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My Spring Training 2020

bmfc1 Mar 26 2020 12:42 PM Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Mar 28 2020 06:41 AM

Hi. I was fortunate to go to 8 Mets games during the abbreviated 2020 Spring Training season. Over the next 8 days, I will take each game and share my pictures and accounts of the game and the experience. Do you care? Likely not and that's OK but what else do I have to do at the moment? Game 1, Mets @ Nationals, February 24, 2020 Box: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/new-york-mets-washington-nationals-400224120/ Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RP4sbyjxwb5oSDbz9 FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is the nicest of the 3 ballparks that I will visit (I was in Boynton Beach so West Palm Beach is a 30-minute drive; Jupiter is 40; and, Port St. Lucie is 70--that's as far as I'm going for a spring training game). Fitteam is only 3 years old and they don't have a minor league team so it's still in very good condition. However, the food is horrible. Sneak in a sandwich, eat before, but remember that the food is the worst of the 3 parks. It's also a hike from the parking lot ($10 to park). I noted that security is good as they had us go through magnetometers twice (once after leaving the parking lot before walking through the practice fields to the ballpark and again before entering the ballpark). A nice feature is that you can watch the Mets walk from the visiting clubhouse onto the field (see picture). There's a giant World Series trophy (which I appropriately saluted) and a replica World Series trophy. I looked at it with envy and thought about the possibility that the trophy could be ours in 2020. Wilson Ramos hit a home run and a double (my video is included with the pictures); David Peterson looked strong in 2 innings; Erasmo Ramirez looked good--he's a former major leaguer so he should have looked good against minor leaguers but 2 scoreless innings and 4 K's made me think of him as an emergency starter. A highlight of each game was the arrival of Tim Tebow. He received the loudest applause of anyone regardless of the ballpark. He popped up and a guy near me, who was yelling "Florida in the house!", said to a friend who missed it: "Tebow came up and hit a fucking flyball." I almost told him that Tebow would not approve of such language but chose not to engage a Florida Man. Mets win 2-1.

G-Fafif Mar 26 2020 04:45 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

“Florida in the house,” Sunshine State Mets by birth edition: 1) Doc Gooden 2) Jacob deGrom 3) Howard Johnson 4) Daniel Murphy 5) Wayne Garrett 6) Pete Alonso 7) Dave Magadan 8) Ed Charles 9) Mike Hampton 10) Lenny Harris (h/t UMDB)

41Forever Mar 26 2020 07:24 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Love the changes to St.Lucie!! Especially the blue and orange Shea panels!

bmfc1 Mar 26 2020 08:33 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

=41Forever post_id=34170 time=1585272242 user_id=69] Love the changes to St.Lucie!! Especially the blue and orange Shea panels!

More on that in Friday's recap.

Lefty Specialist Mar 27 2020 05:50 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Thanks for doing this. The pictures are great. But I have a little ache in my heart that there's no baseball.

bmfc1 Mar 27 2020 10:31 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Thanks, LS.

bmfc1 Mar 27 2020 10:33 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020 Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Mar 28 2020 06:41 AM

Game 2, HOU @ NYM, February 26, 2020 Box: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/houston-astros-new-york-mets-400226121/ Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xTBS4RVmosFo3UpYA It's a home game so the long drive doesn't bother me as I'm with Mets fans in the newly renovated and renamed Clover Park. After you walk up the new staircase the concourse has been expanded and includes the wonderful photo montages that you've seen (and can see in the link). Parking in Port St. Lucie is $10 and there is always traffic before and after the game on Peacock Blvd. BTW, take 95 to Peacock to Piazza. The food is more than adequate with Nathan's hot dogs and fries as well as a surprisingly good chicken sandwich. The bathrooms are awful and Jeffy Wilpon needs to get on this if any of the $56 million that he received from the County is unused. Under normal conditions, the bathrooms would be fine but in today's environment, you don't want to touch to flush, touch to turn on and off the water, touch to get soap and touch to get a paper towel. You know what I mean and are cringing right now. There is a new “Jim Beam” porch in LF with a bar and a place to stand and to hopefully catch a home run. Get there early to find a spot near the LF warmup area to watch the starting pitcher up-close. The scoreboard is useless as you cannot read the score/innings/count/outs if the sun is out. I sat behind Tyler Bashlor's family. How do you know that you're sitting near Tyler Bashlor's family? Because they are the only people applauding when Tyler Bashlor's name is announced. They were fairly stoic as Tyler looked good, unlike Diaz who looked like it was still 2019 and gave me flashbacks. Ryan Cordell was the most impressive player on offense and got my attention. Mets lose, 4-2.

