not have gone to Arizona as a big league player or an employee of an MLB team.

My total number of autograph was around 441 - which seemed like a lower number than I'd expected to get.

When I start to feel like opportunities to get a particular player are shrinking - then it is disappointing. It isn't realistic to expect to get everyone, but it gnaws at me, on the way back home with my friend.

The weather in 2010 in Arizona wasn't as hot - I was glad that going there and coming back, the travel days to get from California to Arizona were more bearable.

While it did rain at least one day on the trip, going out for autographs - unlike 2009, it wasn't I felt like I was imploding every day I went out for autographs, because of the heat.

With my 'dinky,' but new point-and-shoot camera, I was able to take some images - here is one of Ken Griffey Jr.

"Hey, [Junior] - when are you going to sign?" A fan yelled during a Seattle Mariners / San Diego Padres spring training fan fest in Peoria.

"Tomorrow morning," Junior shot back. "[Catch me] at the Holiday Inn."

My Cactus League spring training images

In the process of cutting up my steak dinner from some chain restaurant in Peoria.

The crowd waiting for autographs swells up during the Milwaukee Brewers/Los Angeles Angels game at Maryvale.

There is a corner down along right field at Goodyear Stadium where you can 'go down' and ask for autographs from Cleveland Indians' players leaving the game in-between innings. Once the game starts over, you have to go back to your seats.

From the makeshift parking lot at Goodyear Stadium, you can see rows of what looks to be mothballed commercial airplanes in the distance.

At Surprise Stadium, the poor guy on the left with the bat was being grilled by Josh Hamilton because Hamilton thinks he already signed for the guy.

This image was taken the day Jason Giambi reported to Oakland Athletics' camp. A good number of people from the media wanted to get some time with him. He must have spent 40 minutes signing autographs after he was done with practice.

Everyone supposedly has his autograph, but 90-year old Bob Feller is a marvel when it comes to signing autographs. This image was taken in Surprise, where he threw out the first pitch at the MLBPA Arizona alumni game. He signed autographs from about 1:00-4:00 p.m. and hopefully he is still around and kicking for some time.

He has a little table during Indians' games at Goodyear Stadium, where he signs a photo [he provides] and takes a picture with you for $10.

The obscured player signing at Scottsdale Stadium is 2008 National League All-Star Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants.

It gets crazy sometimes getting autographs at Scottsdale, because I believe it is the only facility where you can go to in the morning as players' drive in [name any decent San Francisco Giants' player and either they go through the door furthest away from fans and/or they sign in the afternoon] and the 'small' space where you can stand along the railing as players walk up can get congested and unruly.

As far as this spring is concerned, Buster Posey, the No. 5 overall pick by the Giants still has to park on the minor league side of the parking lot and thus can still be approached without a railing separating him and the fans.

San Francisco Giants' non-roster invitee Justin Miller signs autographs and is always interesting to look at because of the 'ink' he sports. Three or four years ago, I think it was ESPN the Magazine that featured a 'centerfold' detailing many of Miller's 'tats' and piercings.

Chicago Cubs' outfielder Reed Johnson signing autographs outside the Cubs' weight room at HoHoKam park during a Cubs game vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Seattle Mariners bullpen coach John Wetteland stopping just outside the Mariners' complex in Peoria to sign autographs out of his Lambo.

Dodgers Manager Joe Torre obliges fans and signs autographs after a practice at Camelback Ranch.

Former Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda can be nasty as far as his attitude about signing random autographs are concerned, but he is pretty much making the rounds and signing for those who want his autograph.

Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Ryan Braun looks he is about to sign an autograph for a fan after practice in Maryvale. For a young superstar, he seems to still be accomodating as far as signing autographs, taking pictures and interacting with fans.