Spring Training Trip - Day 35

It was a lot warmer today, more humid, and less windy. Nevertheless, it was another great day to watch a baseball game. 

We arrived at the park a little early so we decided to watch batting practice at the practice fields for awhile.  Normally, the players not starting the game have batting practice there.  The rookies also practice daily at the two other adjoining practice fields.

We then did a couple of laps around the concourse at Brighthouse Field before the crowd started to arrive in greater numbers.  We had another early lunch, meatball subs today that were very good.  They make them from scratch.  You order them and they say come back in 5 minutes to pick them up (They offered to bring them to our seats if we wanted them to do that).  This is not your typical ballpark food experience.  The food in the park is excellent, with a wide variety of choices.  Most of the people working in the concession stands and the rest of the park are older retirees who either live here full time or come down for the season.  They only pay them minimum wage but many would work for nothing just to enjoy the experience.  Most of the people working at the park are from the Northeast, particularly the Philadelphia area.  The audience at the games is also mostly elderly retirees or couples who have come down for a week or so just to watch a few games.  We have talked to a number of people while eating lunch at the stand-up tables – all Phillies fans here to enjoy the sun and support the Phillies.

The first pitches were thrown by two former Phillies  of note, Dick Allen  and Dave Cash.  The pitches were thrown to another former Phillie, Hall Of Famer Mike Schmidt.

It was a good game; the Phillies won on a homerun in the 10^th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  At this stage of spring training you get to see a lot of players.  Some of the regulars and a few veteran players usually start the game with an assortment of other players trying to make the team included in the starting line-up.  The starting pitchers usually only pitch an inning or two early in the spring, although Cole Hamels, one of the Phillies best pitchers pitched 4 innings today.  By the 6^th inning, the rookies and other non-roster players trying to make the team have replaced the starters and you are essentially seeing many players you are not really familiar with or have previously seen in past years.  As spring training progresses, the regulars play more and by the end you are watching the team that will start the season.

After the game, we put the AC in the RV on for awhile, had dinner, watched another pretty sunset and went to bed.  No game tomorrow for us.  We have a day off from baseball and an opportunity to do a few other things.

Day 35 Pictures