Spring Training Basics

[ARamfan]

I'm asking for any tips, helpful information, etc. to maximize my spring training experience. In the past, I haven't been able to go to many games because of working, but I now work out of my home office and for the most part am able to set my own schedule, therefore, I will be at spring training as much as possible. :cool:

I need info about best seats, how easy is it to get tickets, where to go after the game, etc.:confused: Any info will be helpful, I'm planning to go to at least 3 games per week. I'd appreciate any guidance and input I can get from any of you. Thanks!

[bczar]

This is probably not what you were looking to hear, but back when Piniella was a manager for Seattle, I was out in Yuma when I was in the military. After we watched the game at old HoHoKam we went to a nudie bar late at night and guess who showed up with some other guys? Sweet Lou. We went to the game the next day and were heckling him yelling "Lou was at the nudie bar" over and over. He looked over at us and said "f'n Marines" and smiled. It was pretty funny.

[Shwerve]

Depends what you're looking for. Don't expect too much from the games. It won't be too intense, you won't get to see all the people you want. The lawn seats are cool for a game or two. I think they are $5 or something silly like that. It will put you close enough to heckle the pitchers warming up out in right field. Otherwise, seats are seats as far as I'm concerned.

Sluggo's is the place to go in Mesa. I believe it was owned by Steve Stone and Harray Carray, but I could be wrong. Ther is nothing in Mesa otherwise. My friends and I went to Phx, Tempe or Scottsdale for the nightlife. We made the mistake of getting a hotel in Mesa. What a dump

[Shwerve]

http://www.sluggosgrill.com/

[diehardnorthsider]

This is probably not what you were looking to hear, but back when Piniella was a manager for Seattle, I was out in Yuma when I was in the military. After we watched the game at old HoHoKam we went to a nudie bar late at night and guess who showed up with some other guys? Sweet Lou. We went to the game the next day and were heckling him yelling "Lou was at the nudie bar" over and over. He looked over at us and said "f'n Marines" and smiled. It was pretty funny.
LOL Thats classic man!!!!

[bczar]

LOL, that's true, my man :D

[ARamfan]

This is probably not what you were looking to hear, but back when Piniella was a manager for Seattle, I was out in Yuma when I was in the military. After we watched the game at old HoHoKam we went to a nudie bar late at night and guess who showed up with some other guys? Sweet Lou. We went to the game the next day and were heckling him yelling "Lou was at the nudie bar" over and over. He looked over at us and said "f'n Marines" and smiled. It was pretty funny.

You're right, not what I was looking to hear, but very funny story nonetheless!:D

[ARamfan]

http://www.sluggosgrill.com/

Thanks for the link, it looks great!:cool:

[Doba]

I've lived in AZ for the last 4 years and make it to about a dozen spring games a year. I'll tell you where you really want to be..........practice. They hold practice right down the road from HoHoKam.

The last two weeks in February is the time to check it out. I've gotten tons of autographs and player interaction. A lot of older Cubs players show up too. Sandberg is almost always there. Fergie has been there a few times. Santo is a regular. I even saw Dunston once or twice.

There are four fields back to back and you can stand right on the fence. The players are constantly walking between fields. Sometimes they stop to sign autographs and sometimes they don't. I ran into Dusty in the bathroom two years ago even. Tons of chances to get foul balls and home runs when they do BP.

I'm 25 years old, but get really excited like a 13 year old girl at a slumber party for spring training.

At the actual games the place to be is in the lawn. $5 seats and girls in bikinis.

[ARamfan]

I've lived in AZ for the last 4 years and make it to about a dozen spring games a year. I'll tell you where you really want to be..........practice. They hold practice right down the road from HoHoKam.

The last two weeks in February is the time to check it out. I've gotten tons of autographs and player interaction. A lot of older Cubs players show up too. Sandberg is almost always there. Fergie has been there a few times. Santo is a regular. I even saw Dunston once or twice.

There are four fields back to back and you can stand right on the fence. The players are constantly walking between fields. Sometimes they stop to sign autographs and sometimes they don't. I ran into Dusty in the bathroom two years ago even. Tons of chances to get foul balls and home runs when they do BP.

I'm 25 years old, but get really excited like a 13 year old girl at a slumber party for spring training.

At the actual games the place to be is in the lawn. $5 seats and girls in bikinis.

Thanks Doba. I will make it to the practices. The $5 lawn seats sound great too but since I'm a girl, I will be looking at men in baseball uniforms instead of the girls in bikinis!:D

[Doba]

Well then......maybe we'll see you out there in a bikini.

Practices start early and get over around 11am. Another good chance to get autographs is in the parking lot when the players are driving out.

[COOLCAT]

you are correct! i prefer what goes on at fitch park (for free) better than the games at hohokam.

Thats where I got my first glimpse of...

COOLCAT

c o o l c a t

2 years ago and I've been watching felix pie for a few now, practice at fitch park rules, highly recommend going there. Last year ronnie woo woo kind of spoiled it for me though, he doesn't shut up... even at minor league practice!

[Ivy Killa]

Woo Woo is the ****......does anyone have some Ronnie Woo Woo audio?

[Al Spanglers ghost]

WOOWOO

woowoo

[ryno4ever]

Woo Woo is the ****......does anyone have some Ronnie Woo Woo audio?

It's not audio..but video....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA3I0DphRRg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA3I0DphRRg)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rcnU9pLy5A (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rcnU9pLy5A)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxpDkCGXwbk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-fyZWn_0YA

[Ivy Killa]

WOOWOO

woowoo

Haha, good one.

It's not audio..but video...

COOL c o o l, thanks i'll check those out as soon as i get a chance, i always enjoy seeing Woo Woo work.

[COOLCAT]

so you dig a guy who'll woo woo in your ears for 3 - 4 hours but you can't dig a guy who types...

COOLCAT

c o o l c a t

hmmm peculiar!

[Ivy Killa]

My exposure to Ronnie Woo Woo has been strictly on television, i've never been to Chicago meaning unfortunately i've never attended a Cubs game, so yea i've never had to endure 3 hours of wooing. That being said, for the greater good of fogpog i'd like to offer you a humble apology. One of the things i like about this site is that everybody gets along........theres no reason for that to change now.

[ryno4ever]

My exposure to Ronnie Woo Woo has been strictly on television, i've never been to Chicago meaning unfortunately i've never attended a Cubs game, so yea i've never had to endure 3 hours of wooing. That being said, for the greater good of fogpog i'd like to offer you a humble apology. One of the things i like about this site is that everybody gets along........theres no reason for that to change now.

:) That's nice of ya, Ivy!!!!

I had the "pleasure" of sitting near Ronnie Woo Woo...not for three hours, but over six! I went to a double header against the Padres back in April of 2005 in April. It was sooooooo cold and windy. I was so excited because both Prior and Wood were going to make starts on the same day. We found our seats (wayyyyyyyy in the left field corner....literally right up next to the fence that looked down into the firestation.....) Ronnie was over in the bleachers right by our section. It was hard to focus on anything but Ronnie and how cold it was. It definately was not a very fun filled day. The first game started at noon....the second got over about 6:30pm. By the time the second game got to the seventh inning stretch, there had to be only a couple of thousanad people there...if that. So, Ronnie was very audible the second game. After that day, I made a promise that I would never go to another game in April unless it was Opening Day!

[komet]

Courtyard Tempe Downtown (near Mill ave.) any good ?

[COOLCAT]

thats nice of you Ivy, apology accepted (although none was needed) but I appreciate anyway.