Clearwater update 2018

[zambonir]

Gonna be below zero here in Montana Sunday and yet, 80+ sounds too hot to me! (I used to live in Texas).

[Les229]

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

I arrived at 10:00 am and since the activities didn’t begin until 11, I walked up to the small field to watch the fielders fielding ground balls and throwing to bases. It was another beautiful day with lots of sunshine. It is supposed to get up to 82 today. I counted 10 of the 15 infielders on the field that they have listed on the roster that they are passing out. After a while I went into the store to see what they had new. I wound buying a sticker that I intend to put on the lap top that I use to type this report. I noticed that some of the position players had moved out onto the field in the stadium and where taking batting practice. I ran into a group of season ticket holders that I knew from my section and we walked down to the workout fields. It was 10:30 when we got down to the fields and to our surprise, the pitchers were already into their drills.

My first thought was “what the bleep?” Kapler had made a big deal that they weren’t going to start until 11. The parking lot attendant said that they started a little after 10 and that they were going to play golf later and had to get an earlier start. Now the Phils do hold an golf tournament every year, but it didn’t exactly make sense that they would hold it before the position players had to report. The thing is, they don’t seem to tell anyone what they are going to do. They seem to have been changing it on a whim without telling anyone. Even the attendants don’t seem to know.

They were doing the same fundamental drills that they have been doing all week while moving from field to field. I watched them for a while and then they rolled out the bp pitching platforms and I took off for Copogna’s Dugout and some of their pizza. I really like their pizza.

[Les229]

I don't know if I am lucky, or unlucky, but warm weather has never bothered me much, not even our hot and muggy summers here. On the other hand, I hate cold weather. I guess to each his own. I refuse to wear anything more than my standard uniform of sandals, cutoff shorts, t shirt and my Greek fisherman's cap.

[Les229]

FEBRUARY 17, 2018

Today was another great 80’s plus day. About 10:30, they brought a pitching machine out to one of the pitching mounds and began throwing pitches into the into the dirt in front of home plate and often hit the plate. Actually, I had not seen this before and it seemed like a good idea to me. I thought the Phils’ catching was particularly weak in this department and let too many passed balls, or wild pitches get away from them. I thought this was a particular weakness of Rupp. At the same time, the infielders were working out on the short field, fielding ground balls. I didn’t walk up today.

They play upbeat rock all through the workouts and they play it really loud. One of the attendants said that the neighbors complained that they could hear it in their living room. Given the distance to the nearest non Phils houses, I don’t see how it is possible.

Once the pitchers finished their long toss and loosening up exercises, they took to the four fields in small groups. As usual, One of the groups bunted, a second and third group fielded grounders and threw to the four bases, a fourth group practiced their pickoff moves.

While this was going on, I think 10 pitchers threw on the invisible mounds. Something new was added to this. They brought in three actual umpires in their uniforms to call balls and strikes. Of course, we couldn’t see it because of the screens, but I thought it was interesting that they were interested in being that precise.

[zambonir]

It's cool to read your in-person perspective on the stuff the rest of us are reading online. There is an article at MLB.com today about Kapler and music (and I know music can travel in weird ways sometimes, there is an outdoor music venue in Austin that people can hear from four miles away). The Athletic has written about the catching (posted elsewhere I think) as well as the umpires.

Umpires, high-tech radars: A bullpen session with the...

[Les229]

FEBRUARY 18,2018

Another beautiful day. The Phillies didn’t really do much today. They came out at 11:00 and spent the next 45 minutes with loosening exercises and then most of the pitchers ran laps around the extremities of the four out fields. Some went to the invisible mounds to take their turn throwing off of those mounds. They set up one field for coach thrown batting practice. I hung around talking to some of the other fans until 12:15 and left. I never did get to see who was going to take batting practice, the field was still empty when I left. The spectators at the practice seem to have dwindled down some and today was the smallest yet. Well, three more days of this and the games start on Thursday.

[Les229]

Yeah, that view that was shown with Kapler is what I call the invisible mounds. You can't really tell who is on the mounds and you can't really follow the ball in.

[BostonRoss]

Hey, Les, great to see these reports again!

[Les229]

Yeah, had some health issues and wasn't sure that I would be able to do it this year, but yet, here I am. Coming down this year?

[BostonRoss]

Yeah, had some health issues and wasn't sure that I would be able to do it this year, but yet, here I am. Coming down this year?

I don't think so. Of course, I said that last year, and then someone invited me to give a presentation in Tampa; so I came down. I suspect I won't be so lucky this year.

