Spring Training 2022 - Day 43

 Baseball today. In the past, we would normally go over to the ball field when the gates opened at 10:30 am.  We were able to watch batting and fielding practice by both teams, walk around the perimeter of the field, then have a leisurely ballpark lunch and relax before the game started at 1:05 pm.

This year, the gates are not opening until 11:30 am which compresses fan pregame activities somewhat.  Normally, the Phillies go first with batting and fielding practice that starts well before the 11:30 am gate opening.  Actually, they are done by then and the visiting team is on the field doing their thing by 11:30 am.  So, you can no longer watch the home team Phillies warm up. I guess the later opening time is a money saver for paying all the workers, but not real fan friendly for the avid fans.  There is an exception, however.  When the Phillies play the Toronto Blue Jays, since their home field is in nearby Dunedin, they do their warmup hitting and fielding at their home park before taking the short bus ride to the Phillies Park. Consequently, the Phillies delay their warmup activities a little.  So today, since the Phillies were playing Toronto, we got to see some of the Phillies warm up activities.  Not really too exciting, but part of the scene and we were able to see some of it today.

It was a good game.  The Phillies won 8-7 and played a lot of their regular players who will be on the team when the season opens.  The weather was very windy and partly cloudy.  Not a cold wind and at our backs.  We sit in the upper deck suite section along the first base line and are really shaded and protected unless there is a North wind.  This usually happens in early spring training towards the end of February.  It can be really cold then and heavy clothing is needed. We are now almost into the summer weather pattern down here of hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms and potential severe weather,  There is another frontal passage tomorrow and rain is expected.  No game tomorrow; the next one is Friday against the NY Yankees.

Phillies - Blue Jays Pictures