Spring training - camelback ranch - Just Got Back UPDATE

[Sean1125]

Originally Posted by 4reals

We'll be there from the 14th-17th so unfortunately we'll miss the Kings.

Thanks for the parking tip - that helps a lot!

Looks like we'll be seeing the Dodgers/Rangers, the Dodgers/Royals, and the Dodgers/Brewers.

Auto's on our short list include:

Darvish, Profar, McGwire, Mattingly, and Kemp.

Was really hoping for a Koufax since he's spending more time with the Dodgers but he's there now and will only be there for another week or so.

Buddy of mine and his son got Koufax, multiple mattingly's and a few maury wills, he said he only signed about 30 or 40 autos before walking. I believe he will be that full week you mentioned though so if you are there daily it might increase the odds.

[4reals]

Right on, looking forward to it!

[4reals]

Had a great weekend, saw three games fri-sun, camelback ranch fri, surprise stadium (rangers) sat vs. dodgers, and sun. camelback ranch again for the green uni's on st. patty's day.

It didn't take long to get used to the surroundings, I took a bunch of cards to get autographed but quickly found that players don't like to sign flats...balls are the way to go. Learning this, my 6 year old and I got a couple practice balls and he turned up his charm and got almost two balls completely signed, 26 in all.



He got, coaches: Mattingly, McGwire, Mota, Lopes, Yeager, Wallach, Honeycutt, and Lasorda

Players: Yasiel Puig, Ethier (his favorite by far), Billingsley, Skip Schumacher, Elian Herrera, Justin Sellers, Brian Barden, Luis Cruz, Stephen Fife, Tim Federowicz (backup catcher), Tony Gwynn Jr., Nick Punto, Dee Gordon, Matt Wallach (Tim Wallach's son, minor leaguer), and JP Howell.

Other: Steve Lyons (broadcaster)

Just missed: Kershaw, Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, Yu Darvish

Nice Guy Award: Puig, easily signed the most and gave kids high fives in between innings

Disappointed In Award: Mark Ellis and AJ Ellis, didn't sign at all in three days - I expected more out of these guys

Stinker Award: Zack Greinke - not even sure he knew where he was. He just mad-dogged all the fans looking angry, possibly too drugged to comprehend his surroundings.



Two things I learned: (1) Steve Yeager is a lady's man...he passed up kids to pose for pics with cougars. I gave my wife his rookie card and that was the only card I got signed all weekend, because my wife gave it to him, lol.



(2) Lasorda should not be out of the house. He was being propped up like Bernie from Weekend at Bernie's. The poor man did not look good. He signed for about 100 people waiting in line and looked like he could go at any minute. He signed my son's ball and then smudged the heck out of it handing it back, oh well.




All in all it was a great time, thanks for the tips you all had (especially the North parking lot tip) and will def be an annual tradition for my fam!

[nolemmings]

Glad it went well for all of you. Now that you've made the trip, I hope that there is a comfort level in moving around the Valley so that you venture to the various other parks for Dodger games too. There are a few more on the West side that are really not that far away.

Your description of Greinke is consistent with nearly every time I have seen him, only once in person but often on TV. I really think the guy has some issues and might barely be in balance. I'm surprised to learn Mark Ellis was so standoffish (don't know much about AJ)--you were right to expect more from that guy.