whippoorwill Mar 27 2020 11:20 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Diaz still sucks, then?

bmfc1 Mar 27 2020 12:24 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

As someone who was in attendance for two of his worst outings of 2019 (one of which is frequently replayed on MASN), seeing him stink again in his first outing was, to be polite, quite discouraging. He was strong in my Game 8 (but I'm getting ahead of myself).

G-Fafif Mar 27 2020 02:07 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Logistics and branding be damned, it should have been the Jim Berm bar.

Johnny Lunchbucket Mar 27 2020 02:32 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

I wanna hear more about the Bashlors. Do they all have awful sleeve tattoos?

Willets Point Mar 27 2020 02:47 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

I never realized that bmfc1 and the name on the Google Photos page were the same person.

whippoorwill Mar 27 2020 05:00 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Ooh ooh! Anthony young!

bmfc1 Mar 27 2020 07:33 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 28 2020 09:33 AM

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I wanna hear more about the Bashlors. Do they all have awful sleeve tattoos? It was his Mom, Dad, Aunt and Uncle. The Aunt heard me cheering and identified the family. They were stoic although Dad flashed a quick grin after the inning ended.

bmfc1 Mar 28 2020 08:51 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Game 3, NYM @ MIA, February 27, 2020 Box: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/new-york-mets-miami-marlins-400227128/ Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/emJHuQXs3ksxrU9L7 It's a night game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter. Get ready to spend extra for parking as it's now $12 (you can park farther away for $10 and take a golf cart ride to the gate). It's also cold so there are people with gloves (besides the players) and blankets. A road game against the Marlins was the best place for autographs but that's changed because of the new netting that extends all the way down the first base side (don't get me wrong, I'm pro-netting). Despite this, you can get very close to the starting pitcher as he warms up (see pictures). The food at Roger Dean is bland and forgettable. The area around it is nice but the ballpark needs a facelift. The crowd is sparse as it's cold and it's a Marlins home game but there's one guy who is heckling Jake Marisnick as a former Astro. With two teams sharing both FITTEAM and Roger Dean you have to remember which is the Mets side. In Jupiter, if the Marlins are home you sit on the 1B side and if the Cardinals are home you sit on the 3B side. In West Palm Beach, if the Astros are home you sit on the 1B side and if the Nationals are home you sit on the 3B side. The game was dull as the Mets still aren't hitting. I have a nice picture of Michael Conforto hitting a single with Alonso in the on-deck circle. Eduardo Nunez made a good play at 3B. He made a good play at 2B on Monday so he is an early standout. Rick Porcello is impressive and I immediately decide to draft him in fantasy. Despite the chill, I make it through 8 innings. Mets lose 2-1.

G-Fafif Mar 28 2020 10:42 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Every offseason there's some Met whose name will come up like a month in and I realize I haven't thought of that guy since the season ended. Thanks to this valuable thread connecting us to where we just were, Eduardo Nuñez qualifies as the 2020 Spring Training version of such a Met in these unusual circumstances.

bmfc1 Mar 29 2020 08:02 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Game 4, MIA @ NYM, March 3, 2020 Box: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/miami-marlins-new-york-mets-400303121/ Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/J1CxWojJVtiaiudt9 It's a lovely, warm, afternoon in Port St. Lucie. My seat is in the sun but I move to a section with empty seats and shade as I usually do. When buying tickets in advance, you think that you want seats as close as possible to the field but after a few minutes, you'll realize that what you really want is to sit in the shade and that every seat is close to the field. For most of the games, you can move about and no one cares. Before the game, Mike Hampton and Glendon Rusch were signing autographs so I took a picture with them. During the game, there was a nice family in front of me. When Robinson Cano moved into the on-deck circle, the Mom said "there's Daddy!" to a lovely 2-year-old girl. They stayed longer than Robinson did. The game was boring after Jeff McNeil's leadoff HR. There was no offense again (I've seen 2 runs in the last 2 games attended). Max Moroff had a line-drive single and smartly tagged up on a deep flyout. I've paid attention to him and he will give the Mets infield depth as he waits at Syracuse. Noah wasn't as sharp as the previous game but the infield defense let him down in the first inning. Mets lose 6-1.

