Rays Vs. Jays 3-9-11

More of the same from Rays camp, plus a couple guys from the minor league camp. I believe today was the first day position players worked out.

Inside the park I got Don Zimmer during batting practice. I had nothing for the Jays, so I had some lunch and waited around for pregame warmups, hoping for a big name to sign like they have the past few games I have been too. While I was waiting for that to happen, I managed to recognize the familiar face of top prospect Matt Moore by the Rays minor league clubhouse in center field. I called him over and tossed my clipboard down to him and he signed a card for me.

Once pregame warmups started, I managed to get Matt Joyce and Manny Ramirez on 8x10 photos I took. I wish Manny didn't have the signature of a 3 year old, I may as well have scribbled on the photo myself. The Matt Joyce photo came out very nice though. Once the game started I decided I wasn't too keen on baking in the sun for the second day in a row, so I decided to wander on over to the minor league camp and catch the few guys remaining who were taking batting practice. On my way in I was able to grab a home run ball, its an official minor league baseball with a lot of use.

I lucked out inside, the players were just wrapping up as I arrived. I saw new addition Hak-Ju Lee, but didn't have anything for him to sign. I am pretty sure he will start out in Port Charlotte so I am not too worried about that. There were very few people I recognized as they were wearing warmups, but one of them was Josh Sale. He was very friendly and signed a card for me, and was very talkative and just an overall nice guy. I am very excited to see what he can do, he has a very powerful bat.

I'm almost getting bored graphing the Rays over and over. I'm pretty sure I'll mix it up next week. I can say I am very excited to start getting some minor league graphs though.

Rays Vs. Blue Jays 3-8-11

Today went well in the fact that I knocked out two of my more fun goals for the spring. The first of which was the first signature I got today, none other than Don Zimmer. Its a photo I took last spring, of his personal Zimmer Mobile that he rides around the Rays practice fields during early spring workouts and drills. He gave a chuckle when he saw the photo, asked where I got it and once I said I took the photo he asked whether it was this year or last year. Wish I could have talked to him more but there were very many people asking for his autograph and he wanted to accomodate everyone.

The second was a project that I stumbled upon in the offseason while I was amassing cards for the teams I graph each spring. While searching for Joe Maddon cards, I just so happened to find one dated from 1986. It's a Midland Angels minor league team set card, a team he managed in the mid 1980's. I love getting things like this signed, especially when whoever the signer is gets a kick out of it and shows anybody who's around what they looked like "back in the day."

I was able to come away with one more signature today, this one being from Sean Rodriguez. Sean is a ver nice guy with a very nice looking autograph. He signed a photo I took earlier this spring on the first day position players reported of him laughing at someones joke during some infield drills. He definitelt has one of the better looking autographs in baseball right now.

I wish every day was like this...

Not a bad day for showing up not expecting to really graph. I tend to be a minimalist when I go to spring training games... I'll bring my binder yes but I'm not pushing and I'm not shoving and I actually go to enjoy the games. Only around 3000 showed up and only about 50 of them wanted autographs it seemed. Price signed down the whole fence from the foul pole to the dugout, I got him to sign my plaid hat since I finished my stuff I had for him last week.

As the starting lineup was doing their sprints and throwing and such, I decided to wander as close as I could. As I got to a nice little spot... I realized Longoria was walking right up to the little kid in front of me. He got his shirt signed in red sharpie. And Longo ran with it... So my 8x10 is in red. I'm not complaining though I like how it matches the seams on the hologram ball. He walked down an entire section and signed for people. Nobody was pushing and he seemed more than happy to accomodate. Standing there surprised at the ease I just got Longoria with, I look to my right and Manny is walking up to a kid ten feet away. I jump a row of seats hoping I can somehow get into the swarm for him... And that's when I realized there was no swarm. I was the second person to get Manny, right after the kid he originially walked up too. It was weird to me after my past experiences with these two guys and getting swarmed and people pushing and shoving. But it was a very welcome change. I guess the dealers didn't do well enough at the camps to afford tickets to any games.

Rays 2/24 and Twins 2/25

I was kinda bummed out today after getting less autographs than hours of time spent earlier in the week so I seeked some solace in graphing my beloved Rays. They're 10 minutes from the house and I know the general signing habits of the players and of the camp itself so I knew I was able to sleep in a bit. Got there around 11 and met up with a few friends who had just gotten Farnsworth a minute before I walked in... But that was about it so far, just as I planned. I was focusing more on lesser named guys... Just mainly guys I don't have yet but want because the Rays are my team.

