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Spring Training

soupcan Jan 30 2006 12:48 PM

Anyone ever go? Looks like I'll be taking my oldest down the first weekend of March for his 9th birthday. I think we're set with where to stay 'Best Western - Official Spring Training Hotel of The Mets', but what about tickets to games, autograph hounding etc.? Any tips? S'funny because going to Spring Training to see the Metskies was something I always wanted to do but in the past 5-10 years my inteest in a trip like that has definitely waned. My son though will absolutely explode when we tell him (not going to until the morning we leave). Ironic huh, Alanis?

Elster88 Jan 30 2006 02:16 PM

I've never watched a practice before. I wonder if it would be fun or just boring.

cooby Jan 30 2006 02:17 PM

I'll bet you can get autographs right there in the lobby!

metirish Jan 30 2006 02:27 PM

IIRC SK and her family have been and posted pics here of St.Lucie, I'd love to go for a week, seems like fun.

soupcan Jan 30 2006 02:44 PM

Elster88 wrote: I've never watched a practice before. I wonder if it would be fun or just boring. We'll be there for the actual games so we can pretend they count.

Elster88 Jan 30 2006 02:45 PM

I think the games are definitely fun. But I'm wondering about the practices. Has anyone ever been to one?

Lundy Jan 30 2006 02:59 PM

Yes, practices can be great fun, and more often than not, the players are more willing to carry on conversations and sign autographs. This is going back a little bit, but I went to the West Palm Beach facility back in 1985 when I was 12. This was at a facility the Braves and Expos shared. We watched the Expos practice. I remember seeing Mike Fitzgerald--this was right after the Gary Carter trade--walk past, sees that I'm a Met fan, drops his bag of bats that he was carrying, and paused to sign an autograph. "I'll sign anything for a Mets fan" was what I recall him saying. After we left the Expos camp, we saw a lone Brave running sprints in an empty playing field. We couldn't tell who it was, but as he came closer, it became clear. It was Dale Murphy, the two-time MVP of the National League. There was no one bigger in baseball than him at the time. So he's running toward us, I asked if he could sign an autograph. He said, "Sure, let me finish up here." So we wait, half-expecting to get blown off, but he slowly walks back to where we are. He takes the program, gives it a sign, pauses long enough for a photograph, and went back to doing sprints. He seemed to go out of his way just for us, and I've never forgottten that. So yeah, practices can be fun! Sometimes even more fun than a game.

ScarletKnight41 Jan 30 2006 03:03 PM

metirish wrote: IIRC SK and her family have been and posted pics here of St.Lucie, I'd love to go for a week, seems like fun. I was at a Single A game in St. Lucie in 2003, but I haven't been to spring training there. Have fun soup!

ScarletKnight41 Jan 30 2006 05:45 PM

[url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060129&content_id=1303162&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym]soup asks, and the Mets answer![/url]

Elster88 Mar 01 2006 12:13 PM

First split squad game today.

TheOldMole Mar 01 2006 03:57 PM

My ex lives in Port St Lucie, and she's there for it every year.

soupcan Mar 02 2006 10:10 PM

So we're off tomorrow. We wrapped up the spring training tix in a Carlos Delgado jersey (#21 btw)and gave it to him. He totally freaked out, almost cried he was so excited. I hope he has a great time. The players better be nicer than nice and give him all the autographs he wants or so help me...

metirish Mar 02 2006 10:18 PM

Very cool soupcan, hope you have a lot of fun.

Elster88 Mar 02 2006 10:21 PM

soupcan wrote: I hope he has a great time. The players better be nicer than nice and give him all the autographs he wants or so help me... I don't care if he spits on you. Do NOT stomp on Pedro's foot.

cooby Mar 02 2006 10:33 PM

Have a nice trip. Florida in March is always a joy.

ScarletKnight41 Mar 02 2006 10:38 PM

Have a great trip. I hope your son has a wonderful time (and you also!).

soupcan Mar 03 2006 07:28 AM

Thanks guys. If I get a chance I'll report in. And I promise not to step on Pedro's toe.

cooby Mar 03 2006 07:50 AM

Bring us home some springtime