41Forever Mar 29 2020 10:11 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Loving these updates! Spring training is the best! My parents live in Jupiter so I've been to Roger Dean a bunch of times. It's nice, but there's nothing super-special about it. Last saw the Mets there in 2017, and was able to meet Terry and Travis. This is cheaper parking -- free, actually -- but they don't direct people here. There is a parking deck near the shopping area. Abacoa was intended to be one of those cities that arises out of nothing. It was noting but fields when my parents moved there in the early 1990s. The housing part was wildly successful, but the small "main street" area doesn't seem to have too many businesses that are able to make it for too long. I've been to more minor leagues at Roger Dean than spring training games. With two teams sharing the stadium, there is a game every day. We went to a couple games in July -- one rain-shortened and the other a full game -- and got four balls. I wasn't even trying. I think there were 30 to 50 people in the stadium. Was planning to see some spring games this year, working in time with the family around a conference. I'm glad you got to see some before things went astray.

bmfc1 Mar 29 2020 12:56 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

I'm sorry that we couldn't get together this year, 41Forever. Hopefully, next year (and you can show me where the free parking is!).

bmfc1 Mar 30 2020 08:33 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Game 5, NYM @ STL, March 5, 2020 Box: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/new-york-mets-st-louis-cardinals-400305124/ Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CTKAiWRzMNtTQEEu5 Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter is the home of the Marlins and the Cardinals but it's a different experience with each team. Marlins games are less than half-full and it's easy to get in and out of the area. Cardinals' games are full or almost-full and their fans are loyal and loud. This means that when the Mets are visiting the Cardinals you should leave your house earlier even though you're going to the same place. There's a gift shop in each ballpark. When it's a Marlins home game, the shop is empty. When it's a Cardinals home game, there is a line to the cash register. The gift shop at Clover Park is newly remodeled and is a claustrophobic, smaller version of the one at Citi Field. The nicest one of the three ballparks that I've discussed is in West Palm Beach. It's about 40% Astros, 40% Nationals (and the World Championship material made me quite jealous and mad), 5% visiting team (which is nice) and 15% generic spring training. It's Rick Porcello again and he's sharp again. Then Taylor Bashlor came in and I hope his family missed this game because he was awful. David Peterson pitched another two shutout innings. Finally, there is some offense and most of it's from an unexpected source. In these games, at least at this point in the spring, there are the regular-season starters, the second-string, and the definite minor leaguers who finish the games (the mix changes whether it's a home or a road game) and Johneshwy Fargas (CF) is a constant second-string player. I've read about his speed (50 SBs last year in AA) but don't think that I've seen him hit the ball out the infield until today as he hits for the cycle. His first hit was a triple and as the ball eluded Harrison Bader I yelled: “watch him fly!” This lead to my explaining to the Mets fans around me why I knew anything about Johneshwy Fargas. Mets tie 7-7.

G-Fafif Mar 30 2020 10:40 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

“Roger Dean Stadium during Marlins game” is spiritual descendant of Yakov Smirnoff's “in Russia...”

Edgy MD Mar 30 2020 10:52 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

I see the logic in the shared-spring-training-facilities setup, but I always rooted for a future where facilities were not increased to serve as a base for two teams, but rather large enough to allow visiting teams to arrive for a three-game series, with housing for the 50 or so guests players and coaches and a couple of fields to work out on between games while they're in town. The team hosting can simultaneously send a squad of minor league players to the facility of the team they are hosting, trading varsity and JV hosting duties like high schools do, thus clearing out fields and barracks for the incomers. The three-game setups would allow for longer bus trips, giving teams exposure to more than just the handful of teams from the local cluster of facilities, and would give fans a greater chance at exposure to more robust representations of a road team when they are traveling.

bmfc1 Mar 30 2020 11:27 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

“Roger Dean Stadium during Marlins game” is spiritual descendant of Yakov Smirnoff's “in Russia...” "At Roger Dean Stadium during Marlins game you can't find a party. At Roger Dean Stadium during Cardinals game the party finds you."