Managed to get these guys on cards:

Matt Joyce
Alex Torres
Jake McGee
Desmond Jennings
JJ Furmaniak
Robinson Chirinos
Jose Lobaton
Sean Rodriguez
Ben Zobrist
Nevin Ashley
Elliot Johnson

The big name of the day though was Johnny Damon, managed him on his photofile 8x10 of him holding his Rays jersey. Score.


As for Friday... I decided since it was my last camp day and the Twins out of the 4 teams I generally graph in the spring were the one I had done the worst with as of yet, I might as well try and make a day of it. Practice was pushed back due to physicals and or photos and or team meeting... Heard some variation of all of those from different security guards.

It again wasn't a great quality graphing day, got none of the big three being Thome Mauer and Morneau, but did manage enough to keep me from giving up on Twins camp forever. Granted those guys did sign, I just wasn't in the right place at the right time as I figured going for the easier guys and not risking wasting my time just to be skipped over would be the plan for the day.

I was excited to get Delmon, that's a first for me in at least 6 years of trying. Also got the Twins top prospect Kyle Gibson on a photo I took last season and a card, always good to get a top prospect. Also got Denard Span on an 8x10 photofile, as well as Alex Burnett on a card. Most of the stuff was inside, Jason Kubel and David Bromberg were in the parking lot.

It's not always easy...

I hit a deadspot this week. Seemed like every out of town dealer/collector managed to time their spring training vacations with my rotating plans of hitting all the local camps.

I arrived late to Twins camp on Tuesday due to a mandatory work meeting in the morning, ended up driving 2 and a half hours round trip to get two guys.

Spent last Wednesday at Orioles camp and came away with 4 guys in about 6 hours. Essentially nothing inside, and slim pickings in a crowded parking lot.

The problem with both of these days was the rediculous quantity of people. Got Mark Reynolds inside the O's complex, and the other few guys in the parking lot, with a crowd that fluctuated between 15-20 throughout the time I spent there. Its tough to get any names to stop there with any more than 10 people asking, as you can see by the results.

As for Twins camp, I arrived late, got Tolbert as he was walking off the side field as he was the last one in from the non mandatory early position player workouts. Went in the main stadium, caught the tail end of a popup fielding drill for catchers, and then proceeded to not be one of the lucky ones in the Mauer Mad Dash. He signed for about 20-30 ish, picking and choosing and personalizing most things. With nothing else happening, I decided to hit the parking lot. Got Alexi Casilla right away, he signed for the 5 of us waiting. I thought it was going to be a good day with so few people waiting, until they all showed up... Before the next player pulled out I was standing with about 50 of my not so closest autograph collecting friends. And they kept on coming. I threw in the towel and grabbed some orange/vanilla swirl ice cream at the citrus shop up the street so the trip wasn't a complete waste.

Rays Position Players Report 2-21-11

Headed to Port Charlotte again, this time for the first official workouts for position players. It was nice to see some live batting practice, and hear the crack of the bat a few times. Baseball is back and in full swing.

As for the autographs, it was a bit more quality over quantity. I grabbed Jeff Niemann and Andy Sonnanstine right off the bat, their workouts were done early and they signed for ever. I literally was going to pass up on them because I didn't want to get stuck in a crowd for guys I've already gotten plenty of, but they signed for EVERYONE to the point where the line went from a crowd of about 50 to a single file line of about 5 people. Great guys who always sign up a storm.

After that the going was slow, snagged Andrew Friedman on a franchise history card by Topps, and asked him if it was "buy one Johnny Damon get a Manny Ramirez half off, he said not quite but they did come together. More on Manny later.

As the pitchers finished throwing their BP sessions and bullpens and doing fielding drills they all filtered into the conditioning portion of the workouts, and pretty much all of them signed after they were done running. Heres an action shot of James Shields...

He's always very nice, looks out for the kids, talks up a storm as he is signing, makes getting his autograph fun. I got him to inscribe Big Game on a card, his nickname is Big Game James. Not that that name held up statistically last year, but that doesn't take away from him being a great guy.

David Price did his usual sign for everyone while making sure people don't push and shove. He keeps everyone in check by letting them know he's going to stop signing if everyone doesn't take a step back. He and James Shields were going back and forth with stuff like that. I got Price on his Sports Illustrated cover, he signed right over the bubble. He tends to do that, I don't think I have seen a signed one that wasnt over the bubble to be honest.

After the position players wrapped up, it was a mad scramble. Most guys signed, but it was in about a 15 foot section of fence and most guys signed for 10-15 people and ran in, names like Longo Damon Upton etc. I did manage Zobrist on an 8x10 in the scramble, and got it inscribed with his nickname ZORILLA.

