Spring Training Trips
by APV on Jan 16, 2010 9:48 AM EST
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PrintAnyone else planning on making their way to Arizona for a little Spring Training. With my parents in the Phoenix area, I am going to make my second consecutive (hopefully of many) trip to see them in Goodyear and beyond. I'm going to be somewhat more constrained with family obligations this time around, but I always welcome to opportunity to meet up with other LGTers. I'll be in the area the week of March 22-28 and will be catching at least a couple games while down there.
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I’m planning on going down March 11th – 13th. It’s my first time, so any advice, tips, etc … would be greatly appreciated.
Rather, in what part of the greater Phoenix area would you like to stay? The only stadiums out West are CLE/CIN, TEX/KC, CHW/LAD, MIL, and SD/SEA, and they’re not too close. The alternative is Tempe/Scottsdale, where the Angels, A’s, and Giants are much closer in proximity (and there’s more non-baseball stuff, depending on your tastes), with the Cubs not too far off in Mesa. I caught the Indians as the visiting team on this side of town quite often.
If you’re staying out West, I’d say head toward Westgate, which is the new development area next to the Univ. of Phoenix Stadium (where the Cardinals play) and Jobbing.com Arena (Hockey). There’s a bunch of restaurants and shops there, and you’re central to all the western complexes.
If you’re staying East of Phoenix, you can’t go wrong in Tempe (think jeans, tshirt, flip-flops) or Scottsdale (think designer jeans, button-down shirts, and dress shoes).
From my experiences in both Phoenix and Florida, it is actually a lot easier to get to multiple parks/multiple games in AZ than in Florida. The Indians park out in Goodyear is one of the more distantly located, but the area around it is so empty that traffic isn’t really an issue. Last year I made it to four different parks and five games, and the only one that was crowded was a Giants-Indians game in Scottsdale – but even at that one I was able to walk up and get a ticket. Some of you may remember my luck I randomly landing tickets immediately behind Shapiro and Antonetti, that was a walk-up purchase at the Padres facility in Peoria. Also, the weather in the Phoenix area tends to be very nice in March. Mid-80s and sunny.
I’m only going to be down there for the weekend, so I’m really only going to have time to see the Indians. The rest of my time is going to be spent carousing. Here’s my game plan, feel free to comment.
My cousin and I get in Thursday night at 7:20. We plan on staying at the Embassy on E. Thomas near North 24th in east Phoenix. It is near the airport and Ruth’s Chris and other steak houses are nearby. We plan on having a late steak dinner then off to The Bourbon Street Circus.
For Friday and Saturday, I was planning on doing one of the packages offered by the Tribe. I was going to stay at the Homewood Suites in Avondale, because it is right off of Route 10 near Avondale Blvd which is a short route to Gila River Casino – Vee Quiva.
If you want to eat some great tamales, I highly recommend Carolina’s on the south side of Phoenix. My brother-in-law—his family is “old Phoenix”—took us there. Getting lunch there was the culinary highlight of the trip.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Jan 20, 2010 8:04 PM EST up reply actions
Sounds like a good plan. The Avondale area has a bunch of new construction - you’ll find everything you need. Vee Quiva has a small number of table games. If you’re interested in the more substantial facilities, you’ve gotta go to Casino Arizona on McKellips in Scottsdale or Casino Arizona on Indian Bend-these facilities are off the 101 freeway in Scottsdale.
For those going this year, I would recommend not buying tickets to weekday ballgames at Goodyear in advance. Last year, every game I went to in late March was at about 10-20% capacity so you could essentially sit wherever you wanted—and we did. For one game, I bought pretty good seats in advance (2nd row behind dugout) and my brother-in-law decided to come along. At the ticket window, they were able to sell him a ticket in the row behind us and they gave him a 50% discount. He was able to sit next to us anyway. Unless you really want to pay the service fees on each ticket and hate discounts, I’d wait till you get there to buy your seats. Despite the poor attendance and desolate environs, the park is really beautiful and well designed. I don’t think there’s a bad seat in the house, so no need to tie yourself down to one set of expensive seats.
We also hit up a Cubs/Tribe game in Mesa—which was a great time. In contrast, I’d recommend buying tickets to games at that park yesterday as they sellout most games in advance.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Jan 18, 2010 9:26 AM EST reply actions
I almost never buy seats for spring training games. I end up sitting in them for an inning or two, if that. These parks are designed for walking around – going out to the bullpen, chatting up other fans at the food tables, checking out scantily-clothed women, soaking up the sun and just generally cruising. I can’t see any reason to sit the whole game unless you are so old school that you keep score at ST games (in which case, I salute you).
I love that mowing pattern.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jan 20, 2010 9:06 PM EST up reply actions
Are these real? They’re so crisp, they look like simulations.
by Jay on Jan 20, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The truth is that everything is more crisp out west.
by dgcambridge on Jan 20, 2010 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
Totally real. I may have adjusted the brightness and contrast slightly, but they are otherwise unaltered.
i think he’s just making a joke. when that professional photographer was posting images, there was countless comments like that.
Yeah, didn’t someone get all high and mighty about it?
by dgcambridge on Jan 21, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
I did. Someone else pointed out he was altering the colors of his images and I called him out when he denied it. I didn’t have a problem with the altering, as much as his denial of it. Jay—and some others—told me to leave him alone, so I did.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Jan 21, 2010 4:49 PM EST up reply actions
Mmm, that Olympus reproduces reds better than I would have imagined. Good colors.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
Every now and then you run into a small little camera that gets the important things right. Outdoors always helps.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
Indoors it sucks. The lights settings on the flash are just a disaster. Outside in what would for many cameras be overly saturating light it works great.
By the way, your photostream is still hilarious. Tribe pics, lots of soup, your dog, and random gamethread images.
by dgcambridge on Jan 21, 2010 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
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