[Les229]

FEBRUARY 19, 2018

I know that I am rubbing it in for some of you guys, but I can’t remember a stretch of weather this good in the spring. Today the weather guy predicted sunny and 86 degrees. I hope this weather holds for the games that start Thursday against the University of Tampa. The crowd is much larger. When I got to the field at about 10:30, the parking lot was near full and I understand that somewhat later, they were turning cars away. Lines to the two bathrooms available to the public was a problem. A word about this, if you get caught in a bind, there are portable toilets at the front gate that are rarely used.

I wrote the first half of this report sitting on the patio of the Clear Sky Draught House in Dunedin where I had lunch. When I got here the place was slammed(that’s beach talk for continuous lines of people waiting to get in the door). The tourists have definitely arrived, but once we passed the lunch hour, there were a few empty tables, so I don’t feel funny keeping one to write this “Update” one while. The manager has told me to keep the table whether they are slammed, or not, but I feel guilty keeping one of the servers tables if there are no empty tables. They make their money on tips.

This is the first day for the entire squad. They started with about 45 minutes of loosening up exercises. From there they went into fielding drills, catch an easy ground ball and throw to the bases. The pitchers also did some base running drills. Many of the drills that they do here are the same ones that we all did in little league and other kids ball. Fundamentals are fundamentals.

After the drills, Kapler surprised me. He went into what they call “live batting practice”. It is a batting practice drill where the club’s pitchers throw their best stuff to the hitters. This is the only batting practice that I usually watch. What surprised me is that this is the first day of practice for many of the position players. Sure some of them came in early, but not all of them did. Maybe Kapler is punishing them. The way that the complex is laid out, it is impossible to see all of the diamonds at the same time. Today, I moved around a good bit to see who all was pitching. The problem with this is that I was constantly moving and didn’t really get to watch any one pitcher, or hitter enough to get a feel for how they were doing.I think in the future I will concentrate on one diamond and not worry about the others. Each of the three diamonds that they were using today had several coaches leaning on the backstop watching players perform. I even saw Klentek behind the backstop. This is the first time that I have seen him out on the field. The pitchers that I saw today were Lively, Eickhoff, Leiter, Piveta, Eschelman, Taveras, Kilome, Suarez, and Dominguez throw the batting practice.

We will see what they do tomorrow. One thing to keep in mind is that the games are about 5 days ahead of last year, so they have much less time for the drills and to work on fundamentals.

[zambonir]

This quote from Kapler stood out to me:

"We’re not going to spend more time on the field than we need to spend on the field. We’re not going to do any eyewash drills. No cookie-cutter stuff."

Gabe Kapler's message: Phillies are prepared to win - Philly

[Les229]

Most of the drills that they have been doing are pretty much what they have been doing the last 14 years that I have been here. That's pretty cookie cutter.

[Les229]

FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Today was much like yesterday. The weatherman said the temperature got up to 87 and it was sunny. Maybe that was a little warm, but I’ll take it over cold weather and snow. I’ve never had to shovel sunshine. A piece of advice for those of you who are coming down, make sure to bring sunscreen to the games. The sun here is more intense than up north. It would be a shame to ruin your vacation. I live here year round and keep a tan all the time. The one time of the year that I get sun burned is watching these spring training games. I bring to the game sunscreen and lip balm. They sell the stuff in the Phillies store, but you will get it much cheaper at a super market.

For those of you who would like to stop by at the games and talk a bit, my seat is section 111, row 5, seat 6. It is located directly behind home plate. Every now and then, the umpire needs a little help calling balls and strikes. When that happens, I like to be there for him.

The schedule of activities was pretty much the same as yesterday. They came out at 11:00 and did their loosening up drills and then did long toss. The pitchers then ran the bases for a short time. They then did a drill where the pitchers threw a pitch and the catcher threw to the bases while a group on one field continued to long toss. The then hit balls to the infielders who took turns throwing to each base. They then hit grounders to all of the infielder(pitcher included) and as they were fielding the grounder, the coaches would call a base for the fielder to throw to. While this was going on, I looked up and there were some players up on the short field. I couldn’t tell what they were doing, all I could see was the top of their heads.

At this time, they began went to live batting practice on three fields. This went on for some time. I think they are trying to make up for the short time they for spring training this year. They will begin to face other teams in two days. I saw Eflin, Rodriguez, Pinto, Neris, Milner, ramos, Thompson, Arano, Curtis and Beato throw. I didn’t notice any of them having difficulty.

The spectator crowd seemed down a bit today and the parking lot was not quite as full. I left at 1:00 pm when they looked as though they were setting up for lob batting practice. It was lunch time and I headed for O’Keefe’s and some Shepherds’ pie.

[BostonRoss]

It was 70 today in Boston. If climate change can accelerate a bit, they can have spring training in New England by the time I retire.

[Les229]

This has been a weird winter down here. In the fall and early winter, it was cold every day. Then, a few weeks ago it turned warm and now we are setting all time records for heat. See, you guys need more snow. Warm weather like that kills the tourist industry down here.

