Wrapping Up
Tuesday, March 1, 2016 – JetBlue Park, Ft. Myers
Spring Training Workout
After playing the college doubleheader on Monday, it was back to a workout on Tuesday for the final time this year. It was technically an unofficial workout, so the concession and souvenir stands were closed, but fans were still able to enter the complex and see what was going on. With minor league camp in progress, the major leaguers were confined to three fields, with everyone who’s slated to be on the Opening Day roster ending the day by taking batting practice inside the stadium, where we can’t go. But we did get to see them all briefly, albeit in some of the stranger drills of the spring, and were able to add to our autographs.
When the catchers finished their initial stretching they all went to one of the practice fields. I thought there was going to be some sort of fielding drill, but instead it was literally practicing walking out to the mound as if to talk to a struggling pitcher. “You’re in control of the game,” directed one coach. “Wait, who was that smiling?” chided another. Then they all walked back off the field and on to the next activity. It’s pretty much the silliest drill I’ve ever seen at spring training, topping even the sliding drill and parachute run. (But it got me thinking – shouldn’t they have a drill where the pitchers practice standing on the mound hanging their heads in shame after giving up a home run? Or, for even more entertainment, have the manager practice taking the ball from a pitcher who doesn’t want to leave the game – imagine watching that during the Schilling era! But I digress…)
After the sliding was complete, the players who will start the year in the majors headed in to the stadium for batting practice, which unfortunately meant we couldn’t watch. But the guys who will likely start in Triple A stayed on the practice field to take B.P. out there.
With the workouts all wrapped up and the weather finally hot, we went back to Englewood Beach in the afternoon. This time it was warm enough to go in the water, and scour the beach in search of the perfect shells.