Edgy MD Mar 30 2020 03:47 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

"In every country, there is team they make fun of. In U.S., you make fun of Marlins. In Russia, we also make fun of Marlins." "At Roger Dean Stadium during Cardinals game, players dream of being like Derek Jeter. At Roger Dean Stadium during Marlins game, Derek Jeter dreams of being liked."

bmfc1 Mar 31 2020 07:28 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

I like your idea Edgy as a bigger variety of opponents on the "Treasure Coast" is needed. Boston and the MFYs made (or were scheduled to make) trips to West Palm Beach and Jupiter but not PSL. I'm hoping that when MLB expands that at least one team returns to Viera, Vero Beach or Orlando.

bmfc1 Mar 31 2020 10:29 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Game 6, NYM @ MIA, March 9, 2020 Box: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/new-york-mets-miami-marlins-400309128/ Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/aZWY1qQ7SiSFDUPq5 The final week begins, although I didn't know at the time, with one more game at each venue. Spring training tickets are stupid expensive but the teams don't care because if you're on vacation and fulfilling your “bucket list” dream of going to a spring game you will pay anything. The prices are high and then higher at nights and on the weekends (and even more if Boston or the MFYs are visiting). You know about online fees but if you buy at the gate there is a “day of game” fee. I've found that if you wait you can find semi-reasonable prices to weekday games in the secondary market except for Marlins' home games. That didn't make sense until I realized that there is a very small primary market for the Marlins which means there is much less of a secondary market of fans unloading tickets. It's a beautiful afternoon but where's Marcus Stroman? It's his turn but he stayed at Port St. Lucie. I wondered if he was hurt or the Mets wanted to keep him away from another start against an NL foe but there was a different reason: Before the game, I was standing near the Mets bullpen when Brian Schneider came over to talk to two guys. When they paused I politely asked if I could ask a question and Brian said yes (I'm not sure why I recognized Brian Schneider). I asked why Stroman didn't pitch today and he said that Stroman wanted to pitch in a controlled atmosphere (environment? I think it was atmosphere), meaning he could face all righties instead of pitching in a spring game and then Miami stacks the lineup with lefties. He said that the same thing happened with Justin Wilson who wanted to face righties today. I won a cookie from DoubleTree Hotels as a Met hit into a Double Play. That was a highlight as the Mets only scored one run. Jake Marisnick hit a triple and then Nunez squared up and hit a GB to drive in the run. He also made a nice play at 2B: with Miami batting, there was a GB between first and second. Alonso went a little too far to his right, as he sometimes does, but Walter Lockett charged over. It was so quiet that I heard Nunez call off Pete (on a GB!). Nunez made the play (it would have been a backhand for Pete) and threw to Lockett for the out. Nunez showed leadership and might be an important part of the 2020 Mets. Lockett and Corey Oswalt (much to my surprise) pitched well. The game was over after only 2:15. Each team had a pitcher warming up in the 9th inning so I thought that there might be a 10th. This would have been a good opportunity to try out the discussed rule where extra innings begin with a runner on second base.

bmfc1 Apr 01 2020 11:04 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 02 2020 11:32 AM

Game 7, NYM @ HOU, March 10, 2020 Box: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/new-york-mets-houston-astros-400310118/ Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8qM3f1399mxHEQB79 It's an overcast afternoon in West Palm Beach. I immediately go to the RF corner to watch the Mets enter the ballpark (the team bus drops them off near the visitor's clubhouse and then they walk to the field). Brodie comes up the stairs and I elbow bump with him. One of the guys who was talking to Brian Schneider yesterday recognizes me and tells me that he is Brian Schneider's father. What a surprise, it's Rick Porcello again (third time). He's not as sharp but he keeps his cool and gets DPs to minimize the damage. The Astros leadoff batter is Myles Straw and I wonder why he wasn't batting last. It pours during the second inning as the Mets score four times but it's a Florida rain which means it arrives and departs suddenly. Jose Altuve is the target of Mets' fans derision, more so than Bergman and Correa, while Astros fans cheer extra loud to drown us out. When the Astros rally, Altuve comes to the plate for a moment it felt like a regular-season game as all of the fans cheered or booed loudly (Altuve hit a sac fly but the Mets kept the lead). I love what Johneshwy Fargas brings to the team. Brandon Nimmo began the winning rally with a HBP and Fargas replaced him as a pinch-runner. After two pitches he stole 2B. He can't hit much, last Thursday's cycle notwithstanding, but I can see a role for him.