After that, about 150 fans were left watching 4 guys shag balls, as they were the last people left on any of the 4 fields. Odd that many people would stay for 4 guys, except one of them was Manny. I lucked out, I stood next to a Dominican guy who had been yelling back and forth with Manny all throughout the practice day. The series of events that followed was one of my more akward autographing experiences, but hey I will take it. Here is the run down....

Manny finishes the workout, heads over to his bag along the foul line and puts his stuff away.

Dominican guy next to me yells in spanish, Manny looks up and nods.

Manny walks in our general direction.

I am annihilated by seemingly all 150 people who are still on the complex fields.

Manny takes the gold paint pen from the Dominican man, signs his black bat. It looks pretty nice.

Manny signs a red seat, presumably a Red Sox world series project someone was working on, in gold.

Manny signs about 5 balls, in gold, all side panel.

Manny takes a ball from the original Dominican man, and goes to sign it in gold.

The man rips the gold paint pen from Manny's hand and replaces it with a blue bic.

Manny puts the gold pen in his mouth, signs that one ball in blue bic, drops the bic.

Mind you, through out this whole ordeal the Dominican man and Manny are yelling at eachother in spanish.

He grabs the gold paint pen from his mouth and I'm the first signature after that ball, he signs my photofile from the press conference in gold paint pen. It took me two minutes to work my way out of the crowd.

Rays Fan Fest 2011

This event is run off of logistics that worked when it was an event that drew 50% of the people it draws now. If you're aware of that fact, and don't go in expecting to clean house on all the star players, you can use it as a nifty little tool to get the guys who are tough to get otherwise. I had early access, I enjoyed all of the advertisers booths within about a half an hour, and then secured my spot in the Longoria line. I sat with my fiance on the new astro turf from about 9:30 until noon when the signing was scheduled. I am happy to say I timed my "enjoying the booths" alotment just right, as I was within the last 20 to get Evan, at 12:55, 5 minutes before he stopped. After that I was able to quickly jump ship to the Sam Fuld line and get him on my team USA game used card.

After that, the event turned into a disaster. A wreck on the interstate held up the entire lineup of hour 2 signers making their way from morning workouts in Port Charlotte to FanFest in St. Pete. I really only came for Longoria, and Fuld was a bonus, so I'm not complaning. I left after that first hour a relatively happy camper. I'm not sure what happened once everyone was able to make it, I imagine they just hung around and doubled up with the hour 3 signers. It wan't anybody I needed or couldn't get with ease at the complex so no worries on my part.

Big East/Big Ten Baseball Tournament

Arrived at Al Lang field to find the Louisville game that was supposed to start at 4 was pushed back due to a late finish of an earlier game. I looked up in the stands once I got to the park, and saw the Louisville squad indulging in an order of ChicFilA sandwiches that had just arrived. Singling out Ryan Wright (possible first round pick, Team USA set) was pretty easy since the players were wearing warmups that had their number on them. He was sitting away from the bulk of the team with his family, and I swooped in for the kill. He pounded out 4/4, and was nice to talk to for a bit.

After that, it was on to Dunedin. I'm lucky I was able to leave a bit early since some construction slowed the trip.

I got there and the game ahead of UConn was in the 8th inning. I caught the end of it, and started my hunt for George Springer and Matt Barnes. I assumed Matt Barnes would be the starter so I went right for Springer. He came on the field, was walking around doing nothing, and I asked if he could sign. He looked at me and said can I do it after the game? I wasn't planning on staying since I had a 2 hour trip home, but I shrugged it off and figured I could break him down in the hour that was left until game time. Eventually, after he had all of the walking around doing nothing he could handle, he walked up to me and said "you wanna just do it now" so of course, I whipped out the clipboard. I had 3 of his base set Team USA card, and one jersey card insert from the same set. Same setup Ryan Wright had just knocked out for me an hour ago. He looked at them, and I kid you not, said "which one." I was so dumbfounded that I just got one per'd by a college kid that I had nothing to say, so I just said whichever you want. He hit a set card. I honestly wasn't expecting to have any problem with this kid, though I wish I was prepared for that. I would've coaxed it out of him even if he left hating me had I been expecting that, but seriously? A college kid without the Strasburg-style hype going one per? Is that a first? If that wasn't bad enough, he must have had sweaty hands or something because a card that I took an eraser to at home and did the last minute finger rub on at the game bubbled.

After that letdown, I was having a hard time finding Matt Barnes. The pitcher warming up was a tall kid with an underarmour on, no number on the back, so I figured that was him. He never came close to me, and I wasn't going to wait around for the entire game with a long car ride looming just to get one per'd by a second college kid and have it bubble (can you tell Springer left me sour?)

