In 2012, I went to spring training for the very first time, and I absolutely loved it. I thought it would be hard to top my first trip ... it was after all the first, so it held a lot of sentimental value. BUT, my second trip trumped the first ... by far!!
When the weekend was selected, I check out who the Giants would be playing. They would play the Cubs on Saturday, ok, cool. On Sunday they would play the Diamondbacks. Hmm, the Diamondbacks, why would that be exciting? Well, its exciting because the Diamondbacks just signed one of my very favorite players, and former Giant, CODY ROSS!! Needless to say I was thrilled.
So on Friday 3/1 I got off work early, piled into the car with 2 of my friends and drove to Arizona. I was so incredibly excited I could hardly stand it! That night we printed tickets and consulted rosters. Much to my delight and surprise, we found out the former Giant, Nate Schierholtz was playing for the Cubs! What luck!
Oh Yeah! 2012 World Series Champs ... how Sweep it is! :)
Felt good to be back at Scottsdale Stadium.
Saturday we arrived at the stadium and checked out the line-up. Along with a cast of minor leaguers, we got Blanco, Posey, Panda, Pence, and Crawford!! Also, Nate was DHing for the Cubs.
Line-up, Day 1
We took pictures, we shopped in the dugout store, we explored the stadium, and we finally sat in our seats, which thankfully were shaded after the second inning. Much to everyone's surprise, Romo even pitched - we thought he would be gone for the World Baseball Classic. It was a fun game, and the Giants won. :) Then the best part of the day ...
All the girls!
His first spring training game!
After the game we headed out to the parking lot to see the players come out, and who was out there sigining autographs?? The one and only Sergio Romo! I was excited and just so happened to be wearing my Romo shirt. I carefully slipped to the front of the pack of people and held out my ticket for his signature, and got it. I was a happy girl, my spring training was just made.
Romo! That's What's Up!
After the baseball game, we quickly headed over to Jobing.com arena to catch the Ducks take on the Coyotes. The game was intense, tied 4-4 even after overtime, so it went to a shootout. Eventually the Coyotes won (bummer!) but at least it was a good game. After the hockey game, we were starving, so we went to Mellow Mushroom, an awesome pizza place that really needs to expand to California.
Sunday we got up a little earlier and went to a breakfast place called Butters Pancakes. It was delicious. Then we headed over to the stadium. There was only 1 name I was looking for on the roster, and it was there!! I would get to see Cody Ross play! And even better, he was not placed in his usual left field, but was rather in right field, directly in front of our seats!!
Line-up, Day 2
We went out to field to catch warm-ups and I was so glad that I had decided to wear my "You're the Boss, Cody Ross" shirt from when the Giants won the World Series in 2010. We watched the Diamondbacks warm up and at the end they headed toward their dugout and Cody came right over to me, walked directly to me, did not pass go, did not collect $200, just walked right up to me! He signed baseballs for the little kids next to me and then took my pen and signed my ticket. I'm pretty sure I was in shock. It was awesome, and that does not even really begin to describe it.
Smiles all around!
You're the Boss, Cody Ross!
No Zoom!
The game was kind of a blur, though we did get to see Posey play first base, Pence play right field, and Zito pitch. The Giants beat the Diamondbacks, and that was that, spring training was over for another year. But what a spring training it was ... I don't know how next year can possibly top this one!
Cody in Right Field.
Too bad that's the wrong uniform.
The Reverence Pence
Can we do this everyday?
Say yes to spring training, SF Giants, and meeting your favorite players! Wow ...
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