bmfc1 Apr 02 2020 10:22 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 14 2020 04:43 PM

Game 8, STL @ NYM, March 11, 2020 Box: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/st-louis-cardinals-new-york-mets-400311121/ Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wP93oUzHYQf4Kkhz5 I keep thinking about this game. The weather was perfect and with the Cardinals as the opponent, Clover Park was almost filled. The Mets played the starting lineup (other than Alonso) and deGrom was on the mound. You could feel the season drawing closer. This game wasn't on TV or radio and the Mets so if you were interested, you had to listen to the Cardinals' internet-only broadcast. Think about that: the Cardinals sent two announcers to a spring road game that the Mets couldn't be bothered to broadcast. The guy that threw the first pitch from the mound pulled a muscle and had to be helped off the field. That was a first for me (and hopefully, for him). This also happened: the STL fan next to me (in his '70s) dropped his hot dog and spilled mustard all over the woman in front of him, on her white top. The guy apologized and offered napkins. The husband yelled "nice shot!" The couple left and she came back with a new T-shirt from the store, and said: "no more food, right?" Robinson Cano was the Wendy's Double Stack player of the game and because he hit a double everyone won a free Wendy's Double Stack hamburger. I think it was the loudest ovation that he has heard since his three home run game. deGrom dominated although I'm sure that he was pissed about giving up a HR to Matt Carpenter. Betances didn't get past 91 MPH and he's supposed to be higher. Diaz actually looked good. Patrick Mazieka made a great play at 1B. He also has 2 HR. Mazieka is C/1B with some pop that bats lefty so he is someone to keep an eye on. JD Davis hit a home run and the game was a pleasure. On the drive home, I thought about the news and wondered if that was the last Spring Training game of the year.

MFS62 Apr 02 2020 11:01 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Great job. Thanks. Later

bmfc1 Apr 02 2020 11:33 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

Thank you MFS62.

Edgy MD Apr 02 2020 04:59 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

If this season ever gets going, I think some guys are going to be sent to Columbia who thought they'd be going to Binghamton, just because the abbreviated camp meant that the usual level of attrition didn't come to pass (unless your name is Noah Syndergaard). Teams generally keep 25% or more pitchers employed than they need, because they'll need it soon enough. Guys planning on Columbia may get stuck in extended camp. On the other hand, with the abbreviated training, there's every reason to think the first few weeks will be injury-riddled, and things will smooth out. Again, if there is a season.

bmfc1 Apr 03 2020 08:44 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

That does it for my eight games but here's a "bonus", my day visiting Mets camp, February 20th. I hadn't gone in previous years but I was told that it's worthwhile and it was. You have to get there early, at around 9:30. There were a lot of fans moving around, going from field to field, trying to find the one with the biggest names. As you can see in the pictures, there are alleys set up connecting the fields where fans can get autographs and pictures. I took selfies with 3 Mets--you know who 2 of the 3 are with, the 3rd is Michael Wacha: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PHj438WXQfKoe8aP9 There are two videos in that collection, one of Alonso swinging and missing against Familia and one of deGrom warming up (Paul Sewald was on the other mound and he might as well have been invisible). Being that close to deGrom was thrilling. I also saw Cespedes swing and hit a few BP HRs--it's true!. Visiting camp is low-key fun but it's tiring so bring water as there is very little shade and you are constantly moving. I'd do it again.

Johnny Lunchbucket Apr 03 2020 09:04 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

good stuff

G-Fafif Apr 03 2020 09:32 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

This year's Johnny Murphy Award to bmfc1.

bmfc1 Apr 03 2020 10:07 AM Re: My Spring Training 2020

I accept! Thank you. They can mail my award to me as I don't want to get near Jeff Wilpon regardless of the status of the virus.

Edgy MD Apr 03 2020 07:51 PM Re: My Spring Training 2020

=G-Fafif post_id=34624 time=1585927920 user_id=55] This year's Johnny Murphy Award to bmfc1.

There really wasn't a Johnny Murphy Award this Spring, was there?



I'm not sure if I missed it, if it was cancelled, or it just slipped their minds.



If I get a say, and I think it should, I think it should be given to Patrick Mazeika if he's eligible. He got into five games last spring (9 plate appearances), but I think that may have been as a floater and this is his first official camp.



If not him, maybe David Peterson?