Thats when a nice guy with a UConn windbreaker on came up and asked me if I was having any luck. I said yeah I got George Springer to sign one (I wasn't going to bash Springer in case this guy was his dad, it was primarily family in the stands) He asked me if I had any Matt Barnes cards, and I said I sure did but I hadn't seen him yet. The guy chuckled and said "he was just standing right next to you!" Dumbfounded for the second time that night, the guy said follow me and I did. He brought me behind home plate to a tall kid in plainclothes, the same kid who was standing right next to me a minute ago, and said "Matt, this guy would like your autograph" Matt obliged, knocked out my two jersey cards and a setter, because thats all I showed him. He probably would have done my two other set cards but I wasn't going to show him dupes in case thats what ticked Springer off, and I did't want a repeat. He was real nice, talked highly of his team USA experience, asked me where I wanted him to sign on the cards, and we shook hands and I was out. I never caught the guy in the windbreakers name, but he sure did make my night.

Pirate City 2-18-11

Had a decent day at Pirate city. They were wearing some crazy yellow uniforms, pretty cool though and I wish I had brought the camera to snap a few shots.

I did fairly well inside, as within 15 minutes of my late arrival I had my 1978 Clint Hurdle Sports Illustrated signed as well as my McCutchen 8x10.

The SI is a little rough but hell it's 11 years older than me and it was a 99 cent ebay pickup. Clint sure doesn't look like he used to... As for McCutchen, in my opinion he is one of the best signers in baseball. I've never had a problem getting him to sign, and he knocked out 6 for the kid in front of me this day.

It got kind of stagnant for a while, I got a few guys as they took water breaks if I was the only one around. Then it was sort of a mad dash to the clubhouse after the position players were done practicing. (nearly 100% had reported, and apparently they had physicals) I did manage probably 5 or 6 guys in this scramble though. After that, since the pitchers had long since wrapped it up for the day, I was on my way to the parking lot.

Met a few nice people out there, and had some good success. Just about everyone stopped, Paul Maholm was the only person out of the three or so who didn't stop that any of us had even recognized. On to the scans...

Wrapped up my time at Pirate City by getting Jameson Taillon as he walked out of the parking lot, he is there with a group of about 10 minor league guys who were practicing on the field closest to the clubhouse.

I left Bradenton at 2:45 with aspirations of making it to Al Lang field by 3:30 for Ryan Wright on the Louisville squad, and then from there Dunedin Stadium for both of UConns potential top ten picks.

Rays Pitchers and Catchers Report 2-16-11

Had a good time at my Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays complex today. I feel somewhat obliged to put the devil in, as I am one of the 13 or 14 fans who was around in the days of Bobby Seay, Victor Zambrano (the ace), Carl Crawford the prospect, Nick Bierbradt (who was actually at the Orioles complex yesterday) Damian Rolls, Ben Grieve and the like. Looking back on those teams, it's hard not to be excited about this year even with the overwhelming media lull about how they won't be able to compete.

Anyways, onto the ink. A few position players reported early, they were pretty easy to get besides Upton when they finished working on the field by the cages. Then as per Rays complex norm, after fielding drills wrapped up every pitcher came over to do conditioning drills after changing into their conditioning clothes. This is the ticket for autographs at this place. The complex is laid out so the players have a spot they need to pass between the fields and the clubhouse that fans have access to. Stand there and you will get whoever you can recognize in their workout clothes.

Not pictured are a few more 8x10's I got, Price photofile, Jennings photofile, Jaso picture I took from last year, and Shoppach picture I took from last year

Not a bad day at all, I would have gotten Shields if I wanted him but I was getting other lesser named guys while he was signing, I have more Shields autographs than I can shake a stick at. So lets recap, had I tried for Shields I would have the entire pitching rotation plus some bullpen arms a few catchers and a few solid position players. Not bad for the first official day of camp.

Orioles Camp 2-15-2011

First autographing of 2011, it was nice to let the ink flow. I was extremely non-decisive this morning after getting off work. I was driving in circles trying to pick between the Orioles or the Rays, I chose Orioles, with plans to do the Rays tommorrow. I had decent results, nothing inside as per Ed Smith practice complex norm, with everything happening in the parking lot.

I had a good deal of help recognizing guys. Missed a few, but that happens. Rick Vandenhurk has a very similar frame and drives a similar style and color vehicle to that of Matt Weiters. Luckily though, he stops and tells you he isn't Matt Weiters but he is in fact Rick Vandenhurk.

Not bad for a non decisive morning. It was nice to hear fungo bats and catchers mitts for the first time since October.