[Les229]

FEBRUARY 21, 2018

Today is another unusually hot day coming in at 88 degrees. Many single day records have been set this month so far. This will probably be my last report from the workout fields in the minor league complex. Tomorrow the games start and I will be up at the stadium. Another reminder, now that the big team is moving up to Spectrum Stadium, the minor leaguers will occupy the workout fields. They will soon start playing games down in the complex. Those games are free and so is the parking, but if the Phils are playing up in the stadium, they use that parking lot for stadium parking and will charge you to park there, no matter where you are going. By the way, the Phils open the stadium two and a half hours before game time. Tomorrow that would be 10:30 am. I am looking forward to seeing what new concession stands they have put in. I hope there is something new that is compatible with a diabetic.

I would like to have the Phils the catering business. I figure that they must be feeding close to a hundred people counting coaches every day on the major league level. But in addition to that, the Minor league players are coming and going all the time. They also get fed too. I couldn’t tell who the caterer was today, the truck was unmarked. Last year, Lenny’s was doing a lion’s share of it. When people grouse about the money that a big league team makes, I don’t hear them taking the catering into account.

The crowd was not as large today, but I noticed that they had the lot full sign out. The players began with their loosening up drills and then did some sprinting. Then they played catch for a while before they got down to doing some actual drills. The fielders then did some base running drills. Some of the drill was the pitcher throwing to the catcher and the catcher trying to throw the runners out. The rest of the pitchers continued to play catch. They seem to spend an inordinate amount of time with the coaches talking to them and getting organized. They did one drill that almost looked like a Harlem Globe Trotters routine. It was the infielders coming closer together on the infield grass and flipping the ball back and forth between them. Then the coaches would explain a situation and hit the ball. The fielders would try to hang up the runners. Some of it would try to catch the runner at home with the pitcher backing up.

About noon they stopped the drills and set the fields up for lob batting practice where the coach lobs the ball in for the hitters to whack. This was earlier than usual, maybe because they had the game tomorrow. That was my signal to take off. I thought it was too late to go to the beach without spending a lot of time getting there through the traffic and finding a parking space. I decided to head for Dunedin and Frenchy’s Outpost for lunch.

[phillychuck]

Temperatures plummeting up here tomorrow...40 degree+ drops from the high 70s to the mid 30s.

[Les229]

FEBRUARY 22, 2018

Another great day that got up to 87. I stood outside waiting for the gates to open and watching the pitchers practice pickoff moves on the short field. When the gates opened at 10:30, I went inside to get my laps in and to look for new concession stands. To my disappointment, I didn’t see any new concession stands that looked good to me. I may not have gotten a good look. Several of the stands were closed. This college game against Tampa University rarely draws many spectators. The attendant at the gate said they were expecting about 3,000 spectators. When I first got here, they didn’t play them, but rather played inter squad games as the first games of spring training. I guess they figure a stadium that is about a third full is better than one that is almost empty.

I went and got a cheese steak from the Chadds Ford company Delco that have had the cheese steak concession down here since this stadium opened. They also have a shop in Dunedin that operates year round. While I was sitting at one of the picnic tables an acquaintance from up in the Philly area that comes down every year stopped by and we had time to catch up. That is one of the things about spring training. I don’t see these people any other time except during spring training.

There were only two scouts that I saw attending the game and they were Korean. The Korean league often signs free agent quad A players to add pop to their leagues. From what I understand those leagues in Korea are doing very well and keep growing. I could see why they were interested in this game. Most of the position players that the Phillies were playing would fit into the category of their type of player.

It’s hard to figure out how to evaluate these college games. I mean, how good are these kids? Tampa is annually ranked among the top college baseball teams in the country. As it turned out, there wasn’t much hitting going on today. Each team got just 7 hits and Joseph’s double was the only extra base hit of the day. The Phillies won the game 6-2. Kapler only started 5 players who had any chance of making the trip back north. Eickhoff started the game and pitched 2 scoreless innings and was followed by 7 other pitchers who were trying to make the squad. Taveras, Eshelman, Kilome, De Los Santos, Dominguez, Irvin, and Suarez all pitched one scoreless inning.

Knapp batted in the lead off spot and that surprised me. Cozens struck out in both of his at bats. If he can’t make contact against college kids, how is he supposed to hit big league pitchers? Crawford started and went 0-2, but did make a nice leaping catch at shortstop. Joseph got the only extra base hit of the game with a double down the third base line. Williams and Kingery each got a hit.

I’m off tomorrow as the Phils play Toronto up in Dunedin, but will be back Saturday to see the Phils take on the Baltimore Orioles.

[Les229]

I saw that. It is supposed to remain in the 80s for at least another week. The normal average here is supposed to be 74.