Spring Training 2014 part 1

Thursday Feb. 27th / Friday28th - (Days 357-358)




This was the first Spring Training Opening Day that Harris has attended. It was a big deal with some prizes, lots of ceremony, very excited players, and of course--very excited fans. Most everyone wanted to see Cano bat and he didn't disappoint. First pitch, first swing, first rocket into center field. The swing looked effortless and watching it in person rather than when Harris was forced to watch the Yankees was much more impressive. His next at bat found him watching 4 pitches, all of them balls, jogging to first and being taken out of the game. Total swings for the game equaled ONE. Let's hope he's saving his energy for future games.

The rest of the game was good too. Good weather...good seat...good result.

 The honor guard

 Harris talked with the twin's mom about sleep and twins. He was not very helpful or optimistic.

After a few innings the twins monopolized the fans' attention and were being passed around the folks sitting just behind them. Many sounds were heard and none of them remotely baseball-like.

To finish the baseball talk. M's won 7-1 and a few errors were made. 4800 fans showed up.

The next day Harris saw a 12-1 Mariner victory with lots more errors and mostly non starters playing. 3200 fans showed up. Harris talked with Tony Sipp's wife about left handed baseball relief pitchers trying to get signed up in the "Bigs". She was a collage pitcher herself so when he pitched an inning Harris was ok with him getting some Mariners out (although Sipp gave up a couple of hits and 1 run). Talking with a ball player's significant others puts a different spin on the game. There's an economic cost that is happening each day while fans enjoy watching the game. Harris hopes they get some good news at the end of Spring Training (there are 2 people looking for that one spot of left handed specialist pitcher). She is a very nice person.

First sunset of the season.  And hopefully, many more like this to follow.

Seattle to Phoenix for Spring Training

Tuesday Feb. 25th/Wed. 26th - (Days 355-356)


Tuesday morning at 3AM found Harris awake and wondering if he should stay in bed to keep Judy from waking up. Twenty minutes later he was showered and dressed and shortly thereafter a groggy Judy waved him goodbye from the driveway. Seattle was a breeze at that time of the morning and Harris happily listened to Kboom FM on the radio until it was out of range 120 miles south of Seattle. He checked in with Judy via email from Vancouver from one of his selected "cheapest diesel prices" at $3.79. An Egg McMuffin and coffee later (thanks for the free wifi) he was headed into Oregon.


Next stop for gas was Medford at $3.89 and then it was on to California.

Mt Shasta is always a welcoming site

If you click on the picture to enlarge it you can see the outside temp was 72 degrees and the sign just up ahead is for chains required when   blinking... Harris was glad he didn't have to use them this year.

Notice the shorts and sandals

Harris pulled over just outside Modesto in a Walmart around 9PM having wanted to avoid Sacramento traffic in the AM. He logged 800 miles. After a few hours sleep he awoke around 3AM again and headed to Bakersfield 200 miles ahead. Diesel was 3.89 there too. Turns out Washington state had the cheapest diesel on the West Coast! The last picture was taken at 7AM headed east out of Bakersfield.

The arrival was warm and sweet (literally sweet from flowers in bloom) and a extra long, extra hot shower was fantastic. Harris is off to see his first game of the year!